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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone B, Kaduna, has handed over a massive seizure of donkey bones and skins to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), describing the move as a critical step in protecting Nigeria’s biodiversity.

The seized items – 700 bags of donkey bones and 2,500 pieces of donkey skins – were intercepted in separate anti-smuggling operations and formally handed over to NESREA’s Kaduna State Coordinator, Mr. Hene Emmanuel, during a brief ceremony on Tuesday.

Speaking at the event, Comptroller Aminu Sule said the illegal slaughter and trade of donkey parts posed severe ecological and socioeconomic risks.

‘The Nigeria Customs Service is committed to enforcing environmental laws, protecting endangered species, and preventing Nigeria from being used as a transit point for illegal wildlife trade,’ he declared.

According to him, donkeys remain an essential means of transportation and livelihood for rural communities, making their illegal exploitation a direct threat to local economies.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has responded to the 65th independence speech delivered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday, saying ‘the pot is not only empty but cracked – and the people remain hungry.’

Tinubu had earlier in the day spoke of ‘turning the corner,’ laying foundations ‘in concrete and not on quicksand,’ and of supposed victories in education, healthcare, the economy, and national security in his nationwide broadcast.

But responding, Atiku, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications, Phrank Shuaibu, said, ‘The yam may be plentiful, but if the pot is empty, the stomach still rumbles.’

According to Shuaibu, the president cited the multiplication of schools since 1960, but in many places, pupils still sit on bare floors and write in dust, while teachers abandon classrooms because their salaries cannot buy food.

FULL SPEECH: Tinubu’s independence Day broadcast

I started community service at 17 – Idris Lau

‘He boasted of more hospitals, but our mothers and fathers still carry candles, syringes, and drugs into wards before treatment can begin. A man who builds many huts without roofs has only built shade for goats,’ he said.

On the economy, Atiku said, ‘We were told of bold reforms. But Nigerians know the pain in their pockets. Food prices are higher than the rooftops, transport has swallowed incomes, and many families now eat less than one meal a day. If these are the ‘seeds’ of reform, then the fruit is still bitter. When the roof is on fire, it is folly to declare the rain has quenched it.’

On security, Atiku remarked that Tinubu saluted the courage of armed forces and declared victories over terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers, but ‘Nigerians still sleep with one eye open, and families still pay ransom as if it were the daily price of gari.’

Atiku, a former presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), said, ‘Villages continue to bury their dead. Most tragically, just this week, we lost Somtochukwu, a young female news anchor with Arise TV, killed in a robbery attack in the early hours of Monday.

‘Her death is a painful reminder that no one – not even the voices that bring us the news – is safe in today’s Nigeria. A farmer cannot boast the bush is cleared while weeds still choke his yam.

‘We were told that billions have been disbursed to poor households. Nigerians ask simply: where? ‘if the yam was truly cooked, neighbours would perceive the aroma.’ Across the land, poverty still walks naked and hunger knocks daily, yet the government sings of generosity that citizens cannot see or feel.

‘Our young people, the supposed ‘future,’ are promised wings to fly. But many graduates hawk sachet water or ride okada to survive. You cannot tell a child to dream big while you steal the mat he sleeps on. Nigerian youths need real opportunities, not more applause lines.

‘Yes, 65 years is a long time. We have endured civil war, dictatorships, and crises. Nigerians are resilient – that much is true. But resilience must not be mistaken for endorsement. Our founding fathers dreamed of a land flowing with justice and opportunity. Today, the riverbed is dry for many, and only a privileged few fetch from the little water left.

As Nigeria today marks its Sapphire Jubilee (65 years of existence) as an independent nation, after gaining independence on October 1st, 1960, the dispensation calls for deep reflection over the journey so far and a new vision, having undergone significant rites of passage over time.

Firstly, there is the need to congratulate this great nation and its people for having weathered the challenges of nation-building and remaining as one political entity for this long. It needs to be recalled that several nations, both in Africa and other parts of the world, which not only started before and after Nigeria’s formation but also shared the same dream of nationhood, are no more due to a multiplicity of both endogenous and exogenous factors.

