Category: PM News

Nasarawa governor, Abdullahi Sule on Saturday applauded policies and initiatives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for driving investments in infrastructure and businesses in his state and across Nigeria. Sule, who spoke at the beginning of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors enabled media tour of federal and state projects in Nasarawa said President Tinubu deserves credits for ongoing investments in infrastructure across states in Nigeria as they are direct result of his removal of subsidy and other policies that have led to increase in funds going from the federal purse to the subnational governments. Excerpts

By Ayorinde Oluokun

Nasarawa’s Monthly FAAC Allocation Boosted To Over N14 billion Under Tinubu

I have always asked for this kind of thing, for this verification. But let me tell you, you are doing just more than verification. You are also doing an assessment. I thank you for engaging in this because I’ve always challenged the media every time they ask questions – That, ‘okay, you have said you have withdrawn the subsidy. Okay, what are we seeing?’ Okay. So, I said, ‘Why don’t you go to these various places?’ That’s why I’m so happy to see the faces that are going with you because it will give them the opportunity to do that. For us in Nasarawa State, we are very transparent. I came from the private sector, so every contract I give, I give the amount that we are spending on that contract. And then, people can now make the difference with the kind of money we are receiving. n my first four years, everybody knows, Nigeria was sharing anywhere between maybe 590 billion to about 620 billion monthly. The total FAAC allocation for Nasarawa State was between maybe 3.8 to somewhere about 4.5 billion for the state. For the local government, anywhere between 1.9 to anywhere to 2.5 billion every month. With the removal of subsidy, Nasarawa State is receiving an average of 14 to 16 billion every month. That’s why when I said he took the bullet on our behalf. I think you have to be able to find a way to commend your leaders when they do right. Now, based on what we are receiving, you may go to a certain state that things do not relate with the kind of resources they are receiving. The media going with you will criticize you. I want you to remember that. And that is right also, because it wakes people up. There is nothing wrong with that. It will wake people up to say that ‘Ah, it doesn’t look like whatever I’m doing is meeting with the resources I’m receiving.’ So, the governors should be concerned about this trip that you are making. We should be concerned because it is time now to be accountable.

Give credits for Nasarawa’s investments In Infrastructure To Tinubu

All the projects we are doing in Nasarawa State today, at no borrowing from the bank, is as a result of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s support. It’s very difficult for or you to say, I’m going to see federal government projects, and I’m going to state government projects. So which one is state government? Which one is federal government? All the projects we are doing in Nasarawa State today, at no borrowing from the bank, is as a result of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s support. So, you must give him the credit for that. Without the reforms, we would not have had the resources to do what we are doing. So, I can’t take credit for those projects. I’m happy you are going to see some of them that everybody is talking about. You are going to our first-class secretariat. You go and see the office of the SSG is better than my own office. And there is nothing wrong with that, because at the time they built my own office, Tinubu was not there. Yeah, we didn’t have the resources that we have today. So, there is nothing wrong with me doing it better today because we are receiving the resources better today. And anybody coming in as the governor, if he like, he can build a new government house where he can now build based on what is happening today. But for now, I use the resources to do all that. We have the combined overhead and underground flyover. Our president came last year to commission it. We built it for 6.7 billion. Okay? Dualization of the Akwanga township. There are two of them. The real dualization itself, because Akwanga is a new town altogether. That town dualisation is actually done for 7.1 billion. Then we have an underpass also inside the same Akwanga. We built it for 6.6 billion. And then the Keffi Flyover, that’s where a lot of accidents have taken place. So many people died in that. So today, we are doing it 11.4 billion. And then, we constructed the twin flyover in Karu. That’s the one that a lot of you are happy with because maybe for those who live in Karu, you will see it. It is bringing economic advancement in the area. Just two days ago, we actually received 500 million naira from one of the real estates as our profit sharing for that same site where we invested only about 170 million. But you see, those are the businesses we do because I approach all these things purely like the way business is going to be approached. Now, Nasarawa State, no way in the past years could think of spending this amount of money. And you will not understand it until I dramatize it for you. Let me dramatize it for you – In the year 2019, I came in as a governor and we were looking for five billion naira bond in order to build a market because the total allocation coming to the state was less than 60 billion. Our budget was like 90 billion. We would do performance of about 66% with about 60 billion. That’s it. 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022. Those are the kinds of monies we are receiving. So, I was looking for five billion. And they said, ‘Well, if it is the time that you are in Dangote, we will give you. But this five billion for Nasarawa, we have to check it properly, sir.’ And so, I had meetings upon meetings. I had nothing less than 10 meetings for this five billion naira. And we had to go and also do ISPO because they have to ensure that they will deduct it directly from our money to build a market. Okay, so I couldn’t get that. Now, what I just counted projects that are worth up to 90 billion. We did it without borrowing one naira from anybody. And most of them have already been paid off.

