Category: Daily Trust

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the list of candidates for the 2027 governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections by three days.

The commission, in a statement by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the deadline, which was originally scheduled to expire Saturday by 11:59pm, has now been moved to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

INEC said the extension followed appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the submission process through its dedicated online portal.

The commission also announced the suspension of the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

INEC said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced PVCs have until midnight Sunday to print downloadable copies of their cards.

According to the commission, the measure would enable it compile data on downloaded PVCs and produce final statistics on the total number of PVCs collected ahead of the election.

INEC said PVC collection in Osun State commenced at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28, 2026, but was extended to July 31 following complaints about large crowds and difficulties encountered by voters at collection centres.

The exercise subsequently moved to the local government level from August 1 to 7.

The commission also said replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central local government areas whose cards were stolen when hoodlums invaded the two collection centres.

It, however, assured voters that the stolen cards could not be used to vote.

The political atmosphere in Adamawa has remained charged since Saturday following speculations that the name of the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Suleman Umar aka Omarana has been replaced with that of Modibbo Hamman Tukur Ribadu on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal.

All parties were expected to upload the names of their governorship and state assembly candidates by Saturday, 8th in what would have been the final decision of the parties on the matter but the deadline was later extended to Tuesday, 11th.

Umar’s position became shaky following the exit of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal from the party as he was said to be the one that insisted on Umar as the party’s candidate though former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, had preferred another for the position.

When Babachir left the party, there were indications that the Atiku Abubakar camp may take its pound of flesh by replacing Umar with another aspirant, following the criticism from Babachir after leaving the party.

The former SGF in a statement on his verified social media page yesterday, raised the alarm that, Umar had been replaced with a candidate who will do the bidding of the former vice president.

He claimed the ADC national secretariat has succumbed to the pressure of the former vice president and uploaded the name of the Tukur Modibbo instead to the INEC portal.

When INEC announced that it had pasted cleared candidates and their credentials from various political parties on notice boards across the states, our correspondent checked at the INEC Adamawa State office but couldn’t find list of governorship candidates and was informed it wasn’t ready from INEC headquarters in Abuja.

When our correspondents contacted the Atiku Media Office to respond, they were referred to the national vice chairman (North East) Daniel Bwala to respond.

But Bwala declined comment saying he would issue a statement later.

Our correspondent reports that this has deepened the crisis in the ADC in Adamawa State which is supposed to be one of the strongholds of the party given its position as the home state of the presidential candidate of the party.

The internal wranglings began in the state chapter during the composition of the party’s state executive council members where the party was factionalized with three persons, Comrade Shehu Yohannah, Alh.Saidu Komsori and Ibrahim Sadiq Dasin claiming chairmanship of the party.

Political heavy weights said to be behind those interests included former Vice president Atiku Abubakar, Former SGF David Lawan Babachir and Senator Aisha Ahmed Dahiru popularly known as Binani.

Binani and David Babachir however left the party out of protest at different times.

There have been speculations in the political arena long before now, that some stakeholders in the party are not comfortable with Omarana as the flag bearer of the party and have allegedly working secretly for his replacement until now that the matter has become a major issue within the party.

However, the campaign organisation of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Adamawa State, Amb. Engr. Umar Suleiman, issued a press statement insisting that Umar remains the candidate of the party amidst rumoured adoption of Modibbo Hamman Tukur Ribadu as the new candidate of the party.

The statement came on the heels of social media posts which portrayed Ribadu as the new candidate of the party ostensibly after the NWC resolved issues pertaining to the party’s governorship primaries in his favour.

In a strongly worded position, the campaign office described the narrative as baseless and unfounded, urging party members and supporters to disregard it as it has no basis in law and democracy.

The statement signed by elder Mark Wosi, the DG, Omarana campaign, insisted that the ADC governorship candidate emerged through the party’s recognised primary process and continues to enjoy the confidence of its supporters across Adamawa State.

It warned that attempts to undermine the outcome of the primary could create unnecessary tension within the party and distract the ADC from its preparations for the election.

Wosi also called on the party’s leadership and stakeholders to uphold internal democracy and respect the outcome of the primary, stressing that the credibility of the ADC’s electoral process must remain paramount.

