Category: PM News

Troops have thwarted a planned terrorist attack on a military position in Borno State and safely evacuated 21 female students after receiving intelligence of an imminent assault, according to the military.

Operational reports obtained on Monday revealed that soldiers also arrested a suspected kidnapper believed to be part of a cross-border gang operating between Nigeria and Cameroon.

The report stated that personnel of the 3 Battalion stationed at the Forward Operating Base in Logomani detected suspected ISWAP and Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) fighters attempting to surround the base. The movement of the insurgents was picked up through the facility’s CCTV surveillance system, enabling troops to respond swiftly.

The soldiers engaged the attackers, forcing them to retreat before they could launch the planned assault on the base.

In a separate operation, troops under Sector 3 acted on intelligence that seven suspected ISWAP/JAS members carrying improvised explosive devices had been spotted close to the Water Board Internally Displaced Persons camp in Monguno.

As a precaution, soldiers relocated 21 female students staying in the vicinity to the safety of Kinnasara Barracks.

‘Three students who suffered seizures during the evacuation were stabilised at a hospital, while security around the area was reinforced,’ the report said.

Elsewhere in Borno, troops of the 115 Task Force Battalion, working alongside local hunters, clashed with suspected terrorists at Surajo village in Askira Uba Local Government Area. The insurgents escaped, leaving behind three bicycles and two coolers.

The report further disclosed that troops of the 247 Reconnaissance Battalion, supported by local hunters, arrested a suspected kidnapper at Gaya in Adamawa State’s Mubi South Local Government Area.

During interrogation, the suspect reportedly admitted belonging to a kidnapping syndicate based in Cameroon’s Solere Forest, which allegedly crosses into Nigeria to carry out abductions before returning across the border.

Outside the North East, troops of Operation MESA, in collaboration with police officers and vigilantes, rescued a kidnap victim along the Koton Karfe-Okparake Road in Kogi State. Three suspected terrorists were also arrested during the operation.

‘Troops recovered one Dane gun, one motorcycle, three mobile phones and ?23,000 from the suspects.

‘The rescued victim has been reunited with his family,’ the report said.

In Kebbi State, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA also responded to terrorist activity along the Wasagu-Ayu Road in Wasagu Local Government Area. According to the report, the troops confronted the fleeing terrorists, who abandoned two motorcycles as they escaped.

The Plateau State Police Command has arrested three suspects in connection with the mob killing of a 25-year-old man allegedly beaten to death by a group of youths over the suspected theft of an iPhone 12 in Jos.

The command condemned the incident, describing jungle justice as unlawful and warning residents against taking the law into their own hands.

Police Public Relations Officer, Alfred Alabo, disclosed in a statement on Monday that the victim, Ibrahim Mbaya, a resident of Rayfield in Jos South Local Government Area, was allegedly attacked by the mob on Sunday.

According to Alabo, the Lamingo Police Division received a distress report from a Good Samaritan after the unconscious victim was rushed to the Jos University Teaching Hospital.

Police operatives immediately visited the hospital, where medical personnel confirmed that Mbaya was dead on arrival.

Alabo said detectives swiftly launched an investigation, leading to the arrest of three suspects identified as Rinji Daniel Fwanji, Emmanuel Newyear and Nensemka Fwanji.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Newyear was captured in a viral video allegedly striking the deceased with a large wooden plank, while photographs obtained by investigators also placed him at the scene of the attack.

‘The suspects admitted attacking the deceased instead of reporting the alleged theft to law enforcement authorities,’ the police spokesman said.

He disclosed that the suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Jos for further investigation, while security operatives have intensified efforts to apprehend other suspects who fled after the incident.

The police said the suspects would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

Condemning the growing trend of mob justice, Alabo stressed that no individual has the legal authority to assault or kill anyone suspected of committing an offence.

He urged residents to report criminal activities to security agencies and allow due process to take its course, warning that anyone found engaging in jungle justice would face the full weight of the law.

The Kano State Police Command has rescued 10 passengers abducted during a deadly ambush on a commercial bus along the Jos-Kano highway, while security operatives intensify efforts to free three remaining captives still in the hands of suspected bandits.

The attack occurred on Saturday evening along the Folgore Forest axis in Doguwa Local Government Area, where five armed men reportedly intercepted a Toyota Hiace bus travelling from Jos to Kano.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the assailants, armed with machetes and a firearm, forced the vehicle to stop before abducting 13 of the 20 passengers on board.

