Category Nigeria News

Malam Dikko Radda, the governor of Katsina State, reiterated on Sunday that his administration is committed to upholding the culture and traditions of the people of the Katsina and Daura emirates.

The governor made this known while attending the annual Durbar in Daura, also known as “Sallar Gani,” a grand celebration held every year to honor the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in style.

Radda further stated that his administration would continue to support the traditional institutions to raise awareness of the Durbar holiday and raise the standard of living among the populace.

He cited the recent passage of a new Emirate Council Law, which raises the salaries of village heads to Level 10 and above and increases district heads to Level 16.

Read more about the incidents in Katsina and read Seven People Killed and Other People Injured as police reclaim the area.

He added that traditional leaders, who are closer to the people than any other group, are important in restoring state peace and tranquility.

The governor thanked Umar Faruq Umar, the Emir of Daura, for upholding Hausa tradition and culture.

The governor’s efforts to advance the welfare of traditional rulers and advance the state’s cultural traditions were commended by top government officials, including district heads and religious and traditional leaders present.

They expressed confidence in the governor’s plan to improve stability and development in the state.

Friends, families, and well-wishers from both within and outside Nigeria gathered at the Daura Emirate’s Kangiwa Square to formally establish their relationship at the Hawan Magajiya, a durbar that is regarded as the sallar Gani Festival’s climax.

Sons and daughters of Daura emirate origin, from all walks of life, travel home every year to take part in the prestigious festival during Eid al-Maulud, which occurs on the 12th day of Rabiul Awwal in the Islamic calendar.

Sallar Gani, a traditional holiday observed only in the Daura Emirate, commemorates Prophet Muhammad PBUH’s birth anniversary.

The festival’s name comes from the Hausa word “here I am” (gani), which means “here I am).

Over the years, the festival has grown to become a tourist attraction hotspot, drawing visitors from all over the world to witness the spectacle.

A special durbar, which serves as the event’s climax, is observed during this festival.

Prior to the festival’s celebrations, between 10 and 14 days were used, but now, between two and three days are used.

The emirate’s 20 district heads took turns displaying their cultures and traditions.

Traditional title holders from the emirate were riding horses while drummers played various traditional songs during a colorful display of Daura’s rich cultural heritage.

A critical transport link connecting Kano to several Nigerian states has been severed following the collapse of the Yaryasa Bridge in Tudun Wada Local Government Area, triggering major travel disruptions and safety concerns.

The bridge, which serves as a vital gateway to Kaduna, Plateau, Benue, and Nigeria’s southeastern states, gave way after days of torrential rainfall.

Authorities say the structural failure has brought traffic to a standstill and poses a serious risk to road users.

The Kano State Police Command confirmed the incident in an emergency advisory, urging commuters to avoid the area and follow rerouted traffic channels.

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“This is not just a local bridge — it’s a strategic link between Kano and several regions of the country.

” We have cordoned off the area completely, and no vehicle will be allowed near the collapsed site for safety reasons, “said the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, on Saturday.

Emergency Response

The police, in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kano Road and Traffic Agency (KAROTA), and transport union officials, have mobilised teams to manage traffic and assist affected commuters.

Barricades and warning signs have been erected, and alternative routes are being enforced with the assistance of the motor traffic division officers.

” We understand the inconvenience this causes, but safety must come first. We urge the public to be patient, cooperate with our officers, and strictly follow detour instructions, “said Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Adamu Bakori.

The collapse has disrupted not only local movement but also long-distance commercial transportation across Northern and Eastern Nigeria.

Dozens of commercial vehicles, buses, and trucks have been diverted, and businesses reliant on interstate movement are already counting the cost.

” I was on my way to Makurdi with agricultural produce when we were turned back. It means delays, losses, and extra fuel costs — but risking our lives is not an option, “a truck driver, Auwalu Musa, said.

Local residents say the bridge had shown signs of deterioration for months, raising questions about infrastructure maintenance and state response to seasonal flooding.

” We’ve complained several times about erosion near the bridge. Maybe now something will be done, “said Halima Yunusa, a resident of Yaryasa village.

While the police have managed the immediate safety concerns, attention is now turning to the government for a swift engineering response and long-term reconstruction.

” We are in close coordination with emergency services and the Ministry of Works. Updates will be communicated to the public as more assessments are carried out, “CP Bakori assured.

In the meantime, motorists have been advised to use alternative routes through Garko and Sumaila and stay informed through official channels.

At the death of five soldiers and 58 civilians in Daral-Jamal, a village along the Bama-Banki Road in the Sambisa Forest, former vice president Atiku Abubakar has condemned the Boko Haram attack in Borno State.

The 2023 Peoples Democratic Party candidate for president described the killings as senseless violence and called for an end to the killings in a statement on Sunday.

He expressed condolences to Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno State, and the families of the attack’s victims.

UN CHECKS OUT THE ABUSE OF 63 PERSONNES IN BOROUGH AND REQUIRES A QUESTION.

“The tragic killing of numerous people, including brave soldiers, in the most recent Boko Haram attack on Darajamal, Borno State, deeply saddens me. He said in a statement on X that this senseless violence is a painful reminder of the high price our citizens still have to pay.

“Governor Zulum, whose swift compassion in visiting the affected community is commendable, extends my sincere condolences to the bereaved families, the resilient people of Borno, and to the bereaved families. May Allah grant the loved ones’ comfort and the departed Al-Jannah Firdaus.

He argued that Nigeria must resolutely combat the threat.

We must rise up and confront this threat with renewed resolve and unity as a people. He further stated that the sacrifices of our soldiers and civilians must lead to stronger community security, greater collaboration, and a unwavering commitment to peace.