According to the campaign office, Omarana’s political project remains anchored on its catchphrase ‘Adamawa That Works’ agenda, with emphasis on inclusive governance, human capital development, economic empowerment and grassroots development.

It urged supporters not to be distracted by unverified claims, assuring them that the campaign would continue its engagements with voters across the state’s 21 local government areas.

But another piece said to be written by one Aminu Iyawa titled ‘Has ADC Produced A Game-Changer to Adamawa Guber Race?’ claimed that INEC has successfully uploaded the name of Modibbo Hamman Tukur Ribadu and his deputy governorship candidate on its official portal.

Efforts to speak to the leadership of the party were not successful. An official of the party who pleaded anonymity told Daily Trust that the state chapter can’t say anything on the matter but the National headquarters of the party in Abuja maintaining that they too are waiting for further instructions from the national body.

Ambassador Suleiman Umar, when contacted, replied to an SMS message from our correspondent saying ‘As you said speculation for now. By tomorrow (Monday) we will get the facts. l have saved your number. Will contact you. I will make press release’.

Modibbo Hamman Tukur Ribadu was the pioneer chief executive officer of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), appointed by the late President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

Before then, he had worked with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and rose through the ranks up to Assistant Director before he was nominated by president Buhari, and subsequently approved by the Senate, to head the then newly established agency.

National publicity secretary of the ADC, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi also did not respond to our message on the matter.

I have been much surprised that the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund (NNSTF) established last month by the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has not generated as much public interest and debate as one would have expected for such a consequential policy. I think it should.

First of all, the very idea of establishing a security fund represents a good example of responsive governance. Of course, it is belated: such a policy should have come sooner. For more than two decades now, Northern Nigeria has been the hotbed of perhaps 70 per cent of all insecurity in the country, several dimensions of which directly threaten the very existence of the Nigerian state. From religious insurgency and terrorism in the North East, banditry in the North West, to frequent farmer-herder and indigene-settler communal clashes in the North Central, the North-and Nigeria-has scarcely known any quiet since the early 2000s.

All of these have decimated lives, limbs, and livelihoods across nearly every state in the region. No doubt, then, that Northern Governors should have established such a security fund much earlier than now. Still, it is better late than never. The establishment of the NNSTF is therefore an important first step as it suggests that the Northern governors are now responding to public concerns with a policy initiative rather than more talk. After all, public policy is the surest mechanism by which governments work to resolve collective problems. This is commendable, and should elicit interest, debate and the involvement of all stakeholders, including citizens.

Secondly, the initiative is responsive to the need for collective action for addressing peculiar but collective northern problems, a point I have argued repeatedly in this column, and it is refreshing to see policymakers finally walking in this direction.

The various forms of security challenges northern Nigeria face are conducted by the same set of actors, but their activities are not limited to any one state. This is as true of Boko Haram attacks as it is of banditry or farmer-herder and indigene-settler conflicts, all of which cut across multiple states. Communal conflicts in one state often trigger reprisals in another or others states. Such a problem therefore calls for regional leadership and governance, since no individual state can adequately deal with any of these alone.

Yet, insecurity is not the only peculiar but collective challenge northern Nigeria faces today. The statistics are now befuddled, but there is no question that the vast majority of Nigeria’s out-of-school children are in the northern states. The almajiri phenomenon, which is the biggest driver of the numbers for out-of-school children in the country, is entirely a northern factor that cuts across all 19 states to some degree. We certainly have the least private sector investment and development in the country, along with several other unpleasant development indices.

The Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund (NNSTF) is therefore a model of collective leadership that can be transferred to other areas of regional governance and development areas, since several policy challenges not only cut across 19 northern states, but also defy the capacity of any individual states to tackle alone. The model can be used, for example, to address out-of-school children or develop a regional public transport network. Establishing an airline by any state is scarcely a development priority in my view, but states like Kano and Sokoto that are reportedly considering doing so could instead pool resources together to establish a single multi-state-owned airline strong enough for both domestic and international operations.

The collective regional leadership that the NNSTF demonstrates is also in keeping with the political and constitutional transformations underway by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration. As I argued recently in these pages, President Tinubu’s political reforms are based on a return to the old federal model of strong regions rather than our current weak states. I don’t know if this is a good or a bad thing, but rather than political resistance or noisy complaints, the North can respond positively by putting its house in order, and by demonstrating some measure of self-reliance within the framework of the Nigerian federation. Northern Nigeria simply cannot continue to be defined as the only problem with the country.