He said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Doguwa Division swiftly mobilised tactical operatives to the scene after receiving a distress call, leading to a gun battle with the fleeing attackers.

The police intervention resulted in the rescue of nine abducted passengers, while another male victim later escaped from captivity, bringing the total number of rescued victims to 10.

Three passengers-one man and two women-remain in captivity as security operatives continue coordinated search-and-rescue operations.

The rescued victims were taken to Doguwa General Hospital for medical evaluation and were confirmed to be in stable condition.

Kiyawa said the command had deployed additional tactical teams and strengthened intelligence gathering to track down the abductors, rescue the remaining victims and bring those responsible to justice.

Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Adamu Bakori commended residents whose timely information aided the successful rescue operation and urged the public to continue providing credible intelligence to security agencies.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state, adding that investigations into the attack are ongoing.

Nigeria’s Consul-General in Johannesburg, Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, has accused South African police of using tactics that led to the death of Nigerian national Ibeh Chika Simon during an arrest operation in Cape Town.

Simon, 42, collapsed and died last Thursday while officers were attempting to place him under arrest.

Preliminary post-mortem findings revealed that he sustained multiple bruises and abrasions on his chest and back.

Okey-Uche said Nigeria was ‘deeply appalled by reports of the egregious police tactics that led to his death.’

She demanded a transparent investigation, warning of what she described as an alarming pattern of unresolved extrajudicial killings, deaths and police misconduct against foreign nationals in South Africa.

‘Suspects are entitled to due process in a court of law; no authority should be above it,’ the envoy said.

South Africa’s Independent Police Investigative Directorate has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Simon’s death.

Western Cape police claimed Simon became unwell and collapsed while officers were trying to arrest him.

Police spokesperson Col Andre Traut said officers were searching a house when they allegedly discovered an unlicensed firearm and substances suspected to be drugs.

According to Traut, paramedics were called after Simon collapsed, but he was declared dead at the scene.

The Nigerian envoy also disclosed that another Nigerian, Egwabor Patrick Chuks, was allegedly shot during the same police operation.

Chuks was reportedly taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Western Cape police, however, said they had no record of the alleged shooting.

Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described Simon’s death as ‘a very unfortunate situation.’

Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa said Nigerian authorities were following developments surrounding the case.

South Africa’s Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration also confirmed that Simon’s death was under investigation.

Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, who chairs the committee, claimed that some foreign nationals resisted law enforcement officers during the operation.

Simon’s death comes amid renewed concern over the treatment of Nigerians and other foreign nationals by South African security operatives.

Another Nigerian, Emeka Charles Iroegbu, reportedly died during a South African police operation in June.

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate is also investigating Iroegbu’s death.

Gov. Hope Uzodimma strong push for President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda was evident during recent three-day Renewed Hope Ambassadors/Presidential Communications Team National Media inspection of landmark federal and state governments’ projects in Imo State.

By Ayorinde Oluokun

Governor Hope Uzodimma’s position as the chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum places him in a unique position of primus inter pares (first among his equals) among his governor colleagues in the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. For one, the position puts on his shoulders the responsibility of mobilizing support for the programmes and initiatives of the ruling party as well laid out in the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

As recently noted by Sunday Dare, the Special Adviser, Media and Public Communication to President Tinubu, one of the indications that Governor Uzodimma has lived up to these responsibilities was the increase in the numbers of governors who have bought into the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President by joining the APC to over 30.

Dare spoke at a state dinner held at Government House, Owerri to mark the end of a three-day Renewed Hope Ambassadors/Presidential Communications Team National Media inspection of landmark federal and state governments’ projects in Imo State. The National Media tour, with over 40 senior editors and journalists in the delegation is itself an initiative of Uzodimma led Renewed Hope Ambassadors in conjunction with the Presidential Communications Team.

Seeing Is Believing’ Media Tour

The ‘seeing is believing’ media tour was initiated with the aim of providing Nigerians with firsthand information about projects and other initiatives being delivered across the country under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, while highlighting the impact of such interventions on citizens’ lives as as the nation prepares for the 2027 general election.

The tour began in the Northwest where the Tinubu administration’s milestone achievements in form of completed and ongoing projects in roads, rail, education, health, agriculture, environment among others were showcased to dispel the claim of neglect of the region by the administration. The situation was not different in the Southeast states of Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi as journalists inspected federal and state projects. Contrary to some claims, leaders of the region, including lawmakers and governors told journalists that the Southeast has been a major beneficiary of ongoing massive investments in infrastructure development by President Tinubu.