The story of Nigeria could also have been otherwise, given its leadership circumstances. Assembled from a collection of disparate ethnic nation-states by the British colonialists in 1914, and subjected to different leadership scenarios comprising colonial and serial rule alternation between democratically elected civil administration and the frequent truncation of same by military incursions into governance through coup d’états in 1966, 1975, 1976, 1983, 1985, and 1993, the country’s retention as a single entity today remains one of the most successful exercises in unity in diversity, as far as nation-building is concerned. Of even more significance is that Nigeria has, since 1999, enjoyed an unbroken run of democratic rule for all these 26 years. This political positive accentuates the merit of celebrating Nigeria at 65, for holding on to the vision and sustaining the mission of its founding fathers, even in the face of vicissitudes.

Yet, the fact remains incontrovertible that Nigeria could have achieved much more at 65, given its innate, humongous potentials and resources. With a population of 45 million at independence in 1960 and 220 million at present, the country has always been a giant on the African continent, as well as a voice to be reckoned with across the world. In terms of economy, Nigeria is endowed with a rich variety of strategic resources, ranging from large expanses of arable land for agriculture, lush flora and variety of fauna, as well as humongous oil and gas deposits and other minerals, which guarantee its position as a rich nation.

However, against the backdrop of its endowments and potentials, Nigeria has, for this long period, been a victim of arrested development, courtesy of multiple leadership failures. While it was hailed as the giant of Africa in the light of its status and promise at independence, the current state of Nigeria leaves much to be desired, due to generations of leadership whose failures denied it a better course of progress. Hence, Nigeria is currently reeling from the ravages of insecurity, with insurgency and other tendencies that have negatively conditioned daily life across the entire country. For instance, on a daily basis, insurgents attack one community or the other with fatal consequences. To further accentuate the ravages of insurgency in today’s Nigeria is the fact that several communities, and even local government areas, are at the mercy of insurgents, with residents paying ransom to the occupying insurgents.

The crime of kidnapping human beings for ransom has become a growing business venture in today’s Nigeria. So bad is the situation that senior government officials at various levels are discreetly and openly negotiating peace deals with insurgents.

Beyond the scourge of insurgency lies the more pervasive syndrome of endemic corruption in literally all aspects of government business. Courtesy of the deep-seated malaise of corruption, public largesse has been largely privatized by the political leadership community, leaving the masses to their wits. As a result of the widespread syndrome of corruption, Nigeria loses the bulk of the public largesse to private interests, as public interest-oriented projects suffer. Also, courtesy of the syndrome of corruption, even the political space remains compromised, as the country serially fails to elect the right calibre of leaders to take charge of its affairs. In the final analysis is the concern over the prospect of redeeming the country from its largely self-inflicted challenges.

That is why the need for a new vision that will propel the country along a new course remains mandatory. This new vision needs to be anchored on the premises of a united Nigeria, as well as the rule of law. With respect to the fostering of unity, the leadership needs to work assiduously along the course of integrating the disparate ethnic nation-states that make up the country, as the amalgamation process that spawned Nigeria under the colonial rule of Britain in 1914 is not yet completed.

The goal of unity will hardly be realized unless there is a deliberate attack on the freedom of impunity. This is where the rule of law needs to be actualized to ensure that the constitution and the laws of the country are obeyed by all and sundry.

We at Daily Trust believe that this task is for all Nigerians to key in, put in their best, be more patriotic, and have a strong belief in Nigeria. Once we can do this, our journey to the Promised Land can be realized.

Daily Trust wishes every Nigerian a happy 65th Independence Anniversary.

South Africa’s ambassador to France, formerly a long-serving cabinet minister, was found dead on Tuesday at a Paris hotel in what is being treated as a possible suicide, the Paris prosecutor said.