For example, the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund speaks directly to the idea of State Police currently being pushed by the Tinubu administration. I do not believe there is any state in Northern Nigeria that can adequately fund a genuinely functional police organisation. Moreover, real security challenges in the North are Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, cattle rustling, farmer-herder clashes, and religious cum communal clashes. I sincerely doubt if the establishment of a state police by any state in the region can help much with all these.

That does not mean the idea of state police should be discarded outrightly, however. Instead, it is a question of which internal security outfit is functionally and constitutionally best suited to address the specific security challenges in the region? Rather than State Police for its own sake, I suggest a regional outfit that combines both policing and military functions enough to deal with counter-insurgency, anti-banditry, rapid response against kidnapping, riots, farmer-herder clashes, rural policing, forest guarding, etc. The current federal Nigeria Police can then do much of the everyday crime fighting across all the states in keeping with the changing realities.

The scale of the NNSTF is also notable. As reported in the news, each of the 19 northern states will be committing N1bn monthly deducted at source. This equals N19bn monthly or about N228bn per year for regional security. These are the exact figures I have once suggested in this column, and it not only demonstrates a strong commitment from the governors, but also gives them significant leverage to attract more funding from the federal government or other sources.

Still, contribution by state governments would not be enough. Since security is everybody’s business, we must find a way to get everyone to contribute. The three zonal development commissions should also be contributing a monthly sum. Rural farmers, herders, and all businesses located across all 19 states, from telecoms companies and banks to the average akara seller and every adult resident across the region must also contribute to the security pool, however small. Security is a collective responsibility, and its costs must be shared by all.

Finally, I have a few concerns on the NNSTF. First, the 21-member Board of Trustees leans too heavily on retired military or police officers (about 70%). This suggests a narrow understanding of insecurity as armed conflict. But several of the security challenges in the North are deeply rooted in social, political and economic phenomena and impact all sectors of society. So, you need a much more diversified membership than currently obtains.

It is also not clear how the Fund would be utilised. Will the NNSTF be used to finance military or intelligence operations or to buy security equipment? Would it be used to establish a new security organisation or to support existing federal agencies? What about conflict prevention, peacebuilding, victim support, and reconstruction? All of these are not yet clear, and exemplify why there is a need for more sustained stakeholder and public engagement on this issue.

I also frankly do not see the need for co-chairmanship of the Board by former Minister of Defence and Head of the Civil Service, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed and former Chief of Defence Staff, General Martin Luther Agwai. Either man is more than qualified for the job, and the sharing of responsibility is both functionally and symbolically unnecessary. After all, we do not have a co-chairmanship of the Northern Governors Forum and it has never been a problem. In this sense, a rotational or Chairman/Deputy Chairman with real strategic functions is better. We must resist the attempt to treat a serious policy initiative as just another idle community or inter-faith dialogue session. Overall, however, this is a good step in the right direction.

The Adamawa State Executive Council has approved a draft budget of N609.1 billion for the 2027 fiscal year, with a major focus on infrastructure development and human capital investment.

The proposal was approved at the council’s meeting on Friday, presided over by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.

The draft budget earmarks 54.4 per cent of the total allocation for capital expenditure, while 45.6 per cent is designated for recurrent expenditure.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Barrister Leader Leneke, disclosed this while briefing journalists after the council meeting, saying the approval marked the commencement of the formal process for preparing the 2027 Appropriation Bill.

He said the government would undertake sectoral planning and consultations with relevant stakeholders before presenting the final budget proposal to the State House of Assembly for consideration and passage.

The council also approved several expenditures aimed at addressing immediate development needs across the state.

Under the education sector, N459.5 million was approved for the provision of biology instructional materials and 3D laboratory models to 84 secondary schools across Adamawa.

Similarly, the council approved N248.27 million for the electrification of Morawo and Zungalewa communities in Demsa Local Government Area, through their connection to the national electricity grid.

The government also approved the appointment of a consultant to conduct a technical assessment of the Rural Electrification Agency, with the objective of facilitating access to approximately $5 million in World Bank funding for rural electrification projects.

