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The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, says the commission has secured a cost relief of over N19 billion for Nigerian pilgrims in preparation for the 2026 Hajj.

Usman disclosed this while briefing journalists in Kano on Friday upon his return from Saudi Arabia, where he embarked on an emergency visit on September 22 to negotiate improved service delivery and cost efficiency for Nigerian intending pilgrims.

According to him, the relief followed engagements with Saudi partners and executives of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, which resulted in a reduction of over N200,000 per pilgrim across the 66,910 slots allocated to Nigeria.

‘This achievement is not just negotiation, but results. It aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at easing the burden on our people,’ the NAHCON boss said. He noted that beyond the relief, the trip laid a stronger foundation for the 2026 exercise, with several contracts already signed. These include Masha’ir services with Mashariq Dhahabiyya Company, transport services with Daleel Al-Ma’aleem, and accommodation and feeding services in Madinah’s Markaziyya area at competitive rates.

The chairman added that NAHCON had held frank discussions with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, drawing from the lessons of the 2025 Hajj to make firm recommendations for better service delivery.

He also announced the inauguration of the 2026 Hajj Tour Operators Screening Committee, saying only qualified operators would be cleared to serve Nigerian pilgrims.

‘The days of shortcuts and cutting corners are over,’ Usman stressed.

In addition, NAHCON has commenced intensive staff training to sharpen its workforce ahead of the commencement of operations.

On Hajj fares, Usman said the 2026 rates were deliberately announced early to encourage timely payments and smooth planning. The fares include Maiduguri/Yola axis to pay N8,118,333.67; northern states N8,244,813.67 and southern states N8,561,013.67.

He emphasized that by October 8, 2025, states are expected to remit 50 percent of fares to NAHCON to maintain their allocations, while full payment by all pilgrims must be completed by December 31, 2025.

‘These deadlines are not just administrative. They are crucial to guarantee early camp bookings, stronger contracts, and efficient services,’ he explained.

Usman urged discipline, foresight and cooperation from stakeholders, saying the success of the 2026 Hajj must be built early rather than improvised.

Motorists using the Abuja-Keffi highway continue to face agonizing delays around the Mararaba community in the Karu Local Government Area (LGA) of Nasarawa State. Abuja Metro reports that Mararaba town, which is densely populated due to its proximity to Abuja, is suffering from a lack of a good road network. This includes the major highway which serves as a critical entry point to the nation’s capital.

Vehicles, including those that convey the hundreds of commuters who travel into Abuja for work in the morning and return to communities as far as Keffi in the evening, are frequently caught in gridlock in Mararaba.

When Abuja Metro visited the road at the weekend, motorists directly linked traffic gridlock to the numerous potholes on the road.

A trip that should take less than 30 minutes now lasts between three and four hours, leaving commuters exhausted and businesses drained.

The congestion is most severe along the one-kilometer stretch from Zenith Bank Junction through Building Materials to Sharp Corner U-turn, where potholes, flooding, and poor road design have turned daily travel into a nightmare.

A resident, Victor Balogun, said ‘I spend more than one hour from Mararaba to AYA, a journey that should take less than 10 minutes.

”From Mararaba to this checkpoint alone, we spend more than three hours. People are suffering on this road.’

A tricycle operator, Chinedu Valentine, described the situation as unbearable, urging government to act:

‘The traffic is too much; people are stranded every day. Government should help us, we don’t know what to do again,’ he pleaded.

A resident, Mustapha Sani, said there was jubilation last December when the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Works, awarded a contract for rehabilitating the expressway to Messrs China Harbour Engineering Co. Nigeria Limited.

He disclosed that the project commenced early this year from the area where the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) shares a boundary with Nasarawa State, starting with the lane leading toward Keffi.

He said the work has so far been executed around communities along that lane, including New Nyanya, Masaka, and Auta-Balaifi, with similar work progressing from the Keffi town axis. As a result, motorists now enjoy a hitch-free movement along the rehabilitated lane, but are unfortunately suffering ‘hell experience’ on the opposite lane.