The body of Nkosinathi Emmanuel Nathi Mthethwa, 58, a close associate of South Africa’s former president Jacob Zuma, was found in the interior courtyard of the upscale Hyatt hotel.

The ambassador, usually known as Nathi Mthethwa, had reserved a room on the 22nd floor, and its secured window had been forced open with a pair of scissors that were found at the scene.

His wife saw him a final time on Monday afternoon when he was supposed to go to a cocktail event, and then received a message in the evening ‘in which he apologised to her and expressed his intention to end his life’, prosecutor Laure Beccuau said in a statement. ‘Initial investigations suggest that this could have been a deliberate act, without the intervention of a third party,’ she said, while emphasising the investigation would seek to collect all the details.

Mthethwa had been an ambassador since December 2023.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called his death ‘untimely’ and ‘a moment of deep grief in which government and citizens stand beside the Mthethwa family’.

‘Ambassador Mthethwa has served our nation in diverse capacities during a lifetime that has ended prematurely and traumatically,’ he said.

The circumstances of ‘his untimely death’ are under investigation by the French authorities, a South African ministerial statement confirmed.

Mthethwa served as South Africa’s culture minister from 2014 to 2019, and then minister for sports, arts and culture until 2023, according to his embassy website.

He was also the police minister from 2009 to 2014 and the security minister from 2008 to 2009.

Mthethwa also served on the board of directors of the 2010 Football World Cup local organising committee.

Between 2007 and 2022, he was a senior official in the African National Congress (ANC), the ruling party since the first post-apartheid democratic elections in 1994. He worked underground within the ANC’s military wing during apartheid and was notably arrested during the state of emergency in 1989.

The PULA Foundation, in collaboration with the Presidential Food Systems Coordination Unit (PFSCU) and Bayer Foundation, has launched a groundbreaking agricultural insurance initiative to enhance the resilience of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

The partnership aims to provide climate-resilient agricultural risk mitigation methodologies to approximately 248,000 smallholder farmers across eight states – Ekiti, Plateau, Kaduna, Enugu, Jigawa, Borno, Nasarawa, and Taraba.

This innovative initiative is part of the National Agribusiness Planning Mechanism (NAPM) program, which was co-created by PFSCU, PULA, and Bayer Foundations.

The program’s primary objective is to ensure that Nigerian farmers engage in climate-resilient agriculture risk mitigation methodologies, thereby improving crop yields and reducing losses due to climate-related risks. The partnership has received strong support from state governments, with eight states already onboarded as part of a pilot program.

State governors have demonstrated their commitment to indemnifying their farmers with promptly paid premiums, which will be matched by a commitment from PULA and Bayer Foundations for four seasons.

Leadway Insurance will act as the preferred insurance agency to harmonise and assure the program’s insurance cover for each farmer.

According to Marion Moon, Executive Secretary of PFSCU, ‘By engaging directly with those who implement policies and systems, we gain valuable insights into the specific challenges they face. Understanding these pain points is crucial for developing effective solutions.’

Rose Goslinga, Executive Director of PULA Foundation, noted that ‘across sub-Saharan Africa, small farmers are the bedrock of national and regional economies-unless the weather proves unpredictable and their crops fail. The solution is insurance, at a vast, continental scale, and at a very low, affordable cost.

‘This visionary approach underscores PULA’s commitment to supporting the Nigerian government and state governors in their quest for food security, sustainable agricultural practices, and climate resilience.’

Dr Michael Enahoro, PULA Nigeria Country Director, emphasised that ‘enshrining the responsibility of risk mitigation with the individual farmer allows for productivity improvements, ensures that the agronomic efforts of the farmer are not wasted, and ultimately benefits both government and consumers.’

The partnership is expected to upscale and cover more value chains, integrate more farmers, and support Nigeria’s quest to eradicate climate change-related disasters and drive sustainable food systems. PULA Foundation and its partners are currently focused on ensuring the expansion of the NAPM into the second phase, which is the 2025 Dry Season, and encouraging all state governments to partner with the PFSCU to ensure all Nigerian farmers participate in the 2025 Dry Season farming exercise wherever possible.