Meanwhile, the council approved a N16.59 billion virement, representing the reallocation of funds within the state’s 2026 budget to meet emerging priorities.

Commissioner for Budget, Emmanuel Piridimso, explained that the adjustment would enable the administration to finance priority projects in education, transportation and security without increasing the state’s overall debt profile.

The council also raised concern over the risk of seasonal flooding following official climate forecasts.

Commissioner for Environment, Bala Mohammed, urged residents living in flood-prone areas to relocate to safer locations immediately.

He said the state government had stocked emergency relief camps and provided medical supplies to respond to possible flooding incidents.

‘We have stocked emergency relief camps and medical supplies. However, we urge residents to clear drainage channels and stop building on waterways to prevent avoidable disasters,’ Mohammed said.

He added that the state government was working with traditional rulers and community leaders to ensure compliance with safety advisories and strengthen sanitation efforts at the grassroots.

The government urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with relevant authorities as the state prepares for possible flooding during the rainy season.

The Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) has said the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has reported a N535 billion profit after tax in June 2026 and has secured more than US$20 billion in gas sale and purchase agreements over the past year.

The surveillance firm stated that operations along the Eastern corridor of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) and the Eastern Gas Network ran largely without interruption over the past months, with the Emohua zone recording no case of infraction or vandalism during the period under review.

The record was disclosed at the August 2026 Stakeholders Engagement Forum in Port Harcourt, convened by PINL, the integrated pipeline infrastructure company responsible for the Eastern corridor of the TNP.

The General Manager, Community and Stakeholder Relations at PINL, Dr. Akpos Mezeh, said isolated cases of sabotage, attempted vandalism and equipment failure occurred during the period, but that rapid response teams restored affected facilities while security agencies arrested suspects linked to some incidents.

Engr. Akponime Omojevwhe, Head of Field Operations, Eastern Corridor, at the NNPC Limited Project Monitoring Office, confirmed the Emohua record and commended the zone.

He appealed to host communities to sustain the partnership, noting that dependable national infrastructure translates directly into national income.

The forum followed the signing by ECOWAS Heads of State of the Intergovernmental Agreement for the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, a proposed 6,900-kilometre line linking Nigeria to Morocco through 13 West African coastal countries.

Mezeh said investment on that scale depends on lines that stay in service, and that collaboration with host communities, traditional rulers and security agencies has been one of the most critical factors in the corridor’s stability.

His Majesty, Ohna Seargent Awuse, Paramount Ruler of Emohua Kingdom, said the company’s engagement model had changed the terms of operation in the sector.

PINL announced that its scholarship scheme for students from host communities will run annually for the duration of its Federal Government contract, alongside expanded youth and women empowerment, entrepreneurship and skills acquisition programmes.

African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised the practice of religious leaders visiting the Presidential Villa to discuss national issues, arguing that they would wield greater moral authority by speaking directly to their congregations instead.

Speaking on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television, Sowore reacted to the recent visit by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), led by John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.

The meeting came shortly after President Tinubu remarked that ‘all is fair in politics,’ a comment that generated public debate over the state of Nigeria’s political culture and governance.

While acknowledging the concerns raised by the bishops, Sowore said engaging the President behind closed doors diminishes the impact of the Church’s message and risks creating the impression of a political relationship between religious leaders and those in power.

‘I have a different view and my view is that I don’t think that bishops, archbishops and Muslim leaders should be going to the Villa,’ he said.

‘If they have issues with the President, let them step on the pulpit and speak to their congregation. That one carries more weight.’

According to him, public criticism delivered from churches and mosques would resonate more strongly with both political leaders and ordinary Nigerians than private meetings at the seat of government.

Sowore argued that visits to the Presidential Villa inevitably create perceptions of political accommodation, regardless of the issues discussed.

‘This going to the Villa and back is what Nigerians call ‘see finish’. To go to the Villa has its own connotations. It’s either you have asked to see the President or the President has asked to see you. It’s a transactional, two-way traffic,’ he said.

The presidential candidate suggested that religious leaders should preserve their independence by maintaining a visible distance from political officeholders, particularly when seeking to hold governments accountable.

Drawing from his personal experience, Sowore recounted an encounter involving President Tinubu and Catholic Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah during activities organised by the National Peace Committee ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

According to him, he was seated beside Tinubu when Kukah was introduced at the event.