Mustapha listed about six notorious potholes along the affected lane in Mararaba town, starting around the Orange Market junction and moving to locations including: Shafa filling station, ECWA church U-Turn, Aso junction, Sharp-corner, and the Building Materials Market near Zenith Bank. He noted that all the listed locations are often flooded during the rainy season, forcing motorists to move slowly or even remain parked for extended periods.

Sani demanded that the construction company responsible for the project fast-track their work and make an emergency effort to fix the affected potholes to save motorists from unnecessary wastage of working hours.

He added that the situation is also affecting residents with emergency needs, such as those being taken to hospitals, as well as school students.

Sani also pointed out that motorists and commercial motorcyclists or tricyclists are causing accidents by driving against traffic (one-way or opposite direction) in an effort to avoid the gridlock.

Economic impact and commuter woes

Also speaking, a trader at the Building Materials Market in Mararaba town, Ayogwu Okudele, said the situation has caused them to lose patronage.

According to him, many customers can no longer afford to visit the market and are instead going to other neighboring markets within or outside the community.

He noted that many of their members have to engage the services of commercial motorcyclists when coming to or leaving the market to reach their destinations on time.

Our reporter gathered that commercial bikes are charging between N500 to N1,000 for a short trip from desperate clients who cannot afford to miss their appointments.

A commercial motorist operating along the road, Hassan Ogbola, said that drivers, on average, spend between one to two hours around the listed potholes alone and must visit a mechanic frequently to repair damaged parts.

He disclosed that he makes only about three round trips to Abuja on average days, lasting from morning until he closes in the evening, all under ‘difficult experience.’

Ya’u Adamu, the secretary of the Gravel and Sharp Sand Suppliers, Mararaba branch, linked the problem of the potholes to the absence of functional drainages and culverts around some portions of the road. He said their union previously used to volunteer by supplying gravel and stones to refill the potholes where necessary, but the situation has now grown beyond their capacity.

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has mobilised civilians JTF fighters and troops to Kirawa, a town in Gwoza Local Government Area (LGA) following the withdrawal of Cameroonian soldiers stationed in the town.

Boko Haram terrorists had invaded the town after the soldiers’ exit, killing residents and setting houses ablaze.

During an assessment visit on Friday, Zulum regretted the incessant terrorist attacks on the town.

‘Yes, Cameroonian troops have withdrawn but that doesn’t mean that the Nigerian Army should leave the area vacant,’ he said.

‘We resettled this town about 7 years ago, with the support of Cameroonian soldiers. Unfortunately, they (returnees) were displaced by the insurgents.

‘I duly notified the Nigerian military of the dangers of leaving this town without security. This is a border community. Wilgo, Kirawa, Baga, Damasak, Malamfatori, among others are border communities that have to be protected because of their strategic importance.

‘Unfortunately, my request did receive the deserved attention, and the insurgents came on Wednesday and vandalised everything we worked so hard to rebuild.

‘Two lives were lost but 50 houses and our heavy duty equipment, and eight vehicles were burnt down. We thanked God the casualties were not much.’

Zulum said he had a meeting with the Theatre Commander of the Nigerian Army, and the Commander of the Multinational Task Force on the security measures to be put in place in the area.

‘All of us have agreed that within the shortest possible time, the Nigerian army will deploy soldiers to Kirawa town.

‘The second measure we have undertaken is in the area of providing support to our gallant civilian JTF and vigilante. I listened to them and we will provide them with the needed equipment to safeguard the town.

‘Most importantly, we are looking into the possibility of getting some modern technological equipment that would address insecurity challenges in the general area,’ he said.

To the people, he said: ‘You need not to panic. I see no reason why very few members of Boko Haram will come to defeat the entire community without resistance.

‘I’m also pleading with the Nigerian military to be more committed, because what matters is not the number of soldiers we need to keep here but how committed they are to fight back the terrorists during military operations.

‘Above all, we need Military operations, for sometimes, military operations were not conducted in Borno State, and that has been instrumental to what we have been witnessing now. The renewed insurgence attacks.