The initiative is a significant step towards enhancing the resilience of Nigeria’s agricultural sector and promoting sustainable food systems. With the support of state governments, PULA Foundation, and its partners, the program is poised to make a lasting impact on the lives of Nigerian farmers.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be ready to receive more governors of the opposition into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Akpabio said more governors were putting finishing touches in preparation to join the APC, noting that Nigerians were already seeing the positive outcomes of the Tinubu-led administration.

Akpabio spoke at the launch of a book, ‘Ten Years of impactful leadership of the APC administration in Nigeria’, written by Governor Hope Uzodimma and commissioning of projects by President Bola Tinubu in Owerri, according to a statement by his special assistant on media, Jackson Udom.

Recall that Akwa Ibom State governor, Umo Eno, and Delta State governor, Sheriff, had dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling APC.

The Federal Government, on Tuesday, announced that the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has agreed to call off its strike following two days of conciliation meetings with the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

The meetings, which held on September 29 and 30, 2025, were convened by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, and attended by senior government officials, security agencies, and representatives of organised labour.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meetings, Dingyadi said PENGASSAN’s strike action followed the disengagement of over 800 workers at the Dangote Refinery.

‘The leadership of PENGASSAN explained that the directives given to stop the supply of gas to Dangote Petroleum and the withdrawal of services were in response to the termination of appointment of over 800 members,’ the Minister said.

On its part, management of the refinery maintained that the job cuts were due to ‘ongoing reorganization in the company.’

After hours of deliberation, both parties reached a compromise.

According to the Minister, ‘the management of Dangote Group shall immediately start the process of taking the disengaged staff to other companies within the Dangote Group, with no loss of pay.’

The communiqué also emphasized that no worker would be victimised for their role in the industrial dispute.

On union rights, Dingyadi reaffirmed that ‘unionisation is a right of workers in accordance with the laws of Nigeria and that this right should be respected.’

He further disclosed that PENGASSAN had agreed to begin the process of calling off the strike in good faith.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has accused the state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, of partisanship after the police command withdrew from the Independence Day anniversary parade held in Kano.

Speaking during the event on Wednesday, the governor described the action as an affront to the people of Kano and to the spirit of national unity.

‘In conclusion of my speech, I would like to call for all the security agencies to continue committing themselves in the tribes of this country, including Kano State and all other states.

‘But security agencies, in Kano in particular, they shouldn’t be involving themselves in partisan politics, which will do no good to all of us in Kano State and in Nigeria of course. Let me say in particular that I would like to seize this opportunity as a Nigerian, as Kano citizen, and as the Chief Security Officer of Kano State, to condemn the unethical and partisan attitude of the current Commissioner of Police in Kano State,’ the governor said.

He noted that the police commissioner’s absence from the parade, along with his personnel, was a deliberate decision that embarrassed the state on a historic day.

‘As you can see, on this historic and independent anniversary of Nigeria, he decided to put out of the parade along with his own personnel. This is for reasons pertinent to him and pertinent to his people. Let me say that Kano State’s Chief Security Officer, on behalf of the government, are not happy with this attitude of the Commissioner of Police,’ he stated.

The governor stressed that Kano remained peaceful and that the people had been eager to celebrate the country’s independence together.

‘Today, every Nigerian is happy to celebrate the independence of this country. And we insist it, because we know Kano is peaceful. The good people of Kano are peace-loving people.

‘They have been looking for this day, when we all gather here, to celebrate the independence of our country. And here is one of the security personnel, a special Chief Security of the Police Force here in Kano. This is a point to the Kano people,’ he said.

Governor Yusuf further criticized the withdrawal as last-minute and politically motivated.

‘In the last minutes, when all the police are dread, in fact, are just their own wish. Because along with Kano, we are looking for this opportunity to show the happiness and celebration to be in the history of Nigeria. When our rights is written today in court, yet the Commissioner of Police decided to withdraw at the last minute.

