Rountrip

   From the time that Bello Matawalle was nominated as Minister OF the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023, Dauda Lawal the Governor of Zamfara State has been ill at ease.   The circumstances of his victory at the gubernatorial election as well as subsequent victory at the Election petition Tribunal did not give room for sound sleep. He knew that when pushing comes to shoving, the former Governor held the aces in the State politically. Dauda Lawal having realised that it would be difficult to keep Matawalle’s new influence under check as Minister of State for Defence hatched another plan after his first moves to indict him through the cargo Airport controversy.This was to hoodwink a former aides to Matawalle who could provide information on his activities while in government.   This was what led to the unveiling of Bashir Hadejia, who we will dwell on later in the write-up   The original plan was to paint Bello Matawalle black over his achievements as Governor o...

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has extended its heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Borno State following the devastating flooding caused by the Alau Dam disaster, which has led to widespread displacement, destruction of property, and infrastructural damage across Maiduguri and surrounding areas. The disaster has impacted thousands of lives, leaving homes, businesses, and key infrastructure in ruins. In a letter addressed to His Excellency, Engr. Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, FNSE, mni, Executive Governor of Borno State, NSE President Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, FNSE, expressed profound sorrow over the tragedy and praised the Governor’s resilience and dedication to overcoming the challenges the state has faced. The NSE President, Engr. Oguntala reaffirmed the Society's commitment to support the government in mitigating the effects of the disaster. She emphasized the NSE's readiness to collaborate with relevant State agencies to assess the structural i...

The Kano Young Scholars Without Borders (KYSB) has commended Hon. Abubakar Kabir Bichi, representative of Bichi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, for his exceptional leadership and commitment to the welfare of his constituents, particularly the youth. In a statement signed by its President, Dr. Bala Usman Bello, the group praised Hon. Bichi for his recent increase in regular grants to students studying at the Secondary Schools of Science and Technology in Kano state. This gesture, Bello said, demonstrates his commitment to supporting the education and development of young people in his constituency. Bello also acknowledged Hon. Bichi's numerous initiatives and programs aimed at uplifting the youth, which have positively impacted many lives. He noted that his influence as the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations has been instrumental in ensuring that the needs of his constituents are reflected in the national budget. According to the statement issued...

By Best Agbese The Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company, located in Lekki, a suburb of Lagos, is seven times the size of Victoria Island, another high-end area in Lagos State. The refinery boasts of more than 350 concrete bridges, a port for oil vessels, and approximately 5,000 neatly built apartments for its staff. The refinery also incorporates the largest granulated urea fertilizer complex in Africa and sits on 500 hectares of land. Considering the gigantic scale of the newest refinery in the world, it would be apt to submit that Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the founder and CEO of the Dangote Group, is the epitome of courage, resilience, and patriotism. His readiness to contribute to the overall development and growth of the nation's economy is evident in his numerous impactful interventions at critical moments in our nationhood. Sincerely speaking, it takes great courage for an individual to envision a world-class gigantic project like the Dangote Refinery. In his case, Aliko Da...

The Concerned Scholars for Peace and Development (CSPD) has thrown its weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's efforts to tackle banditry in the country. In a statement signed by its President, Dr. Zaharadeen Mohammed Kabir, the group warned saboteurs and collaborators not to distract the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, and the Armed Forces. The group specifically disowned a Sokoto State-based Islamic cleric, Mallam Bello Asada, for accusing the Federal Government of sponsoring bandit leaders, describing the claim as false and politically motivated. Kabir alleged that Asada is a member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and has ignored revelations of Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal's payment of N1.378 billion to terrorists and bandits. The Islamic scholars also called for Asada to be held accountable for his defamatory video, urging Matawalle and troops to remain focused on winning the war against banditry. "The Concerned National Islamic Sch...

By Ogo Okereke Fifty five years after the civil war, the lingering effects of the war is still visible among the Igbo. Ndigbo being the worst hit of the civil war, still bear scars from the war,with ongoing displacement, poverty, trauma, environmental degradation, security concerns, infrastructural deficit and marginalization. At one time or the other, past Nigerian presidents made varying efforts to address the negative effects of the civil war on the Igbo people, but they all left limited impact. The most striking was the 3R sophistry by General Yakubu Gown in January 1970. Gowon had assured the world that there would be Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (3R), of the Igbo land,as a result of the war ravages, but 54 years after, the South East has witnessed the direct opposite of the 3Rs, even in exponential proportion. In a similar move, General Olusegun Obasanjo, established the South East Development Initiative(SEDI), to address regional development challenges, but ...

By Kabir Muazu In the crucible of public scrutiny, high-ranking officials face intense pressure, with every move subject to partisan criticism. A case in point is Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose recent tour of government agencies has sparked a maelstrom of reactions. Gbajabiamila's visits to key agencies like the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), and the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) among others have ignited fervent debates about his motivations, the legitimacy of his actions, and their far-reaching implications for governance. Contrary to perceptions of mere symbolic gestures, agency heads received prior briefings from the Permanent Secretary of the State House, outlining the purpose and objectives of these visits. The briefing emphasised that Gbajabiamila's tour is a critical component of a comprehensive initiative to ensure stringent compliance with reg...