Significantly, governors and state government officials had also told journalists during the tour that the strides they have recorded in terms of their ability to undertake massive projects, regular payment of salaries and long neglected pension was because of the more funds they are receiving from the federal purse, courtesy of the reforms, especially, the courageous decision of President Tinubu to stop the corruption laden subsidy on petrol on assumption of office.

The situation was not different in Imo as journalists discovered in the course of three days’ tour of state and federal projects which began on Wednesday, July 15. Led by Declan Emelumba, Imo State Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, media team began with the inspection of the ongoing projects at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport. With determination to deliver the first cargo airport in the Southeast as a legacy project, Uzodimma has embarked on the expansion of the runway, construction of eight modern warehouses for storage and cargo and other facilities that will position the facility as a major logistics and export hub.

The media team also inspected the 36-kilometre Owerri-Obowo-Umuahia Road, the Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri now upgraded to Federal University of Technology as well as the Federal Medical Centre Owerri upgraded to a Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital Owerri. The two institutions were upgraded by federal government. Emelumba told journalists that the upgrade of Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri to Federal University of Education by President Bola Tinubu was answer to prayers of the people of Imo for many years.

‘This place used to be Alvan Ikoku College of Education Owerri. This is one of the oldest Federal Government Colleges of Education in Nigeria. I think they said there were about six in the country. Almost all of them had been converted to Federal University of Education. So, every government in Imo struggled to get it converted but couldn’t realize it until the coming of Governor Hope Uzodimma. And this was realized less than a year ago,’ he said. The Commissioner said the upgrade of the upgrade had generated significant employment opportunities for Imo people and had also attracted projects by TETFUND for the institution.

The team also inspected the Imo Digital City, the ongoing construction of 2,000-bed Infectious Disease Centre, the Heart Transplant Centre at the Imo State University, Orlu, the University of Innovation, Science and Technology at Omuma, the ongoing expansion of the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Convention Centre, Owerri as well as the ongoing construction of Orlu-Akokwa-Uga Border road among others in the course of three day visit to Imo.

Commitment To Renewed Hope Agenda

What became very clear during the tour was the commitment of Governor Uzodimma to the actualization of Renewed Hope Agenda for the benefit of the people of the state. Hence, he has no reservations in taking up major federal projects. One of such projects is the 36-kilometre Owerri-Obowo-Umuahia Road, a federal road which was taken over and constructed by the Imo governor after being in a state of disrepair for many years. ‘This is a road that links quite a number of communities, more than four or five local governments. It was horrible. There were so many potholes, and it defied all previous administrations. But as you can see, we passed through it. It’s very smooth, no pothole, with solar-powered streetlights. So, this is the product of the renewed hope government and the government of Imo State, which we are proud to present to you,’ Emelumba told journalists at a section of the road.

Tunde Rahman, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Special Duties told journalists that Uzodimma agreed to take up federal projects in support of the Tinubu’s administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. ‘Some of the interventions that you have seen, the Okigwe International Cargo Airport, and this road that we just passed, is being done by Imo State government under the Renew Hope Agenda to support the government. The governor said clearly we should let you know it’s not a question of, ‘I’m going to be reimbursed.’ ‘It is being done in conjunction with the government in order to support the government under the Renew Hope agenda,’ Rahman who is also Director, Media and Publicity, Renewed Hope Ambassadors said. But the road that extended from Okigwe to Owerri as double carriageway with drains and streetlights is not the only major project that the Imo State Governor has fixed or is fixing through the collaboration from the federal government.

Journalists on the tour was also at a section of the ongoing reconstruction of the 31 Kilometers’ Orlu-Mgbee-Akokwa-Uga Road, a major link between Anambra and Imo which has been rendered impassable for many years as a result of massive gully erosion. The media team saw newly completed gigantic concrete bridge and ongoing efforts to tackle the erosion challenge to restore the link between the two states. ‘There’s no way you could have been here about two years ago because the road was cut into two by the gully erosion for more than eight years at this particular place. It takes a lot of courage, vision and determination for anybody, any government to attempt to fix it like the governor of the state is doing,’ said the Commissioner.

‘The road is along Akokwa-Uga. Uga is in Anambra. So, it links the two states. This is a very commercial hub of the state. By constructing this road, commerce will flow, and goods and services will flow easily,’ Emelumba said. ‘This place, I’m sure if the contractors will tell you, has gulped a lot of money, a lot of money. But the governor said he was determined, even though it’s a federal road, he is an APC governor and an APC compliant governor for that matter,’ he added. Even then, it was also acknowledged that Uzodimma and his colleagues are being empowered to undertake such gigantic projects because of the increase in the money going from the federal purse into the coffers of sub national governments as a result of the bold reforms of the President.