‘It is not because of our boldness. It is not because of our insistence that we must come and celebrate. We all need to be happy here. And that will happen to the good people of Kano today,’ he added.

He insisted that such actions contravened the Nigerian Constitution, emphasizing his role as the Chief Security Officer of the state.

The governor described the commissioner’s conduct as ‘unethical,’ adding, ‘You can see I used my own pilot car to go around. This is unethical. This is disloyalty to the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’ he said.

While thanking other security agencies for their participation in the parade, Yusuf assured of his government’s continued support to sustain peace and unity in.

When our correspondent reached out to the Police Commissioner, he simply said, ‘I am on a condolence visit, I will call you back later.’

Today, Nigeria marks 65 years of independence; a significant milestone in the journey of a nation that has weathered many storms, yet continues to stand tall, proud, and unbroken. This anniversary is both a celebration and a call to reflection: a celebration of our collective resilience, and a moment to honour the sacrifices and vision of our founding fathers, who won for us the freedom we now enjoy.

Their legacy was not forged in ease, but in unity, faith, and an unwavering belief in the greatness of Nigeria. It is a legacy that inspires us to continue building a nation where peace, justice, and opportunity prevail. We must not merely commemorate independence: we must make it meaningful for every Nigerian.

Our path as a nation has been defined by resilience. Through challenges; political, economic, and social. Nigerians have demonstrated an extraordinary capacity to endure and hope. The strength of our people, especially here in Kaduna State, continues to be the bedrock of our shared progress.

This is why, on this historic day, I extend a sincere call to all of us: let us work together, across our communities, faiths, and backgrounds; to confront our challenges and unlock our collective potential. It is in unity that we will continue to give life to the dream of a peaceful, just, and prosperous Nigeria.

Here in Kaduna State, we are translating vision into action. Our administration is pursuing inclusive development and renewal through strategic and people-centred investmentsespecially in the following areas:

1. Infrastructure and Economic Connectivity

We have prioritised infrastructure as the engine of development. To date, we have launched 85 urban and rural road projects, covering 785 kilometres across the state. Nearly half of these are completed, facilitating trade, reducing travel time, and improving access to markets for farmers and entrepreneurs alike. We are rebuilding urban roads, bridges, and essential public utilities to stimulate investment and elevate living conditions.

2. Rural Transformation and Agricultural Revival: Our Rural Revitalisation Agenda is reawakening the economic potential of previously marginalised communities. With the reopening of key markets such as the Birnin Gwari Livestock Market and the Kidandan Market in Giwa, we are seeing a resurgence of local commerce and a renewed sense of community confidence. More than 500,000 hectares of abandoned farmland have been reclaimed, equipping our farmers to produce more while enhancing food security across the state.

3. Human Capital Development: Education and health are not luxuries – they are the pillars of our future. We are executing a comprehensive reform of our educational system to ensure that every child, regardless of background, has access to quality learning. This includes infrastructure upgrades, teacher training, and the integration of digital tools. Through the Reaching Out-of-School Children Project, we have successfully returned over 10,728 children to the classroom. Moreover, we have reopened 535 schools previously shut due to insecurity, reaffirming our belief that education is a right, not a privilege.

In healthcare, we have turned promises into action. We have upgraded 255 Primary Health Care Centres across the state, bringing vital services closer to rural communities. These efforts are supported by our investments in three world-class vocational institutes, which are empowering our youth and women with marketable skills to thrive in an evolving economy.

4. Agriculture and Food Security: Recognising the strategic importance of agriculture, we have allocated over 10% of the 2025 budget to the sector – the highest in recent years. This demonstrates our commitment to empowering smallholder farmers, promoting climate-smart practices, and strengthening the agricultural value chain to ensure long-term food security and economic growth.