‘We’re Focusing On Projects That Touch Lives’

We are doing so much in education, and education is key to me. Being an engineer, vocational and technical education, I strongly believe no matter your degree, PhD, MSF, BSc, whatever it is, you also need a skill. So, one of the approaches that we have in Nasarawa State is ensuring that we build skill acquisition centers. The skill acquisition center we have is teaching about 12 different trades, vocations – from electrical installation to metal machining, to carpentry and joinery, to cabinet making to welding and fabrication, to radio mechanics, to agricultural mechanization, all of them, we have them down there. And people actually who have degrees in other areas are going there to learn trade. And when they come out, I tell them, throughout my work in the US in the oil and gas sector, people are not interested in civil service work. When they have a trade, they are more interested in working for themselves. And that is the idea about it. So that is the center we brought, and from all over the country, people are coming there to acquire education for that trade. That is one thing we have done. When I was the managing director of African Petroleum, I learned something – people who have spent all their years working inside the company, and that’s the only thing they knew how to do – When I actually let them go and then give them their severance packages, a lot of them didn’t know what to do with the money because they had no skill to do anything else. So, what I do here is that I have post-retirement skill acquisition also at the center. It’s all part of the program that we are doing. So, it’s not just for the youth, it’s also for the old people like you and I, so that we can go and learn skill and be able to take it off from there. So that’s one good thing I think that we are doing. In the healthcare, Nasarawa, thank again to this administration – is of the few states in the federation that in each one of the three senatorial zones, we now also have a tertiary medical facility. We have the Teaching Hospital here in Lafia. We have the FMC in Keffi. But we also now have the Specialist Hospital, which is being built by us in Akwanga – the state government, through the resources that we are receiving. You need to do certain things that are touching the lives of the people. I come as the group managing director of Dangote Refinery. In the whole of businesses of Aliko Dangote, the one that was given the least amount of revenue is actually that of agriculture. But the one that is impacting the life of the people the most is also agriculture. So, for that reason, in Nasarawa State, we have 10,000 hectares of land where we are doing rice. Our own rice is not just for the media. It’s real rice that we are actually doing. Those are areas that we’re making that great impact.

Tinubu policy turns Nasarawa into hub of lithium processing

The lithium processing plant – it’s a private sector, so somebody may criticize it, just like they criticized our refinery to say that ‘Ah, it’s Dangote who solved the problem of refinery.’ Yes. However, what gave him the ground and everything to solve that problem is the policy of the federal government that we have. Today, the two lithium processing plant – it is because of the policies – ensuring that anybody who is coming to mine in Nasarawa State must also process in Nasarawa State. When we talked about it with President Bola Tinubu, he supported it. He took it abroad and they liked it. From the beginning, I criticized the appointment of Dele Alake as a minister of solid resources because I think he’s a media man. He doesn’t understand anything about this thing. But the man came in, he now is a better mining engineer than me. And he talks mining as if he’s an engineer, and he’s a media guy for God’s sake. And these are the things that happen. But why did he do that? It’s because he copied from his boss, he agreed with the direction of his boss, and he bought into it, he’s serious about it. He gave me all the support I needed, and that’s how we were able to build not only the biggest lithium mining facility in Nigeria, but the biggest in Africa. People love to buy lithium right now. So, you cannot take away the credit from this administration. It’s to understand that what is driving these policies? What are these governors doing with the resources that they are getting? How is it impacting in the lives of the people? Any leader that is doing well and is being encouraged, the leader gets on and do well some more. But when a leader is doing so well and you are criticizing the deed, criticizing all the time, criticize, it actually demoralizes the leader.