‘I was sitting beside Tinubu during the Presidential Peace Committee and they introduced Rev. Fr. Hassan Kukah and Tinubu was just talking at my side, ‘This Kukah. He don come again.’ And he was just soliloquising and saying things I can’t say on TV,’ Sowore said.

He noted that Kukah now serves in an appointment under the Tinubu administration, arguing that such developments reinforce public perceptions that political and religious elites are closely connected.

‘Today, Kukah is an appointee of Tinubu. The bottom line is that they also know themselves. They are part of the general elite,’ he said.

Sowore maintained that faith leaders would have greater influence if they consistently challenged governments from their pulpits rather than through meetings with political leaders.

‘I would have preferred if the Catholic bishops use their pulpits to tell truth to power. It’s more effective,’ he said.

According to him, sermons delivered across churches and mosques could exert significant public pressure on elected officials, especially when they reflect the concerns of millions of worshippers.

‘If the President is hearing that the Catholic bishops in the South-East are telling people that the government is bad, it carries more weight,’ he argued.

To reinforce his point, Sowore cited an example involving the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

‘Just a five-minute protest by Adeboye under Buhari caused more problem than Adeboye going to visit them,’ he said.

Sowore noted that religious institutions remain among Nigeria’s most influential moral voices and should deploy that influence publicly to demand accountability, justice and better governance rather than relying on engagements behind the walls of the Presidential Villa.

The newly elected Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kaduna State Branch, Dr Aisha Mustapha, has called for unity and renewed commitment to members’ welfare.

Mustapha made the call during the formal handover ceremony at the new NMA Kaduna State Secretariat, where she assumed office alongside other members of the newly elected State Officers Committee (SOC).

She is the first woman to lead the association in the state.

She said the election was over and that the new administration was now focused on providing purposeful leadership and strengthening the association.

‘Elections are over; now is the time to work,’ Mustapha said, urging members to forgive one another, embrace each other and work collectively for the advancement of NMA Kaduna.

She said the strength of the association depended on unity and collective commitment rather than individual interests or divisions.

Mustapha also assured members that she would remain open to corrections, guidance and constructive criticism, but urged them to channel their concerns through appropriate avenues.

She cautioned against backbiting, slander and other actions capable of creating divisions within the association, saying constructive criticism should be used to improve leadership and strengthen the organisation.

The chairman said her administration would prioritise members’ welfare, effective communication, institutional development, professional advocacy and strategic engagement with relevant stakeholders.

The new SOC unveiled a 12-point agenda, including the commencement of internet banking, reactivation of the association’s social media platforms and expansion of media engagement across Kaduna State.

Other priorities include engagement with public and private health institutions, diversification of revenue sources, early budgeting and strategic planning, effective representation at the national level and stronger collaboration with government and other stakeholders.

The administration also plans to commercialise and increase the visibility of its Emergency Treatment Guidelines by obtaining an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN), while improving the welfare of NMA administrative staff.

It further pledged to double the award for the best graduating medical student and upgrade the association’s secretariat with running water, security, landscaping, cooling systems and Wi-Fi services.

The handover marked the transition from the administration of the outgoing chairman, Dr Hassan Bala Salihu, who highlighted achievements and challenges recorded during his tenure.

Salihu urged the new leadership to consolidate the gains of his administration, address outstanding challenges and remain focused on the collective interests of members.

The event ended with Mustapha leading members of the new SOC on a visit to an NMA member hospitalised following an illness.

The new administration wished the member a speedy recovery and urged colleagues to continue supporting one another in the spirit of professional solidarity.

The Arewa Think Tank has described allegations against the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Zacch Adedeji, over the Frontier Exploration Fund as a plot to discredit the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The group’s Convener, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, said the allegations should be treated with caution, particularly following Adedeji’s denial of the reports, which he described as sponsored fake news.

An online report had alleged that $279 million was transferred from the Frontier Exploration Fund’s account to unnamed accounts and claimed that Adedeji and the NRS were aware of the alleged movement of funds.

The report also alleged that the development had put the NRS chairman under pressure, with some stakeholders purportedly calling for a forensic audit of the fund.

However, Adedeji dismissed the allegations as false, describing them as an attempt to tarnish his reputation and that of the NRS.