‘We are pleading with the federal government, and the Chief of Defence Staff to release funds and procure equipment so that the military operations should begin in annex since the rainy season is about to be over.

‘But you have to take note of this very important thing, which is continuing military operations, we need not to just embark on operations after a few months we slow down or withdraw’ he said.

Zulum, who stressed the need for the military to sustain operations throughout, said the UN resolution clearly states that military operations have to be followed by stabilization, recovery, reconstruction and resettlement.

‘That means, whenever we capture a certain place, we have to put in place mechanisms for all these things, otherwise, all the gains may be futile.’

‘But my only plea to the federal government as well as the Nigerian Army military is, let us do everything possible to ensure that we sustain the peace that we have achieved 7 or 8 years ago.

‘Kirawa was never displaced 7 years ago, when the security situation was so bad, and now that the security is better than before, I see no reason why Kirawa would be displaced.

‘Because, once Kirawa is being displaced, other adjoining communities like Pulka and Ngoshe would be displaced, and gradually it will reach Gwoza local government headquarters and the road be cut off.

‘Yes, I’m aware that the Nigerian Army has lean numerical strength, I’m very much aware. But we have certain strategic towns and villages that have to be kept on ground’ he added .

He expressed appreciation to the Chief of Army Staff for his immediate response and the measures taken to forestall future occurrence, after the town was attacked.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, has called on government agencies and the private sector to boost their patronage of Made in Nigeria products.

This is just as she endorsed the Nord automobile brand, calling on Nigerians to embrace the auto manufacturer.

The Minister spoke on October 1st 2025 when she visited the Nord automobile assembly plant inside the University of Lagos, UNILAG, to pick up her newly acquired Nord Demir SUV.

The Minister was received by the representative of the Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic and Research. Prof. Bola Oboh, as well as the Chairman of Nord Automobiles, Mr. Oluwatobi Ajayi.

Speaking at the occasion, the Minister said: ‘With the Africa Continental free trade zone agreement, you should be able to scale your industrialization and your production, across Nigeria, you have two assembly plants, here and Epe, and your capacity is more than enough to meet increasing demand of Nigerians and I am glad that you told me that.

‘You have corporate clients, four of the top ten companies in the Nigeria Stock Exchange, we are going to be encouraging the private sector and all Nigerians to patronize Made in Nigeria products, this is a proudly Made in Nigeria product, right here at the University of Lagos where I am a product of.

‘As a ministry, we are committed to supporting your sector, and Mr. President has prioritised Nigeria First’.

Also speaking, the representative of the UNILAG VC, Prof Oboh said, ‘We are happy with the initiative of the federal government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that made in Nigeria goods should be patronized.

‘In UNILAG, we are proud that not only do we have this assembly plant, which is also producing electric vehicles, we are proud because we are a Green campus, we have Green buses, and Nord is also about to launch their green vehicles. Our students intern here on a regular basis’.

The Nord Automobile Chairman, Mr. Oluwatobi Ajayi while appreciating the Minister for the support, said, ‘I am happy to say that you are a customer, or user or driver that I will always tell people about, our own Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, of my own country, drives a Nord vehicle. I am very happy about this.’

He equally thanked UNILAG for the partnership, which, according to him, ‘has transformed into one of the most important parts of the company. It has been an amazing decision for us.’

Nord Automobiles assembles a range of automobiles, including sedans, pickups, sports utility Vehicles and buses as well as electric vehicles and tricycles.

A former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Adams Oshiomhole, on Friday criticised the leadership and members of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over their recent action against Dangote Refinery.

Oshiomhole specifically described the recent union’s strike action which was suspended on Wednesday as ‘ill-considered’, arguing that new private sector investors like Dangote should be given time to stabilise before facing intense labour action.

The former governor of Edo State, who stated this when he appeared on Arise News, maintained that the union was supposed to have faced Dangote Refinery alone if at all it must fight rather than shutting other establishments.