5. Peacebuilding and Social Inclusion: We understand that meaningful development is impossible without peace. This is why we have deepened our investment in community security, reconciliation, and dialogue. We are expanding community policing initiatives, strengthening collaboration with security agencies, and supporting victims of conflict. Through these efforts, we are rebuilding trust across diverse communities and reaffirming our collective commitment to peaceful coexistence.

Justice, equity, and inclusion are the cornerstones of our governance approach. We are building a Kaduna State where policy is driven by fairness, leadership is guided by empathy, and every community, no matter how remote, has a voice in shaping our shared future.

These achievements reflect our determination to build a Kaduna that is safe, strong, and inclusive. Yet, the path ahead requires even greater cooperation between government and the people. Development is a shared responsibility. I urge every citizen to contribute, through acts of peace, through civic participation, and through unwavering belief in the promise of our state and nation.

Nigeria’s future remains bright, and Kaduna’s role in that future is significant. Under His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the nation is undergoing bold reforms to secure peace, restore prosperity, and strengthen democratic governance. Kaduna stands fully in support of this vision.

As we celebrate today, let us renew our commitment to building a nation where hope thrives and unity endures. With God’s guidance and our collective resolve, we will overcome our challenges and realise the full potential of our state and country.

Happy Independence Day.

May God bless Kaduna State.

May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The story of Faiza Abdulkadir, a cleaner whose bank account was mistakenly credited with N4.8 million, but returned it, resonates with the essence of honesty amidst profound social and economic crises and vulnerabilities in Nigeria.

Her story, published in the Daily Trust on August 24. 2025, chronicled the struggles of a poor woman who barely gets the opportunity to eat three square meals daily, but returned the money for the ‘fear of God’ and ‘desire for peace of mind’.

Faiza works at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) and survives on a modest monthly salary of N30,000 to cover essentials like food, school fees, healthcare, and other necessities for her aged mother and five children.

Her story is unique, as many individuals in Nigeria face similar economic circumstances, but her act of integrity, despite challenging economic times, has made her a symbol of honesty.

Interestingly, Faiza is a reminder for every other individual out there to live an honest life, regardless of the physical, emotional, and psychological pressures. Daily Trust’s visit to her home, located in Gwange ward, tells a story of a resilient woman who believes in making money through honest means.

Walking into the compound, this reporter saw a makeshift structure of a three-bedroom made from zinc, sitting in a flooded environment.

Showing the reporter around, Faiza said, ‘This is where I live with my mother and children. I sleep in this room, while my mother uses the other room. I’m happy with what Allah has given me. Alhamdullillah!,’ she said.

Faiza explained that she relocated to the old building after being displaced by the September 10, 2024 flood disaster that ravaged Maiduguri.

‘A renowned Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Sheriff Saleh Alhussani, took pity on our condition and sheltered us free here. We don’t pay rent, and our children have access to school,’ she said.

Since the flood washed away everything from their house, Faiza and her children spread mats on the floor to sleep and rest at the end of a tedious day.

‘You can enter the room and see, the challenges are too numerous, but as the saying goes, ‘health is wealth’, I must thank Allah for keeping us healthy,’ she said.

Receiving cash award from Borno Governor’s wife

Abandoned for 10 years

Faiza’s travails started when she found herself in a difficult situation after her husband left to pursue a business in Lagos and did not return. For ten years, she has been left with the burden of raising and caring for their five children all alone.

‘I lived with my husband in Lagos, then Abuja before he relocated me back home. This is his tenth year in Lagos without visiting home. I now have five children to cater for all alone.

‘Life is not easy. Even though he sends me money sometimes, the challenges are just enormous. I thank God for my life,’ she said.

Faiza’s struggle to return N4.8m

Narrating her story on the N4.8 million she suddenly found in her account, ironically, Faiza said she had nothing to feed her family with when she decided to return the money.

I was at work when a man called me from Kebbi State and said he mistakenly sent money to my account. I panicked when I saw that it was N4.8 million because I had never seen such an amount before.