The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has called on the Lagos State Government to provide stronger institutional and logistical support for traditional rulers, while condemning land grabbing among some traditional leaders in the state.

Akiolu made the call on Sunday during a prayer session held at his palace on Lagos Island to mark the 23rd anniversary of his ascension to the throne.

The monarch said adequate support for traditional institutions would enable traditional rulers to discharge their responsibilities effectively and contribute more meaningfully to the development and stability of Lagos State.

He, however, expressed concern that while the majority of traditional rulers and chiefs remained committed to maintaining order and contributing to the progress of the state, some had allegedly turned to land grabbing.

‘Majority of the traditional rulers and reasonable chiefs in this state always ensure that things go in order.

‘But some of the incurably bad ones, for one reason or the other, best known to them, have chosen to turn themselves into land grabbers, which I didn’t like at all,’ Akiolu said.

The monarch urged the government to strengthen traditional institutions by providing the necessary logistical support to those occupying traditional offices.

‘I have pleaded and advised the government that you upgrade all these people, give them the logistic support to hold that office,’ he said.

According to him, inadequate institutional support could contribute to some traditional rulers resorting to activities such as land grabbing, which he described as contrary to responsible leadership and not in the interest of society.

‘It was in the absence of that they resort to land grabbing, which is not in the best interest of any human behaviour,’ he added.

Reflecting on his 23 years on the throne, Akiolu expressed gratitude to God for sustaining his reign and recalled his coronation 23 years ago at Enu Owa in Lagos.

He recalled that the late Chief Tajudeen Gbadamosi placed the traditional crown on his head during the coronation ceremony.

The monarch described his reign as one marked by ‘progress upon progress upon progress’, attributing the achievements to God’s blessings and the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was the Lagos State Governor at the time of his coronation.

Akiolu also stressed the importance of responsible leadership, urging traditional rulers to consider the consequences of their actions and seek divine guidance in the discharge of their responsibilities.

He said traditional institutions had an important role to play in maintaining peace, order and the cultural heritage of Lagos and should therefore be strengthened to perform those responsibilities effectively.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Head of Service, Bode Agoro, described Akiolu as a father figure to all and commended his discipline, compassion and commitment to preserving the traditions and heritage of Lagos.

Agoro described the monarch as a firm but compassionate leader who supported people who did what was right and corrected those who deviated from established standards.

‘Kabiesi doesn’t suffer fools gladly. He stays on the path of the righteous. If you do well, he will support you. If you don’t do well, he will tell you off,’ Agoro said.

According to him, Akiolu’s background as a former police officer had contributed to his disciplined approach to leadership, while his deep knowledge of Lagos history and traditions had made him an important voice in the affairs of the state.

Agoro said the monarch had consistently reminded the government of the need to preserve Lagos’ traditional heritage, particularly during the celebration of Isese Day.

He disclosed that Akiolu had regularly written to the government advocating public recognition of Isese Day, noting that the monarch had remained firm in his commitment to tradition and religion.

Describing Akiolu as an institution in his own right with extensive knowledge of Lagos history, Agoro said the monarch possessed an exceptional ability to recall historical facts and events.

‘He has all the facts and figures in his head. Kabiesi will recite and quote dates, times, lawsuits, everything. It’s amazing,’ he said.

Agoro prayed for the Oba to enjoy many more years in good health and happiness, expressing optimism that Akiolu’s anniversary celebrations would continue for decades to come.

The Lagos State Chairman of Accord, Dele Oladeji, has rejected claims that the party has endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term in 2027.

Oladeji, who is also Secretary of the Forum of Accord Party Chairmen in Southern Nigeria, described the claim as false and said it did not reflect any decision taken by the party.

He spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday while responding to comments attributed to Prof. Christopher Imumolen, a factional Accord presidential candidate.

Oladeji said no meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee had considered or approved support for Tinubu.

‘Accord did not and will not endorse Tinubu for a second term. Any person claiming otherwise is playing politics or engaging in anti-party activities,’ he said.

