The Sokoto State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability in public financial management through a two-day capacity-building workshop for key stakeholders in the budgeting and finance sectors. The training, held at Reiz Continental Hotel in Abuja, brought together officials from the State Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, and the Sokoto State Internal Revenue Service. It focused on the updated National Chart of Accounts (NCoA), budget performance reporting, and state financial accounting standards. Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Abubakar Muhammad Zayyana, said the initiative reflects the…
Author: Abdallah El-Kurebe
In a country where senators are often known more for speeches than action, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko has, over the last 10 years, carved a legacy that blurs the line between a lawmaker and a leader of government. From powering entire communities to sponsoring the education of hundreds, he has shown that one senator, armed with political will and a heart for service, can behave like a small government unto his people. By Abdallah el-Kurebe Powering dreams: Wamakko, lighting up communities forgotten by the grid Electricity is more than light, it’s dignity, it’s opportunity. For rural communities in Sokoto State…
Burkina Faso has been ranked the most impacted country by terrorism in the 2025 edition of the Global Terrorism Index (GTI), reflecting the deepening security crisis in the Sahel region of West Africa. By Abdallah el-Kurebe The report, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), identifies the top 10 countries most affected by terrorism, with Pakistan, Syria, Mali, and Nigeria rounding out the top five. Key findings in the Global Terrorism Index: Burkina Faso – Ranked #1 Once considered a relatively stable West African nation, Burkina Faso has seen a dramatic surge in terrorist activity over the past…
Burkina Faso has taken decisive control over its gold and mineral resources, unveiling its first-ever gold refinery and producing homegrown gold bars for the first time in history. This is in a moment for national pride and economic sovereignty. After years of watching its vast mineral wealth flow out of the country with minimal returns, Burkina Faso has turned a page. In a bold move to reclaim its natural resources, the West African nation has established a domestic gold refinery—an industrial milestone that signals both a symbolic and strategic shift in its economic direction. The new facility has already refined…
As the world prepares for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) scheduled for June 30, 2025, in Seville, Spain, Nigerian civil society groups are rallying for transformative reforms in both global finance systems and domestic economic policy. Their unified stance is outlined in a newly released advocacy report titled “Financing for Development in Nigeria: Sectoral Context and Insights for the Fourth International Conference”. The document is the product of a coalition led by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), in collaboration with Oxfam in Nigeria, Christian Aid, the International Budget Partnership, Connected Development, and other partners…
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), established in 1975, has long been a stabilizing force in the region, fostering economic cooperation and collective security among its 15 member states. However, recent political upheavals, military coups, and internal divisions have exposed cracks in the regional bloc, weakening its ability to address security threats. At the same time, insurgency and violent extremism are spreading across West Africa, exacerbating instability. This analysis explores the deepening fractures within ECOWAS, their impact on counterinsurgency efforts, and the growing security threats posed by insurgents in the region. By Abdallah el-Kurebe The ECOWAS crisis: A…
In recent years, a troubling pattern has emerged in Nigeria: military airstrikes intended to combat terrorism are increasingly resulting in the tragic deaths and injuries of innocent civilians. These incidents have left entire communities in mourning and have raised serious questions about the accuracy of military operations, the reliability of intelligence, and the commitment to safeguarding civilian lives in conflict zones. By Abdallah el-Kurebe The Kurebe tragedy In early 2022, the once peaceful Kurebe community in Niger State’s Shiroro Local Government Area became a scene of unimaginable horror. An airstrike aimed at bandits hiding nearby mistakenly struck civilian homes, leading…
This week, I am in Niamey, Niger Republic engaged in an initiative to create a pathway that could free the Sahel from the existential crisis it faces. In September, a high level panel was inaugurated with an open mandate to galvanise African intellectual and political power in seeking solutions to the insecurity raging in the sub-region and placing development back on the agenda. The Panel is led by the former President of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou, who working with four other members from the continent. The Panel is supported by the United Nations, the African Union and G5-Sahel and has been…
Kenya’s Supreme Court has ruled that William Ruto was properly elected president, dismissing several petitions seeking to annul the result of the 9 August election. His rival, Raila Odinga, and others had alleged that massive fraud, including tampering with results forms, had taken place. Mr Ruto garnered 50.5% of the vote in the closely fought election. The 55-year-old will be sworn in as the country’s fifth president next week. The eight petitions challenging the elections were all dismissed. The court found some were based on forged documents and “sensational information”, Chief Justice Martha Koome said in a unanimous decision on…
The encomiums and the tributes are pouring down like the cool rain on Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, as in indeed they should. He turned 70 on August 31. At 70, the countdown begins for all men and women born of women. He can rightly stand on that promontory of three score and ten years and survey his wonderous but challenging journey in his 46 years of tending the flock and finding and guiding the lost sheep back home. Kukah is an exceptional Nigerian. He is an exceptional religious leader; an exceptional patriot, and…