‘That report is not true in any way. It is pure fake news sponsored by some jobless persons whose pastime is to throw mud at high performers in the President Tinubu government,’ he was quoted as saying.

Reacting to the controversy, Yakubu said the allegations were part of what he described as sponsored allegations and sensational reports targeting officials involved in the Tinubu administration’s reforms.

‘We are concerned about the growing pattern of sponsored allegations and sensational reports targeted at officials who are playing critical roles in the ongoing reforms of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration. The latest allegations against the NRS Chairman are unfortunate and should not be allowed to distract the government from its reform agenda.’ he said.

Yakubu urged Nigerians to distinguish between legitimate scrutiny and politically motivated attempts to damage the reputation of public officials.

He said the Frontier Exploration Fund was established under Section 9 of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, to finance petroleum exploration activities in frontier basins where commercially viable hydrocarbon reserves had not been fully established.

He listed the relevant basins as Bida, Benue Trough, Anambra, Chad, Sokoto and Dahomey.

According to him, the fund supports activities including geological mapping, seismic surveys, exploratory drilling, appraisal wells, basin studies and other exploration-related activities.

Yakubu said the technical nature of the fund made it important for stakeholders and members of the public to rely on verifiable information rather than unverified online reports.

‘We must be careful not to turn every allegation on social media into a conviction. If there are genuine questions about public funds, the appropriate institutions should investigate them. But deliberately publishing allegations without establishing the facts is not in the interest of Nigeria,’ he said.

He also urged media organisations and online publishers to verify allegations and give accused individuals and institutions an opportunity to respond before publication.

‘Freedom of expression and press freedom are fundamental, but they must go together with responsibility. Journalists and publishers should verify their information, especially when allegations concern integrity, public funds and the reputation of public officials,’ Yakubu said.

He further warned against what he described as attempts by fifth columnists to use social media to create confusion and undermine public confidence in government institutions.

Yakubu said government officials should not be shielded from scrutiny but insisted that such scrutiny must be factual, fair and evidence-based.

‘We are not saying that government officials should be above scrutiny. Far from it. What we are saying is that scrutiny must be factual, fair and evidence-based. Where there are allegations, let the appropriate authorities examine them. But nobody should be condemned based on a story whose claims have not been substantiated,’ he said.

The Arewa Think Tank urged the NRS leadership to remain focused on its mandate and continue supporting the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen revenue mobilisation, transparency and economic development.

The group also urged members of the public to verify contentious claims through credible official channels rather than relying solely on social media reports.

…..hails JAMB Registrar for clearing 5,000 pending complaints in five days

The Arewa Think Tank has commended the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Segun Aina, for clearing more than 5,000 pending complaints from candidates and other clients of the board within five days.

Convener of the group, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, said Aina’s relocation to the Board’s Service Compact with All Nigerians (SERVICOM) Unit to examine complaints demonstrated responsive leadership and commitment to public service.

‘We commend Prof. Segun Aina for demonstrating that leadership in a public institution is not merely about sitting in an office and issuing directives. His decision to personally engage with complaints and seek immediate solutions is a clear demonstration of leadership by example,’ Yakubu said.

The complaints covered biometric verification failures, payment and e-PIN difficulties, inappropriate examination venues, technical problems, lost phones and SIM cards, as well as issues involving the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).

Other complaints involved changes to candidates’ names, dates of birth, states of origin and local government areas, while some concerned candidates who converted from Direct Entry to UTME and graduates whose names were missing from the National Matriculation List.

Yakubu said the clearance of the complaints showed that many bureaucratic challenges could be resolved when public institutions adopt a proactive approach.

‘These are not just technical complaints. Behind every complaint is a young Nigerian whose future may depend on gaining admission into a university, polytechnic or college of education. That is why the direct intervention of the Registrar is worthy of commendation,’ he said.

He urged other government agencies to adopt similar approaches to complaint management, saying citizens should not be made to move from one office to another endlessly before their genuine problems are resolved.

‘We congratulate the JAMB Registrar and his team on this achievement. Five thousand resolved complaints in five days is significant, but more importantly, it demonstrates what can happen when leadership listens, engages directly with citizens and acts decisively.

‘Our young people deserve a system that is fair, responsive and humane. We believe the current intervention is a step in the right direction, and we encourage the JAMB leadership to keep up the good work,’ he added.