He added: ‘Accord has not at any time discussed any endorsement of President Tinubu at any of our NEC meetings.

‘So, there is no basis whatsoever for anybody to claim that Accord has endorsed President Tinubu.’

Oladeji accused Imumolen of presenting a personal position as that of the party, describing his claim as ‘political shadow boxing for media attention’.

‘Chris Imumolen is impersonating the Accord presidential candidate and declaring support for President Tinubu is political shadow boxing for media attention,’ he said.

The Lagos chairman also questioned Imumolen’s membership of Accord, claiming that his name was not on the party’s current register.

‘His name is not on the Accord membership register, as the register he was on had been phased out,’ Oladeji said.

He challenged Imumolen to produce evidence of his membership and participation in recognised party structures.

‘If Imumolen claims otherwise, let him publish his Accord membership register and pictures of any NEC meeting attended by INEC officials,’ he said.

Oladeji maintained that Accord would remain an independent political force and contest the 2027 elections at all levels, including the presidency.

‘Accord candidates will contest every elective position in the country, including the presidential election,’ he said.

He added: ‘Only an unserious person and political party will endorse the candidate of another party. Accord will not do such.’

The chairman urged party members and the public to disregard reports suggesting that Accord had agreed to support Tinubu’s re-election bid

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says an airstrike in the Sambisa Forest area of Borno State has killed nine Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters, including a senior commander.

The strike, carried out on Saturday, followed intelligence reports indicating the movement of suspected terrorists towards a hideout in the forest.

NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

He said a Remotely Piloted Aircraft was deployed for sustained Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance operations, which enabled the military to track the terrorists before carrying out a precision strike.

‘Following positive identification and confirmation of the target, the NAF aircraft conducted a precision engagement on the location. Subsequent battle damage assessment indicated significant effects on the targeted compound, with several terrorists neutralised.

‘Further intelligence received after the strike confirmed that nine ISWAP fighters were killed, while several others were wounded. Among those reportedly neutralised was Abu Khalid Al Muhajir, described as a prominent ISWAP commander responsible for providing special security escorts for the movement of senior members of the terrorist group,’ Ejodame said.

The NAF said Al Muhajir’s knowledge of routes, terrain and tactical movements across the Sambisa Forest and surrounding areas made his reported death a major setback for ISWAP.

It added that some of those hit in the operation were suspected to have been involved in the recent ambush of Nigerian troops along the Bita-Yamtage axis in Gwoza Local Government Area.

According to the service, the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of combining persistent surveillance with precision airstrikes to disrupt terrorist activities.

The NAF said it would continue intelligence-led air operations alongside ground forces to weaken terrorist networks, restrict their movement and improve security across the North-East.

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has urged 1,500 newly married couples who benefited from the state government’s mass wedding programme to build their homes on patience, justice, mutual respect and understanding.

Yusuf gave the advice while addressing the couples after they were married under the state government’s mass wedding programme.

According to a statement by his spokesperson, Sunusi Dawakin Tofa, the governor reminded the couples that marriage was an act of worship and should be guided by the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad.

He urged the newlyweds to respect each other, treat one another fairly and promote peace in their homes.

‘Marriage is an act of ibadah and should be conducted in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW),’ Yusuf said.

The governor also advised the couples to apply the lessons they learnt during their pre-marital counselling sessions.

He said patience, understanding and mutual respect were important for maintaining peaceful and successful marriages.

‘Make sure you put into practice the lessons you received during the pre-marital counselling sessions, because patience, understanding and mutual respect are essential to sustaining a peaceful home,’ he said.

Yusuf prayed for Allah’s blessings on the marriages and asked that the couples be blessed with righteous children who would make positive contributions to their families, society and humanity.

The mass wedding was organised by the Kano State Government as part of its social intervention programme aimed at supporting vulnerable residents and reducing the financial burden associated with marriage.

The programme was coordinated by the Kano State Hisbah Board and involved 1,500 couples.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it uncovered 399 fully assembled Jojef firearms and assorted rifle parts following the detailed examination of a seized shipment at the Tin Can Island Port Command.

The service made this known in a statement by its National Spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, on Sunday in Abuja.