Enabled By Tinubu’s Reforms

Uzodimma acknowledged this during the state dinner at Government House, Owerri. ‘Everything we are doing in Imo today is made possible because of the Renewed Hope Agenda. We are pursuing sustainable development, investing in infrastructure, healthcare, education and technology because the reforms have created the enabling environment for development,’ the Governor said while likening the reforms being undertaken by the President to those that propelled Singapore to the apex in terms of development indices under the late Lee Kuan Yew.

He noted that the President came into office on May 29, 2023, with determination to tackle Nigeria’s age long challenges with the aim of bringing the nation into a new realm of development. ‘President Tinubu knew exactly what he came to do. He started implementing the reforms immediately because he understood the task before him,’ he said. Thus, he said the President started campaigning for his second term when he assumed office as he started rolling out policies and reform policies that have now crystallized into benefits for people across the country.

The Governor recalled that when he was sworn in on 15 January 2020, his Accountant General came back from a FAAC meeting with funds that was barely enough to pay salaries, just like for many other states then. But he noted that the situation changed dramatically when President Tinubu assumed office on May 29th, 2023. After FAAC, I saw over N10 billion. I said, ‘what?’ So, when people were trying to oppose removal of subsidy, I have to put on my belt and my jeans. I came out and said, ‘subsidy must be removed’. Uzodimma said his administration has been able to deploy the increased resources from the centre to undertake visible programmes and projects that the people of the state are very, very happy for and have therefore decided to vote for the President in 2027.

He noted that with increased FAAC allocation and increase in Internally generated revenue of the state from less than N400m to close to N6 billion a month now, his administration has been able to reduce the debt profile of Imo State from about N280 billion in 2020 to less than N90 billion.

‘So, day by day, we are reducing the debt profile so that the state can become very solvent. In 2020, movement from one end of Imo State to another takes an average of two to three hours. As I speak, it is only 45 minutes,’ said the Governor.

He also revealed that his administration had taken advantage of the new electricity law of President Tinubu’s administration to tackle the challenge of power in the state. Thus, he said the administration has been able to end the regime of the people of the state paying for power they did not consume. As I speak, we generate, we transmit, and we distribute electricity. In Owerri, capital, including this government house, we are using ‘homemade’ electricity’, he said while assuring that the locally generated power will be extended to some of the state’s local government areas by the end of the year.

Tinubu In Strong Position For Overwhelming Victory

Uzodimma said the performance of his administration with the support of President Tinubu as well as ongoing federal interventions across the state have placed the ruling party in a strong position for overwhelming victory in the state and in the nation in the 2027 election. ‘You have come to Imo, not to campaign for our people. You have come to Imo to see what we have been able to achieve. Our people have already decided that they want President Bola Tinubu back as the president. Because without him and his policies and programmes, this environment we are enjoying today would have been very impossible to achieve,’ Uzodimma said while assuring that many governors of APC in Nigeria are also working hard, deploying the additional revenue accruing to them from the centre for the benefit of their people.

While assuring that his projection that Tinubu will record a landslide victory in the 2027 election was not based on fantasies, Uzodimma said: The population of APC, verifiable with name, is in excess of 13 million. Look at the number of people benefiting from the school loan. Look at the number of people benefiting from various social interventions. Imo State is a one-party state. I can say that authoritatively. Ambassadors of Renewed Hope Agenda are present in every polling unit, minimum of 50 people. So, if members of our party vote for our presidential candidate, he has already won the election.’

The Lagos State Government has warned motorists to prepare for traffic delays and slower movement on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway as repair work on the Kara Bridge begins on Tuesday, July 28.

According to the state government, the Federal Ministry of Works will commence the replacement of the bridge’s expansion joint as part of efforts to improve the condition of the busy highway. The maintenance work is expected to last for two weeks.

To allow the repairs to take place safely, the four-lane carriageway will be reduced to two lanes along a 1.5-kilometre section of the bridge.

This temporary restriction is expected to affect the smooth flow of traffic, especially during peak travel periods when thousands of commuters use the route daily.

The government also warned that motorists could experience heavy congestion around the Fatgbems Turn as some drivers may attempt to make U-turns or use alternative routes to avoid the affected section of the expressway.