Yakubu also urged JAMB to sustain the initiative and strengthen its complaint-resolution mechanism to prevent recurring challenges and improve public confidence in the Board.

Eighty-seven days after terrorists abducted pupils from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, their families said the pain of their absence remains as raw as it was on the morning they were taken.

The abduction, which occurred on Friday, May 15, 2026, at around 9:00 a.m., shattered the peace of the Mussa community. Armed insurgents raided the school, taking the pupils, including toddlers, into captivity and leaving behind a trail of trauma, empty classrooms, and devastated homes.

Speaking with Daily Trust, parents of the abducted children expressed profound despair, noting that they have received no official information regarding the whereabouts or condition of their loved ones.

Compounding their grief, the families claim that both state and federal authorities have remained largely silent on the situation, leaving them to navigate their nightmares in isolation.

‘Nearly three months now, the psychological toll of uncertainty we endure is still hunting us. We live in constant fear and uncertainty,’ a parent, Mr Sale Buba, said.

He said that since the children were abducted, no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction and demanded ransom from them.

‘Our wives cry every day, and barely sleep at night. We constantly think about their conditions under captivity,’ he said.

He said that each time the rain started falling, his wife and other affected women would be restless, demanding answers about their children.

‘My wife will cry like a baby, thinking about the condition of her little children under the heavy rainfall,’ he said.

Also speaking, a mother, Josphin Yohanna, described the situation as a calamity that had befallen the community.

‘Many families were left anxious, no government visit, no update, or visible efforts to rescue our children,’ he said.

She said when the government officials told them to exercise patience and promised to rescue their children, ‘We all thought by now our children would have returned home, but it’s become a forgotten issue. This is where we are today.

‘For how long should we continue waiting without any update?,’ she asked.

Ishaya Suya, the chairman of the parents of the abducted children, said living without their children is torture.

‘We do not know if our children are safe, if they are fed, or what condition they are in, especially in this rainy season. I wonder if they are sick, healthy,’ he said.

He called on the state government to be more concerned about the condition of their children.

‘These children were abducted on the same day as the Ogbomosho children in Oyo. Their governor didn’t rest. Today, their children are not only released, but the perpetrators were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

‘Unfortunately, we are here begging to know the fates of our children, but nobody is saying anything,’ he said.

The councillor representing Mussa ward, Peter Haruna Waba, confirmed that the children are still in captivity and no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction.

‘We were confused about the situation. Nobody believes that these children will remain in captivity until this time. This is a calamity,’ he said.

He urged parents to remain calm as the state government is doing its best to secure the release of the children.

‘The Commissioner for Education was in our community on behalf of the governor, and he gave us hope that they would do everything to ensure that our children return safely.

‘We know the government is trying to rescue these children, but more efforts should be made to expedite their freedom,’ he said.

CSOs condemn govt’s silence

The Borno State Network of Civil Society Organisations condemned the prolonged silence of the state and federal government regarding the mass abduction of the schoolchildren.

The coalition’s chairman, Abubakar Suleiman, described the government’s lack of communication as both unfortunate and unacceptable.

He declared that authorities owe grieving families of Mussa and Lassa communities an immediate and transparent explanation.

He expressed deep concern that months after the tragic incident, the pupils still remain in the custody of their captors with no clear path to their rescue.

‘It is quite unfortunate that we are still discussing the children abducted back in May. It is completely unacceptable for parents and guardians to be kept entirely in the dark, left with zero information regarding the health, safety, and overall condition of their children,’ he said.

Suleiman heavily criticised the federal and security authorities for failing to provide reassuring or convincing answers to the affected families, noting that the psychological trauma inflicted on the parents is compounded by official apathy.

The CSOs called on the government to ramp up rescue operations to secure the immediate and safe return of the children without further delay.

Suleiman urged government officials to proactively reach out to the parents and guardians to express heartfelt sympathy and provide concrete reassurances that their loved ones will be brought home unharmed.

In a direct appeal to the abductors, the civil society leader called on the terrorists to search their consciences, consider the vulnerable state of the captives, and release them unconditionally to their families.

‘These children already come from underprivileged backgrounds and have been systematically excluded from many of life’s basic opportunities.