Maiwada said the seizure was confirmed on Sunday after Customs completed the coupling and examination of the arms shipment, which was initially discovered as crates of knocked-down components concealed in a container.

He said NCS’s Comptroller-General(CG), Bashir Adeniyi, had disclosed the interception of the container containing the concealed firearm components, which were preliminarily identified as Jojef pump-action rifles.

Adeniyi said the additional rifle parts recovered include 89 frames, 16 heat shields, 10 trigger pins, three pistons, 25 locking lugs and 80 charging handles.

Others are 39 pistol-grip screws, 34 springs, 57 trigger groups, 66 foregrip latches, 45 foregrips or handguards, four pistol grips and five barrels.

The C-G said that criminal networks could exploit Nigeria’s borders, ports and airports to move prohibited items into the country ahead of the next general elections.

‘We are about entering a major election cycle and we know that by this period, men of the underworld will want to use our borders, our ports, our airports to bring in items like this,’ he said.

He said that the service would intensify surveillance and enforcement operations to prevent the movement of illicit arms and other prohibited items through the country’s entry points.

He reaffirmed the NCS commitment to intelligence-led enforcement, stronger border surveillance and collaboration with sister security agencies to dismantle arms-trafficking networks.

Adeniyi specifically cited collaboration with the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), in efforts to safeguard national security.

He said the seized firearms would be handed over to the NCCSALW following the completion of the inventory and assessment.

The C-G said that the development reflected the commitment of security agencies to removing dangerous weapons from circulation and ensuring that those behind the trafficking network were identified and brought to justice.

Politics has always received an all-time low in terms of reckoning in recent times, especially since the advent of politics in 1999.

The perception of many a people is that politics has been thrown to the dogs, becoming the personal fiefdom of charlatans, and other undesirable elements.

Consequently, the popular refrain in the polity is that ‘the worst of us are ruling the best of us’, in a society with the highest population among the black race.

Even the signs stare all in the face as some of those who occupy exalted offices fall short of the minimum standards in most societies.

Compared with post-independence politics, today’s politics is devoid of gravitas, wits and credibility, compared to the politics of old.

That was the era when men were men, with notable figures as Sir Ahmadu Bello, Tafawa Balewa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ladoke Akintola, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Anthony Enahoro and other notables as leading lights.

It was an era of razzmatazz, oratory skills, glitz and glamour at its best on the political turf, with many aspiring to become like these heroes.

Those were unforgettable days when political figures dominated the air waves with informed commentary in various spheres of national life, selling themselves and their manifestos.

No wonder, the various regions competed among themselves in a manner that prospered the people like never before. Posterity would never forget the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, for changing the fortunes of many homes which grabbed the opportunity offered by free education across Western Region.

Compare that era with what is happening in Nigerian politics today and you would almost weep for a country regarded as giant of Africa.

In terms of human and material resources, Nigeria leads the pack, but in terms of quality politics, it is at its lowest ebb.

That is why the situation in Ogun State today calls for caution as the 2027 elections stare us in the face. The state has always been peaceful, though politicians sometimes create unnecessary tension through their actions and utterances.

Meanwhile, words are very powerful and therefore need to be carefully used in conveying messages to woo the electorate.

These are a combination of people cutting across different sectors, most of whom are able to decipher.

It therefore behooves politicians to look at issues affecting the state dispassionately and tell the people how they hope to tackle them for their benefit.

Unfortunately, what we have seen thus far is throwing of needles tantrums, especially from the camp of the opposition.

The Gateway State, as Ogun is fondly called, is a state brimming with potentials that need to be harnessed for the good of the people.

Its proximity to Lagos makes it an asset and advantage as many investors see Ogun as the next investment destination.

Luckily, Governor Dapo Abiodun has been able to lay the foundation for future administrations to tap into to take the state to greater heights.

His completion of the Gateway Airport is a welcome development and its dividends is bound to improve business within and around the state.

Aside this, Ogun State has a pact with Lagos, the nation’s economic capital, courtesy of the Abiodun administration.

It is therefore incumbent on political gladiators in the coming polls to tell the people how they hope to further develop the state instead of engaging in mudslinging.

Unbridled allegations only distract the people, inflame tension and create fear among the people.