Daily Trust reports that both PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery have been at loggerheads following the unionisation of some employees working with the refinery. The company had subsequently sacked over 800 of its employees, and replaced them with foreign nationals from Indian, according to PENGASSAN, a development both unions in the oil sector frowned at.

While the company premised its decision on alleged sabotage, the union maintained that Dangote Refinery flouted Labour laws, International Labour Organizations (ILO) conventions and the Nigerian constitution.

Specifically, the development triggered a rapid response from PENGASSAN, whose members shut down export terminals, blocked vessel loading, and locked offices across oil and gas facilities.

After marathon negotiations involving the federal government, labour leaders, and security agencies, a communique was signed on Wednesday morning at about 2:30 am where Dangote Group agreed to re-fix sacked employees.

However, reacting to the development on Friday, the former NLC President noted that the oil union’s decision to shut down facilities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other firms because of issues at Dangote was ‘ill-considered’.

He said, ‘In pursuing war, you have to recognise that the tools you deploy must not hurt innocent people, like the tomato sellers who cannot get fuel to move their goods because there is a quarrel between one refinery and one union.

‘An employer has to exist, mature and be strong enough to guarantee good-paying jobs. If you cripple a business before it even finds its feet, you are also destroying the jobs you claim to protect,’ he said during the interview monitored by our Correspondent.

Oshiomhole, who is also a Senator in the 10th Assembly, said while the unions have the right to defend workers, they must do so in ways that do not create wider economic hardship.

The lawmaker, while affirming that the right to unionise is fundamental, called for caution and balance, insisting that their recent move was hasty and unfair to other workers.

He added, ‘I think that in seeking to protect a particular set of workers, you do not then risk the jobs of several other workers. When you are pursuing a dispute, the tools you deploy must be such that they do not undermine other people’s jobs.

‘Freedom of association is not just a constitutional right, it is a God-given right. But with that freedom comes responsibility, both the employer and employee must exercise their rights in a way that is fair.’

He adde, ‘I suddenly witnessed long queues at filling stations and people came to me to ask, ‘why are we not at work today, what has happened to the oil industry?’ And the reason was that PENGASSAN had decided that NNPC be shut down, several other companies shut down, all because of a problem in one refinery.’

Referencing his reign as President of NLC, Oshiomhole maintained that when there is a dispute, a specific employer should be targeted, not all the employers in the sector.

‘We had a big battle with Union Bank of Nigeria over their policy on married couples working together. But even when we had the capacity to shut down all the banks, we didn’t. We recognised that the alleged offence of Union Bank could not be said to apply to others,’ he recalled.

Authorities of the Nigerian Navy, on Thursday, said the threats being experienced on maritime domains are often asymmetrical, fluid, and transnational in nature.

It also stressed that Nigeria, like many other nations in the Global South, stands at a critical crossroads, adding that Nigeria’s national security landscape is rapidly evolving.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Emmanuel Ogalla, stated this at Naval Headquarters, Abuja, during a seminar on research and development for senior officers.

Daily Trust reports that the seminar, with the theme: ‘Utilizing Emerging Technology for Enhanced Operational Effectiveness,’ was organised by the Transformation Branch of the maritime force.

Speaking before the main lecture was held, Ogalla, who was represented by the Chief of Communications and Information Technology, Rear Admiral Hamza Kaoje, said it is important to adequately support the personnel of the force with the latest technology in order to meet the demands of 21st-century naval operations.

‘Nigeria, like many other nations in the Global South, stands at a critical crossroads.

‘Our national security landscape is rapidly evolving, driven by a complex interplay of threats ranging from maritime crimes such as piracy, illegal bunkering, smuggling, and sea robbery, to onshore insecurities that continue to threaten critical infrastructure and economic lifelines.

‘In our vast maritime domain, which plays host to critical oil and gas infrastructure, the threats are often asymmetrical, fluid, and transnational in nature.

‘Notably, the adversaries we confront are increasingly leveraging modern technologies, including unmanned platforms, encrypted communications, and advanced navigation systems, he said.