However, traffic moving towards Ibadan beyond the Fatgbems Turn is expected to flow with minimal disruption despite the ongoing construction work.

The Lagos State Government urged motorists to plan their journeys ahead of time and allow extra travel time to avoid unnecessary delays. Drivers were also advised to use alternative routes where possible, obey all traffic signs, and cooperate with officials who will be deployed to manage traffic throughout the repair period.

The government assured residents that traffic management personnel would be on the ground to ease congestion and ensure the safety of both motorists and construction workers.

It explained that the rehabilitation project is part of ongoing efforts to improve road infrastructure, enhance the safety of road users, and extend the lifespan of the Kara Bridge.

The government appealed to the public for understanding, patience, and cooperation while the work is being carried out, noting that the temporary inconvenience will result in a safer and more durable bridge for all road users.

Three students have been pulled alive from the rubble of a three-storey hostel that collapsed near the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State.

The rescued students were taken to St. Michael Hospital, Oko, where they are receiving medical attention.

Elite Five Star Lodge, located in Amokpala, Orumba North Local Government Area, collapsed on Sunday night with an unknown number of occupants inside.

The private lodge was occupied mainly by students of the polytechnic.

Police operatives, firefighters, officials of the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency and other responders continued searching the debris for occupants still feared trapped.

Footage circulating on social media showed emergency workers, students and residents gathered around the ruins as the rescue operation progressed.

Officials had yet to establish how many people were inside the building when it collapsed or confirm the total number of casualties.

The cause of the collapse also remained unknown as of the time of filing this report.

Rescue operations are ongoing.

Prof Wole Alamu has revealed that kidnappers left a cutlass beside his abducted wife, Rachael Alamu, apparently expecting the Oyo State school principal to take her own life.

Alamu made the revelation during a thanksgiving service held after his wife regained freedom following more than 50 days in captivity.

Rachael, principal of Ahoro Esinle School in Oriire Local Government Area, was abducted alongside pupils and teachers on May 15, 2026.

Her husband said the incident with the cutlass occurred after he blocked the kidnappers’ telephone numbers and stopped negotiating with them.

According to him, the gunmen confronted his wife after discovering that they could no longer reach him.

‘They went to her and said, ‘Madam, your husband has blocked us. We are going to kill you,” he recalled.

Rachael reportedly responded: ‘You will not kill me in Jesus’ name.’

Alamu said the kidnappers later left a cutlass beside his wife.

‘They left one cutlass beside the Madam Principal,’ he said.

‘When they came back, they were blaming one another, saying, ‘You left a cutlass beside the Madam Principal so she could kill herself.”

Rachael refused to touch the weapon and confronted her captors.

‘I will not kill myself and you too will not kill me,’ she reportedly told them.

Alamu explained that he blocked the kidnappers after three weeks of direct communication because their threats were destroying his health.

He said every message from the abductors left him emotionally destabilised and repeatedly caused his blood pressure to rise.

‘There was a day I went for a medical check-up. They sent me a text message and I became destabilised.

‘By the time I got to the clinic, I could not even do the check-up because my blood pressure had already increased,’ he said.

The professor said he eventually decided that remaining in contact with the kidnappers could cost him his own life.

‘That day, I decided I would block these people.

‘You cannot kill me here and kill her there. Choose one. If you want to take her, she is going to be with Christ.

‘You cannot kill the two of us at the same time,’ he said.

Rachael and the other abducted victims were eventually freed following a rescue operation announced by the Federal Government.

Her husband described the kidnapping as the greatest trial his family had faced but said the experience strengthened their faith.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has repositioned the party for victory in the 2027 general elections, his aide, Mallam Yusuf Abubakar Dingyadi has said.

Dingyadi who is Yilwatda’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, stated this in a statement issued to newsmen in Sokoto on Sunday.

The statement was issued to mark Yilwatda’s first anniversary as national chairman of the ruling party.

He said the APC had recorded renewed unity, expanding nationwide support and stronger internal cohesion under Yilwatda’s leadership.

‘APC has evolved into a more disciplined, inclusive and people-centred political platform,’ Dingyadi said.

He said Yilwatda assumed office at a critical period in the party’s history and focused on strengthening internal democracy and reconciling stakeholders.

According to him, the national chairman also prioritised repositioning the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

‘The party’s National Secretariat has become more professional, with greater emphasis on accountability, innovation and efficient administration,’ Dingyadi said.

He said Yilwatda’s leadership style, characterised by consultation, humility and administrative discipline, had improved cooperation among stakeholders.