The focus should therefore be on job creation, investment opportunities, affordable healthcare, education, agriculture, transportation, sports and more.

It is for this reason that credit must go to APC Governorship hopeful, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, also known as Yayi, for crafting a robust message that meets the hopes and aspirations of the people.

Close watchers of his politics would see a focused, visionary and deliberate attempt to touch the lives of the people spread across different strata.

From his days as a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Yayi has been deliberate about touching the lives of his constituents, positively.

The experience he garnered over the years is what has made him among the most impactful politicians of his generation.

Going by his political trajectory, the Senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Yayi has spread his tentacles across the length and breadth of Ogun State with uncommon vigour.

This he has done with tact and humility, such that his impact has drawn so many into the APC across the length and breadth of Ogun State.

It is therefore not uncommon to tackle a man with his kind of credentials by opposition elements who are wowed by his intimidating credentials.

Instead of taking him up on issues, they resorted to cheap blackmail, mudslinging and name calling, all in a bid to stop this moving train.

Rather than take on them, the APC Governorship hopeful is replying them through mega initiatives.

targeted at raising the standard of the people across the state.

Therefore, whether you go to Ijebu, Egba, Yewa or Remo, the impact is too glaring to be ignored.

In Ijebu Water Side alone, he is currently working on the electrification of over 50 communities to the tune of 500 million naira, same for about 1 billion naira grant to traders across the state.

This is aside scholarships to students all over the states, grants to artisans, sponsored vocational training and upgrade of Federal Poly to a University and setting up of a Police Academy in the state.

Undoubtedly, Yayi remains the first senator in Ogun State history to have impacted the state’s three senatorial districts simultaneously in less than four years!

Meanwhile, all these are not without resistance. For those who think Senator Adeola would engage in tantrums with the opposition, they would need to ask those who engaged him using gun-toting elements in the race for Lagos West Senatorial District. Not only were they defeated by the mass of the people, they got to learn that politics is not about bravado but deployment of superior intellectual prowess.

Yayi’s school of politics revolves around politics without bitterness with the people as the focal point of politics, a trait he has demonstrated and would continue to demonstrate even after landing at the Governor’s office, Oke-Mosan in 2027.

Adefulu, a Journalist writes from Lagos

A 30-year-old Italy-based businessman, Joseph Cyril, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu, for ingesting 98 wraps of cocaine.

Cyril was arrested on Sunday, August 2, 2026, during the outward clearance of passengers boarding Ethiopian Airlines flight ET930, en route to Italy through Addis Ababa and France.

The arrest was among the arrests and drug seizures recorded by the NDLEA during the first week of August.

Following his arrest at the airport’s departure hall, Cyril was placed under excretion observation. He subsequently expelled 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510 kilogrammes.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Cyril had arrived in Nigeria from Italy on July 13, 2026.

He ingested the drug at a hotel in Awka, Anambra State, before travelling to Enugu to board his flight back to Europe.

In his statement, the suspect said he had been doing business in Italy for several years before agreeing to traffic the consignment for pound 3,500. He added that he intended to use the money to finance his relocation to Germany, where his family is based.

In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Akure-Ilesha Expressway intercepted a truck conveying 1,633 kilogrammes of skunk concealed in bags of rice shafts.

The truck was intercepted on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, while two suspects identified as 40-year-old Buba Jamilu and 30-year-old Sanusi Ibrahim, who were transporting the consignment, were arrested.

Similarly, NDLEA operatives recovered 147 kilogrammes of skunk from the Ita Ogbolu forest during a raid conducted on Monday, August 3.

The agency said the arrests and seizures formed part of its ongoing efforts to disrupt the trafficking and distribution of illicit drugs across the country.

The Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking has arrested 28 suspects and recovered assorted illicit substances in Rimin Gado and Doka communities of the State.

This is contained in a statement by the Chairman of the Task Force, Mr. Muhuyi Malawi and issued by the Secretary, Mr. Ibrahim Garba-Muhammad on Sunday in Kano.

Magaji, who led the operation, said it was aimed to tackle drug-related criminality and protect communities from the effects of drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

‘On Aug. 7, the task force raided five drug joints in Rimin Gado and Doka in Tofa Local Government Area of the state.