‘It is, therefore, becoming abundantly clear that the battle for maritime security and dominance will no longer be won by numerical superiority alone.

‘Rather, our success will depend on superior innovation, intelligence, adaptability, and technological sophistication. In essence, the NN must remain ahead of the curve through proactiveness and innovation,’ the naval chief explained.

Ogalla added that globally, technology has become the cornerstone of modern naval operations.

Jigawa State Governor, Mallam Umar Namadi, has emerged as one of the standout leaders to be honoured at the forthcoming Nigeria GovTech Conference and Awards 2025, holding on October 9-10 at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Governor Namadi is being recognised with the Federal Government’s GovTech Public Service Award for his groundbreaking reforms and consistent push to digitise governance, modernise service delivery, and prepare Jigawa’s youth for the digital economy.

Since assuming office, the governor has championed ICT as a driver of socio-economic growth, establishing the Jigawa State ICT and Digital Economy Agency as a central hub for innovation and digital policy.

Through this institution, Jigawa has rolled out forward-looking initiatives that place the state at the forefront of Nigeria’s digital transformation journey.

A major highlight of his administration is the training of nearly 30,000 teachers in digital literacy, a deliberate investment in education designed to empower the next generation with 21st-century skills.

In addition, his flagship JIGAWA COMPETE Initiative has introduced tools such as the Educational Management Information System (EMIS) software, which captures real-time data on schools, teachers, students, and infrastructure – a game-changer for evidence-based planning.

Governor Namadi has also pushed Jigawa into the global tech conversation by partnering with Gluwa and the Office of the Vice President to launch a Blockchain and AI Training Program.

The scheme has equipped hundreds of Jigawa youths with skills in blockchain fundamentals, AI data annotation, and digital marketing, giving them opportunities to compete in the fast-growing Web3 and AI markets.

Beyond education and youth empowerment, his administration has embraced e-governance and data-driven strategies to strengthen service delivery in critical sectors such as health, agriculture and finance.

These reforms reflect a clear commitment to digital transformation, transparency, and efficient governance

The recognition comes as part of the third edition of the Nigeria GovTech Public Service Awards, organised by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR).

This year’s theme, ‘Redefining Possibilities: Harnessing Emerging Technologies for Public Service Delivery and Socio-Economic Development,’ aligns perfectly with the Namadi administration’s vision of a digital-first Jigawa.

Governor Namadi will receive the award alongside other distinguished leaders, including Governors Alex Otti (Abia), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), as well as several federal ministers and heads of key government agencies.

For Jigawa State, the honour is both a national endorsement of Namadi’s digital governance model and a clear signal that the state is charting a bold path into Nigeria’s tech-enabled future.

Nigerian billionaire Arthur Eze has secured four offshore exploration blocks in Liberia through his company, Atlas Oranto Petroleum Limited with plans to invest over $800m.

This followed the agreement between the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) and Atlas Oranto Petroleum International Ltd.

Four Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) in Paris, representing Liberia’s first major upstream oil agreements in more than a decade were signed.

The contracts, sealed under the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Law of Liberia, will take effect once ratified by the National Legislature and approved by Liberian President Joseph N. Boakai.

They cover offshore Blocks LB-15, LB-16, LB-22 and LB-24 in the Liberian Basin and include a $12 million signature bonus, alongside planned investments of over $200 million per block.

LPRA Director General Marilyn T. Logan described the deal as a ‘turning point’ for Liberia’s petroleum industry.

‘Atlas Oranto’s entry into Liberia is a testament to the country’s hydrocarbon potential and commitment to ensuring African companies play a leading role in our upstream programme,’ she said, adding that the contracts would help deliver wider economic benefits through employment opportunities, capacity building and the transfer of technical expertise.

Atlas Oranto, one of Africa’s largest privately owned oil and gas firms, operates in more than 20 countries. Its Executive Chairman, Prince Arthur Eze, framed the Liberian deal as a long-term partnership.

‘We are proud to join Liberia at this historic moment. We see Liberia not just as an investment destination but as a partner for success,’ he stated.