‘He insisted that I should make a quick transfer through a POS operator but I declined. I told him that I would consult my bank the following morning so that the transfer could be done directly to his account.

‘He kept calling and pressuring me to send him the money. I told him to be patient, that as a Muslim who knows the implications of taking what doesn’t belong to me, his money is in safe hands.

‘What he didn’t know was, I look up to the reward hereafter more than keeping his money. If I eat that money, it can lead me into hellfire,’ she said

Faiza said she went to the bank as early as possible to make the transfer when another call from the man came in, still pleading with her to transfer the money.

‘I connected him with customer care. They asked him several questions and became convinced he was the owner of the money before it was transferred into the same account.

‘I felt relieved when they debited the money from my account because the issue had kept me busy for three days without eating, but the man kept disturbing me, saying that he had not seen the alert.

‘He insisted that I should return to the bank and link him up with the customer care unit, which I did, but he kept pestering me.

‘He called the following morning, saying he still had not received the money, and I had to return to the bank. At one point, I became angry and asked my elder brother to step into the matter.

‘On the last day, I was at the bank until 4pm. The bank staff were very furious with his attitude. One of them asked him to stop pushing me around, knowing fully well that his money had been transferred,’ she said.

When asked if the man had given her something or called to tell her when he received the money, she said, ‘Yes, he called and informed me that he finally received the alert, but claimed that he still had a N10,000 balance in my account.

‘This man called me twice, telling me that I should keep the N10,000 balance. God knows that we transferred the entire amount to him, except for the bank charges, which he must bear, not me.

‘I warned him not to call me again. He should sort it with the bank because not a penny has been left in my bank account.

‘I did all that for the fear of God, not him. If not, I spent a lot of money on transportation and my precious time. In fact, I had no money to even feed myself when I was struggling to get to the bank to return his money,’ she said.

Reward for honesty

Following media reports of her rare and inspiring display of integrity, Faiza received praise and support from individuals across the country.

One of the individuals who appreciated the honesty of Faiza is the First Lady of Borno State, Dr Falmata Babagana Zulum, who presented Faiza with a cash gift of N1 million to support her family.

At a special event organised in her honour, Mrs Zulum said she was pleased that a person of such caliber was a woman from Borno State.

‘I presented her with N1 million to support her family. She should be a role model for all men and women in Borno State,’ she said.

Also, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Zuwaira Gambo, announced additional support in the form of vocational equipment and food items for her.

‘Her action, especially given her financial challenges, is a rare and inspiring display of integrity, which shows that honesty is not determined by wealth but character,’ said Gambo.

Another good Samaritan who did not want his name mentioned donated N2.5 million to Faiza, describing her honesty as a rare quality that people should emulate.

Presenting the N2.5m cheque, the president of Da’awah Wal Irshaad Women Organisation, Borno State, Aisha Muhammad Aisami, said the philanthropist read the story in Daily Trust Newspaper and reached out to the organization to find the woman and reward her.

‘We, therefore, present this cheque of N2.5m to Faiza Abdulkadir, on behalf of our donor, who saw what she did. Daily Trust newspaper carried the story, and it’s widely spread. He is not from Borno State; he only read the story and sent the donations through us.

‘May Allah SWT make her steadfast in what she did and reward the donor and all those who donated to her,’ she said.

Responding, Faiza thanked the donor and the Da’awa organisation that facilitated the donation, while calling on people to fear God and stick to the boundaries.

‘If you fear God, anything that doesn’t belong to you would not attract you. We should always prepare for eternal life, hereafter, not to be deceived by the worldly gains that are temporary,’ she said.

God provided me a home – Faiza

Faiza, who expressed profound gratitude for the support she received from people across the country, said God has miraculously answered her prayers.

‘It feels like a dream because people kept calling and sending me gifts. I was overwhelmed by the number of donations I received from people.

‘It’s always been my dream to own a house, and Allah SWT has answered my prayers. I want to thank you people for amplifying my story and the donors for changing my life,’ Faiza said when asked what she plans to do with the donations.