The targeted operation was aimed to demonstrate the task force’s impartial enforcement mandate and to send a clear message that no one is above the law.

‘We are treating every community equally and enforcing the law without bias. Our guiding principle is Kano First and we are determined to ensure a peaceful, prosperous and drug-free state inline with the vision of Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf,’ he said.

Magaji said the task force recovered various assorted illicit substances during the raids. He said that he commenced the operations from his hometown Rimin Gado saying it was deliberate and symbolic.

‘Sanitising my own community is the first step to a wider campaign,’ he added.

He said that the campaign would be extended beyond Kano Metropolis to all 44 Local Government Areas of the state.

The chairman noted that the operation combined kinetic interventions to disrupt criminal activities with coordinated follow-up. He said the task force would also adopt a balanced approach that would combine enforcement with prevention and recovery.

‘While kinetic measures continue to dismantle illicit drug networks, non-kinetic efforts are being intensified through engagement with community leaders, regulatory bodies, health services and educational partners to raises awareness. We’ll also strengthen supply-chain controls and expand rehabilitative support to those affected by substance use’ Magaji said.

He stressed that lawful and legitimate businesses were not the target of the operations.

‘Our aim is to protect honest traders and create an environment in which businesses and communities can thrive free from the effects of drug trafficking and abuse’ he said.

Magaji said investigations were ongoing and suspects found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law. He urged members of the public to support the ongoing operations by reporting suspicious activities and provide relevant information on drug trafficking and abuse.

The Chairman reaffirmed the task force’s commitment to sustain its operations, uphold professional standards and safeguard the health and security of residents across the state.

Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has announced that enrollment under the Katsina State Health Insurance Scheme has increased from 355,000 beneficiaries in 2023 to 583,460 in 2026, representing a 64 percent growth within three years.

Governor Radda made the announcement on Friday while flagging off the enrollment of 184,105 beneficiaries into the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) across Katsina State’s 361 political wards at the General Hospital, Katsina.

He said the achievement reflects his administration’s sustained investment in expanding access to quality healthcare and ensuring that poor and vulnerable citizens are not left behind.

‘Today, we are not merely launching another programme. We are taking another bold step towards ensuring that healthcare becomes a right and not a privilege for every citizen of Katsina State,’ the Governor declared.

Governor Radda stated that Katsina has emerged as one of Nigeria’s leading states in healthcare financing and service delivery, with the Katsina State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KTSCHMA) winning the National Health Insurance Excellence Award in both 2024 and 2025.

He disclosed that the agency has also hosted peer-review visits from seven states seeking to understudy Katsina’s innovative healthcare financing model.

The Governor further revealed that his administration has revitalised Primary Healthcare Centres across the state, established modern facilities including the Imaging and Cancer Treatment Centreand Dialysis Centre, and upgraded several Comprehensive Health Centres into fully-fledged General Hospitals.

He disclosed that about 98 percent of state and local government employees have been enrolled into the health insurance scheme, while retirees, members of the Hisbah Corps, the Katsina State Community Watch Corps and persons with disabilities continue to benefit from free health insurance provided by the state government.

Governor Radda also announced that enrollment into the Katsina State Health Insurance Scheme has become a mandatory requirement for all government employment programmes.

According to him, the policy is designed to protect beneficiaries from catastrophic out-of-pocket medical expenses while accelerating Katsina’s drive towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

‘An Executive Memorandum will be issued immediately to ensure full compliance across all Ministries, Departments and Agencies. Health insurance is now mandatory in Katsina State because we are determined to protect our people from avoidable financial hardship arising from medical expenses,’ the Governor stated.

He explained that the policy aligns with the Federal Government’s Universal Health Coverage agenda and his administration’s Building Your Future development blueprint.

Governor Radda said the government has strengthened the Katsina State Drugs and Medical Supplies Management Agency through an innovative financing model that channels 50 percent of capitation funds directly to healthcare facilities, significantly reducing drug stock-outs while improving accountability and service delivery.

He noted that Katsina’s healthcare financing model has continued to attract national and international recognition, revealing that countries such as Kenya have adopted aspects of the state’s healthcare financing framework.