Liberia’s long-stalled ambition to develop its offshore oil reserves has received a boost with the entry of Nigerian firm Atlas Oranto Petroleum, which signed four production sharing contracts with the government last week.

The agreements, valued at a $12 million signature bonus, are seen as a potential turning point for a sector hindered for years by political uncertainty and global oil price volatility. Liberian Officials say the deal could help diversify an economy still reliant on iron ore, rubber and gold.

At the signing ceremony in Paris, President Boakai said: ‘Our goal is to ensure that Liberia’s resources are managed with transparency and responsibility. These contracts will be implemented with strict standards of environmental protection, strong local participation, and clear accountability so that Liberians benefit directly from the opportunities created.’

Arthur Eze’s footprint

Atlas Oranto operates in 22 countries, including Equatorial Guinea, Senegal, South Sudan, Uganda, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Zambia.

In 2010, the Nigerian billionaire was awarded three oil blocks in Liberia for US $200,000 each and later sold them to Chevron the same year for over US $250 million, marking a significant early profit in his West African operations.

Arthur Eze is a philanthropist, politician, and the CEO of Atlas Oranto Petroleum, the largest privately held Nigerian exploration and production group.

Atlas Oranto Petroleum was founded by Arthur Eze in 1991. The company currently has 22 oil and gas licences in 12 jurisdictions across Africa. It has assets in Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and several Atlas Oranto operated blocks.

To date, the company is the largest holder of oil exploration blocks in Africa.

With its latest contracts in Liberia, Executive Chairman Arthur Eze strengthens the company’s African footprint while extending Atlas Oranto’s reach into global frontier energy markets.

The European Union (EU) has warned that Nigeria is at risk of experiencing the shortcomings associated with the 2023 general election in 2027 if reforms are not concluded before the polls.

At a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Barry Andrews, member of the European Parliament and former Chief Observer of the EU Election Observation Mission (EOM) for the 2023 polls, declared that Nigeria’s progress on electoral reforms has been ‘modest at best, dangerously close to stagnation.’

‘The country’s democratic resilience depends on reforms that citizens can believe in, and while we welcome the legislative momentum seen in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the ongoing constitutional review process, time is rapidly running out.

‘Unless these reforms are concluded within the next few months, there is a risk of repeating the serious shortcomings of 2023. We encourage all political actors to seize the momentum to deliver reforms that can safeguard transparency, inclusiveness and credibility in the 2027 elections.’ According to the EU Follow-Up Mission, of the 23 priority reforms proposed after Nigeria’s troubled 2023 elections, only one has been fully implemented.

Two others are partially adopted, eight remain ongoing, nine are untouched, and three are too early to assess, warning that this lethargy threatens to derail preparations for 2027.

‘Time is running out. The window is closing. Without real political will, Nigerians will face the same disputes, mistrust and chaos that plagued the last elections,’ Andrews cautioned.

The EU outlined six critical reforms that must be delivered well in advance of 2027: transparent INEC appointments, election results transparency, women’s representation, creation of an Independent Electoral Offences Commission to end impunity for vote-buying, violence, and intimidation, passage of the 2025 Electoral Act Amendment and constitutional reforms to give INEC a stable legal framework and media freedom and journalist protection.

‘INEC cannot operate on shifting ground,’ Andrews stressed, adding, ‘It needs a clear, stable legal framework well in advance of elections. Timing is everything.’

Electoral impunity also loomed large. ‘Vote buying, violence and intimidation remain unchecked,’ the mission said. ‘Prosecutions are so few that they do nothing to deter criminal activity.’

On media freedoms, the EU demanded stronger protections: ‘A free press is non-negotiable in any democracy. Journalists must be shielded, not silenced.’

EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Gautier Mignot, in his closing remark, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to Nigeria’s democratic journey, stressing that while the EU can assist, implementation rests squarely with Nigerian leaders.

‘We are fully backing Nigeria through our democratic governance support programme,’ he said. ‘But these are recommendations that Nigeria must own. The credibility of your democracy depends on it.’