Dingyadi said the approach had strengthened collaboration within the National Working Committee, among party elders and across other stakeholder groups.

He added that one of the administration’s major achievements was reconciling aggrieved members and promoting consensus-building among different tendencies within the APC.

The aide said the party had also expanded engagement with youths, women, persons with disabilities and other groups.

He added that the APC had strengthened its structures across wards, local governments and states.

Dingyadi linked the party’s growing acceptance to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and ongoing economic reforms.

He said Nigerians were beginning to see the benefits of the reforms through infrastructure projects and government interventions nationwide.

While acknowledging that the reforms had caused temporary hardships, Dingyadi said the APC considered them necessary to stabilise the economy.

He said the measures were also aimed at averting what he described as a deeper national crisis.

Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, Dingyadi expressed confidence that the APC would retain power.

He said the foundation laid under Yilwatda’s leadership had positioned the party for another electoral victory.

Dingyadi urged Nigerians to sustain their support for the APC, describing the party as committed to democratic values and national development.

He said the party remained open to new members and would continue strengthening its internal structures.

The aide also pledged that the APC would work toward delivering what he described as greater dividends of democracy to Nigerians.

As dark clouds gather over Kaduna and heavy rains pound the city, most residents seek shelter, but commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators face another demanding day earning a living outdoors.

While many commuters dread the rains because of flooded roads and traffic congestion, commercial riders, popularly known as okada and keke operators, say the season presents a mix of opportunities and risks that shape their daily earnings and survival.

ýA News Agency of Nigeria survey across Kawo, Sabon Tasha, Kakuri, Barnawa and the Central Market areas of the city showed that although demand for commercial transport often rises during rainfall, operators contend with slippery roads, hidden potholes, frequent breakdowns and increased risk of accidents.

Mr Ibrahim Musa, a motorcycle operator at Kawo, said every rainy day begins with uncertainty because the weather determines whether he returns home with enough money to provide for his family.

‘When it rains heavily, many people do not want to walk, so more passengers look for motorcycles. Sometimes we make more money than on dry days because demand increases.

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‘But the danger is always there like potholes covered by water can throw you off your motorcycle before you even realise it is there. Once you fall, the money you made can end up being spent on treatment and repairs,’ he said.

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Mr Peter John, who operates a tricycle in Barnawa, described the rainy season as a period of mixed fortunes.

According to him, although passenger traffic increases during showers, frequent repairs resulting from waterlogged roads consume a significant portion of his income.

‘Every week, mechanics replace brake pads, wheel bearings or other parts damaged by bad roads, so what we gain from increased patronage is often spent on maintenance. Sometimes we stay off the road for hours waiting for the rain to stop, which also affects our income,’ he said.

ýAt Sabon Tasha, Mrs Grace Yakubu, a trader, said commercial riders remained the most dependable means of transportation whenever rainfall made movement difficult.

‘When taxis refuse to enter flooded streets or charge very high fares, motorcycles and tricycles are usually the only option and they help many of us reach our businesses and return home,’ she said.

Some passengers, however, expressed concern over reckless riding during rainy weather, urging operators to prioritise safety over the rush to maximise earnings.

ýMr Emmanuel Joseph, a civil servant, said some riders sped through flooded roads despite poor visibility, thereby exposing themselves and passengers to avoidable danger.

‘Most riders are responsible, but a few become careless because they want to carry more passengers before another rainfall begins and that is dangerous for everyone,’ he said.

A motorcycle mechanic in Kakuri, Malam Sani Abdullahi, said the rainy season always increased the number of motorcycles and tricycles brought to his workshop for repairs.

ý’Water affects brakes, chains, wheel bearings and electrical components as such, many operators delay maintenance until small faults become major problems that cost more money to fix,’ he said.

Officials of transport unions urged operators to reduce speed during rainfall, avoid flooded roads where possible and ensure their motorcycles and tricycles remained roadworthy throughout the season.

ýThey also appealed to the Kaduna State Government to rehabilitate damaged roads and improve drainage infrastructure to reduce accidents and protect the livelihoods of thousands of commercial transport operators.

For many riders, however, staying away from work is not an option so, whether under scorching sunshine or heavy rain, they continue to navigate Kaduna’s roads daily, driven by the need to feed their families and provide an essential transport service to residents.

As the rainy season continues, both operators and commuters hope that improved road infrastructure, better drainage systems where they are bad, and greater adherence to traffic regulations will make travelling safer while protecting the livelihoods of those who depend on commercial transportation.