‘For them to now be subjected to this excruciating and terrifying ordeal is beyond unfortunate; it is a tragedy that demands urgent redemption,’ he said.

Why we are yet to rescue Mussa school children – security source

A security officer involved in the rescue operation of the abducted schoolchildren has explained why the victims have not been rescued.

The officer said a previous rescue mission, in which he participated, involved a combined team of military personnel, hunters and vigilantes who ventured deep into the forest days after the abduction.

He said the team came across an apparently abandoned mosque deep in the forest, where they found more than 30 mobile phones charging with a generator.

‘We did not know it was a bait left by the captors. Unwittingly walking into the trap, we confiscated the devices, only to be ruthlessly ambushed on our way out,’ he said.

According to him, the insurgents almost overpowered the team, seizing two military trucks and seven motorcycles and forcing the surviving members to make a narrow escape.

He said the encounter explained why subsequent rescue operations in the area were abruptly halted.

‘The militants possess superior knowledge of the terrain, are heavily armed and use psychological traps that turn search missions into lethal ambushes.

‘This has left the security forces severely outmatched in the dense forest,’ he said.

Borno govt keeps mum, says it’s a security matter

When contacted, the Borno State Commissioner for Education, Science and Innovation, Engr. Abba Lawan Wakilbe declined to comment on the situation.

He said inquiries should be directed to the military.

‘I can’t tell you beyond what you know. It’s a security matter, so contact the security agencies, please,’ he said.

FG should show more commitment – Security expert

A security expert, Major General Umar I. Mohammed, urged the Federal Government to demonstrate the same commitment in rescuing the abducted Mussa schoolchildren and teachers as it did in the case of the Orire pupils in Oyo State.

Mohammed said the government had a primary responsibility to protect the lives and welfare of all Nigerians, regardless of where they lived.

‘I will advise the government that all Nigerians should be treated the same. The same level of commitment, zeal and interest should be shown whenever there is a crisis anywhere in the country,’ he said.

He acknowledged the government’s efforts but urged it to deploy its full capacity to rescue citizens facing security challenges.

Mohammed also urged people in the North to speak out against issues affecting their communities.

‘They should be active and condemn when things are done wrongly. We should act in unison to bring an end to some of these menaces,’ he said.

The Mussa children were abducted alongside their teachers and the Orire pupils, who were rescued two weeks ago.

A public affairs analyst, Alhaji Ahmadu Ibrahim, also questioned the apparent disparity in the government’s response.

He urged the Federal Government to explain why the Oriire pupils were rescued while the Mussa children remain in captivity.

A Mobile Magistrate Court sitting in Bolade, Oshodi, Lagos, has sentenced 30 persons to two months’ imprisonment each for vandalising and removing iron rods supporting bridges across the state.

The convicts were arraigned before the court on Friday after they were arrested in connection with the alleged vandalism of structural components of the Alakija, Trade Fair, Orile and Abule-Ado bridges.

They pleaded guilty to the charges, following which the court convicted and sentenced each of them to two months in prison.

The prosecution alleged that the suspects removed iron rods supporting the bridges, an act capable of weakening critical infrastructure and putting the lives of motorists and other road users at risk.

Those convicted are Aminu Muhammed, Alamin Ibrahim, Bashiru Kabiru, Ibrahim Usman, Muritala Abdullahi, Nnana Obi, Umoru Haruna, Monsuru Abubakar, Muktari Aminu and Ayodele Abiodun.

Others are Destiny Peter, Akolade Oluwaseun, Raphael Ugoji, Misa Zaki, Kabiru Nosiru, Rabiu Zachariah, Yahaya Abdulrasheed, Olamilekan Mufutau, Azeez Balogun and Daniel Ayeru.

The remaining convicts are Bello Kabiru, Rasheed Akanni, Abdul Muhammad, Ahmeed Sanni, Jubril Lawal, Nurudeen Idris, Okazie Maxwell, Emmanuel Chibuzor, Alaba Mufutau and Esther Emmanuel.

The convictions come amid growing concern over the vandalism of public infrastructure in Lagos, particularly the removal of metal components from bridges, road installations and other government facilities for economic gain.

The latest convictions are expected to reinforce the authorities’ crackdown on the vandalism of public infrastructure, particularly facilities considered critical to public safety and transportation.