The EU Follow-Up Mission will remain in Nigeria for a week before submitting its progress report and recommendations.

When Farida Tanimu arrived at the family residence of Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, at Kofar Ram in Bauchi metropolis, no one suspected she had come to take her own life.

She got to the house around 10 a.m., dressed in an abaya (a long gown) and hijab. Farida did not speak to anyone but kept wandering around the premises before eventually sitting at the entrance of the prime minister’s sitting room, directly opposite the main gate.

After some time, a domestic worker approached her and asked if she had come to see Hajiya Yelwa Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Chairperson of the Bauchi State Orphans and Vulnerable Children Agency (BASOVCA).

Farida responded that she did not know Hajiya Yelwa and was not there to see her. The worker left her and continued his duties.

Moments later, Farida pulled out a 75cl plastic water bottle she was holding, poured its contents on her head, and set herself ablaze.

The fire quickly spread to the roof of the entrance structure, drawing the attention of people outside who thought there was a fire outbreak.

The Chief Security Officer of the residence, Inspector Abdulmajid Yakubu, said, ‘People around rushed to the house thinking it was a fire outbreak.’

‘We all rushed towards Farida with the intention of quenching the fire and saving her life. However, she ran into the family section of the house, screaming for help.

‘We followed her inside, and with the help of a mechanic, Baba Dan Baki, we fetched water from a nearby source and poured it on her.

‘Though we succeeded in putting out the flames, the burns on her body were severe, as almost her entire body was affected. Even in that condition, Farida was still alive and speaking to us.

‘We immediately rushed her to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital for treatment.

‘On admission, she received the necessary medical attention, but sadly, she could not survive the injuries and died on Sunday.

‘While on her hospital bed, I personally spoke with her. When I asked why she burnt herself, she told me it was because she was tired of this world.’

Inspector Yakubu, who revealed that he had once been Farida’s classmate, described her as humble and jovial.

‘The first time she came, I didn’t recognise her until we went to the hospital and I engaged her in conversation. It is a really touching and terrifying experience to see a human being burning alive. Sincerely speaking, I was moved by this unfortunate incident.’

He explained that Farida’s sister later confirmed she had been battling mental health issues, which might have triggered the act.

‘This is something from God, and He takes life at any time and in whichever way He so desires. May Allah forgive her shortcomings and grant her Aljannah Firdaus,’ he prayed.

A trader near the residence, Malam Auwal Shehu, who was among those who rushed to the scene when the fire spread to the roof of the entrance, also recounted the experience.

‘At first, we thought it was a fire outbreak, so we rushed with the intention of putting it out. But on arrival, we discovered it was a woman burning alive. It was a terrifying moment,’ he said.

‘Although we managed to put out the flames and keep her alive for a while, Farida eventually died from the severe injuries she sustained.

‘People tried their best to save her, but because Allah had destined that she would die in this way, no one could prevent her from burning herself,’ he said.

Another resident who witnessed the incident told Daily Trust that they were drawn to the scene by thick smoke rising from the direction of Nigeria’s first Prime Minister’s residence.

‘We ran towards the house with the intention of putting out the flames. By the time we managed to extinguish the fire, about 70 percent of Farida’s body had already been burnt.

‘The most unfortunate part was that while we were trying to quench the fire, Farida kept screaming and running in desperation for her life. No one could dare hold her while she was burning.

‘Within just a few minutes, her entire body was severely damaged by the flames. Some particles of her burnt skin even scattered across the premises as she ran from one end of the compound to another, crying for help,’ he said.

When our correspondent visited the residence on Thursday, the section of the house affected by the fire had already been renovated, with new roofing and walls in place.

Police Public Relations Officer of the Bauchi State Command, Ahmed Wakil, confirmed that the police have opened an investigation into the incident.

He said preliminary findings indicated that the deceased had a history of mental illness, which reportedly began after the birth of her last child.

‘She was rescued alive and taken to ATBUTH, where she was admitted and her statement taken before she later passed away,’ Wakil added.