In addition to the resettled Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), the insurgents also burned down over 20 homes, vehicles, foodstuffs, and other valuables during the most recent attack.

Last Saturday, Governor Zulum visited the area to offer comfort to the 63 victims of the insurgents’ murders.

He condemned the brutal attack and expressed his grief.

The UN also denounced the attack.

The Nigerian authorities were requested to have the attackers detained by the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, Mohamed Fall, in a statement.

He expressed his condolences to the victims’ families.

The tragic murder of numerous people, including brave soldiers, was a recent Boko Haram attack in Darajamal, Borno State, and I find it deeply heartbreaking. This senseless violence serves as a painful reminder of the high price that our citizens still have to pay for fear of terrorism.

My sincere condolences…

The Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has filed a lawsuit against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) for its proposed salary increase.

The President, Vice President, Governors, their deputies, and members of the National Assembly are among those who are included.

Mohammed Shehu, the chairman of the RMAFC, made the announcement last month that the commission’s proposed salary increase was “paltry.”

Shehu claimed that President Bola Tinubu currently makes N1.5 million per month, which he described as absurd for a country of over 200 million people, adding that the figure hasn’t changed since 2008.

However, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP’s deputy director, claimed RMAFC had been taken to court in a statement released on Sunday, even though a hearing date has not yet been determined.

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He explained that SERAP is suing the court to decide whether the proposed salary increase for the president, vice president, governors, their deputies, and lawmakers is unlawful, unconstitutional, and contrary to the rule of law in the case FHC/ABJ/CS/1834/2025, which was filed last week at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The group wants the court to rule that the proposed salary increase for politicians is unlawful, unconstitutional, and contrary to the rule of law because it violates the RMAFC Act and the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) in its entirety.

An injunction prohibits RMAFC, its agents, privies, and the president’s, vice-president’s, governors, and their deputies, from raising salaries in Nigeria.

According to Oluwadare, an order directing RMAFC, its agents, to reflect the country’s economic realities on the salaries and benefits of the president, vice-president, governors, and their deputies, as well as lawmakers in Nigeria, is required.

In the lawsuit, SERAP claimed that the commission’s legitimate public interest would be protected by preventing these individuals from arbitrarily raising their salaries.

The Ebonyi state government has approved the Executive Bill for the establishment of the Education Development Trust Fund and other related matters in a decisive response to the directive from the Federal Ministry of Education.

The Fund’s goal is to provide a more robust and sustainable financial framework to meet the basic education requirements, which are essential to the development of the state’s human capital as a whole.

Ikeuwa Omebeh, the state’s commissioner for information and orientation, gave an update on the results of the Thursday-scheduled State Executive Council meeting while announcing the approval of the executive bill over the weekend in Abakaliki. Governor Francis Nwifuru presided over the meeting.

Omebeh disclosed that the State House of Assembly has received the Executive Bill for further legislative action.

He added that once the fund is established, it will act as a dedicated, state-level financing mechanism that would successfully use both public and private resources to enhance the state’s basic education system.

The proposed State Education Development Trust Fund will receive contributions from a variety of sources, including government taxes, development partners, corporations, well-meaning Indians, to support priority investments in infrastructure, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), information and communication technology (ICT) integration, teacher training, scholarship, school feeding, and transportation system.

By combining resources for greater impacts through transparent governance, joint planning, and strict oversight, the Education Trust Fund is anticipated to also provide a credible and sustainable solution to Ebonyi State’s fundamental education challenges.

Read more about Zulum’s approval of free meals and 300,000 incentives for parents and students.

The Fund will be managed by a legally constituted Board in consultation with the State Ministry of Education and other interested parties to identify priorities and ensure accountable implementation. This would include the improvement of a conducive learning environment through the improvement of thousands of classrooms, the construction of fences, toilets, boreholes, and the training of teachers, among other security measures.

Babagana Zulum, the governor of Boro State, approved providing free daily meals and 300,000 incentives to students and their parents to address the state’s low school enrollment in northern Borno.

Zulum made the announcements on Friday in Gajiganna town, where he also inaugurated the Higher Islamic College, which combines formal education with the traditional Almajiri system of education (Sangaya).

“Northern Borno needs to implement actionable plans to advance education. Only 90 students were enrolled in a secondary school in this town, which has a population of about 50 000 people overall. These students must finish their studies in the most important way.

The governor stated that in order to achieve this, we are approving stipends of 250, 000 for their fathers, 50, 000 for each of their mothers, and 50, 000 for the students themselves, along with a free square meal per day.

READ ALSO: Tinubu Approves $1.85 billion For the Education and Rehabilitation Of Rescued Chibok Girls

Zulum emphasized that the intervention was intended to close the education gap and encourage parents to enroll their children in schools in the regions that have been severely impacted by the insurgency for more than ten years.

The governor explained that the new Higher Islamic College would operate under a curriculum that the NBAIS (National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies) had approved and combines foundational English, science, math, technology, and Islamic scholarship.

Our goal is simple: to give our children, especially Sangaya learners, the knowledge and abilities they need to succeed in today’s society. Our reforms introduce contemporary subjects and vocational training while upholding the cherished principles of traditional Islamic scholarship, “Zulum stated.

Zulum also created the Government Day Secondary School, which will act as a referral center for hundreds of students in the town who are completing their primary education, during his engagements in Gajiganna.

Zulum’s accomplishments were praised by the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Lawan Wakilbe, who noted that his administration had completed 35 mega schools in various construction stages in six years.

This is a remarkable achievement, according to Wakilbe, which also reflects vision, leadership, and unwavering support for the unborn.