Benin Republic failed coup: Elders forum faults Professor Soyinka, defends Tinubu’s intervention Kola Oyelere Kano The National Elders Forum for Peace and Justice has criticized Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka over his comments on Nigeria’s intervention in the failed coup attempt in the Benin Republic, insisting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu acted appropriately and in the interest of regional stability. In a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists in Kano on Wednesday, the Forum’s President, Dr. Bature AbdulAziz, said he expected Soyinka, given his stature and experience, to appreciate the grave implications a successful coup in Benin…
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Burkina Faso Frees 11 Detained Nigerian Military Personnel After Unauthorised Landing Kola Oyelere Kano Burkina Faso has released 11 Nigerian military personnel detained after a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) C-130 aircraft made an unscheduled landing at the Bobo-Dioulasso airfield, an incident that briefly heightened regional tensions. The group — two crew members and nine passengers — was held for questioning after Burkinabe authorities said the aircraft entered the country’s airspace without prior authorisation. The unexpected landing sparked suspicions in Ouagadougou that the flight might be linked to the recent failed coup in neighbouring Benin Republic. Officials in Burkina Faso said…
Elegushi under fire as NAHCON faces allegations of defying VP’s directive, retaining retired officer , ex-corper Oyelere Kola Kano A growing storm is brewing within the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) as fresh allegations accuse the Commissioner of Operations, Anofi Elegushi, of openly defying civil service rules and an explicit directive from Vice-President Kashim Shettima. Multiple senior staff members, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to fear of reprisals, told this newspaper that Mr. Elegushi has allegedly continued to retain a retired official, identified as Mr. Gaffar, who exited the service in 2023. Despite his retirement, the former…
Inside the Hajj Reporters Refund Claims: Why Nigerians Should Wait for Verified Figures on Hajj 2025. An investigative piece on claims by IHR on 2025 Hajj Refunds By Aliyu Adamu Kwandiko Abuja, Nigeria. Public debate over the 2025 Hajj payments refund took a sharp turn recently when the Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR) announced that more than 44,000 Nigerian pilgrims were entitled to refunds due to alleged excess charges. But a closer examination reveals that the central pillars of the IHR claim figures, timelines, and comparisons are either incomplete or inconsistent with available evidence. In a country where trust in public…
NNPC E&P Limited hits record 355,000 bpd, signalling Nigeria’s energy sector rebound Kola Oyelere Kano NNPC E&P Limited (NEPL), the flagship upstream subsidiary of NNPC Limited, has achieved a historic milestone, hitting a record crude oil production level of 355,000 barrels per day on December 1, 2025—its highest daily output since 1989. The achievement, described as a major boost for Nigeria’s upstream oil sector, reflects NEPL’s sweeping operational reforms anchored on efficiency, discipline, and strengthened asset management. Group CEO of NNPC Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, said the latest performance confirms that Nigeria’s long-awaited energy resurgence is already unfolding The…
CITAD marks international anti-corruption day, — Demands stronger digital transparency, citizens’ protection Kola Oyelere Kano The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has called for strengthened accountability systems, enhanced digital transparency, and greater protection for citizens participating in governance as Nigeria joins the global community in marking the 2025 International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD). This year’s commemoration, themed “United Against Corruption for Development, Peace and Security,” comes at a time CITAD says corruption remains a major threat to Nigeria’s development, security, and democratic stability. In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Y.Z. Ya’u, the organization lamented that corruption continues…
Governor Yusuf Wins 2025 NEAPS award, dedicates honour to people of Kano Kola Oyelere, Kano Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has been named one of the recipients of the 2025 Nigeria Excellence Award in Public Service (NEAPS), earning national recognition for what organisers described as outstanding achievements across key sectors of governance. The award was announced on Monday in a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, who said the honour reflects “a clear endorsement of Governor Yusuf’s focused and people-oriented leadership.” According to the statement, the administration has made notable progress in education, healthcare,…
Zamfara Former Commissioners Urge Tinubu to Retain Matawalle as Minister of State for Defence Sidi Ibrahim Kaulahi, Gusau The Zamfara Former Commissioners Forum, comprising officials who served under ex-Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to retain Matawalle as Minister of State for Defence, insisting that his continued stay in office is crucial to sustaining recent gains against insecurity in Zamfara and the wider North-West. The group made the appeal on Monday during an emergency press briefing at Darma Hotel in Gusau, where they dismissed what they described as politically motivated calls for Matawalle’s removal. Addressing…
Northern elders’ political forum berates Marafa over call for U.S. invasion Kola Oyelere, Kano The Northern Elders’ Political Forum has slammed former Zamfara Central Senator, Kabiru Marafa, for calling on the United States to invade Nigeria over worsening insecurity, describing the remark as “reckless, unpatriotic, and a threat to national stability.” In a communiqué issued after its annual meeting in Birnin Kebbi on Monday, the Forum’s National Coordinator, Malam Yusuf Abubakar, said Marafa’s comments were “ridiculous” and amounted to a direct invitation to anarchy. According to Abubakar, “any Nigerian, regardless of social or political status, who makes such a statement…
NSCDC officer jailed 7 years for certificate forgery, corrupt advantage — ICPC Kola Oyelere, Kano The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer, Hassan Abdullahi, who was found guilty of forgery and corrupt enrichment. A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gudu, Abuja, and presided over by Justice E. Okpe, on Monday sentenced Abdullahi to a total of seven years in prison on a two-count charge filed by the ICPC. During the trial, ICPC prosecutor, Hamza Sani, tendered evidence showing that the officer…