The chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto State, Isa Sadiq Achida, has extolled Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko as the “pillar” of politics in the state and the “soul” of the party. In an interview, Achida attributed the APC’s dominance in Sokoto to Wamakko’s open-door leadership, mentorship, and dedication to public welfare. He added that Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s success is largely due to Wamakko’s guidance and that the governor has further consolidated the political structure Wamakko laid. Achida also affirmed the APC’s confidence in Governor Aliyu’s administration, citing strong performances in water, education, infrastructure, civil service welfare, and…
Author: TheStories
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is a meeting point for “NATIONS”, not sub-nationals, to outline their positions on global issues. Niger state going to New York in USA to host a certain “sideline show” is nothing but an overkill or just a waste of resources time and energy. Already, Nigeria has sent its Vice President, Kashim Shettima, to articulate its position. We all know KSM is competent enough to do that. What will this so called “side talk” add to the man in Agwara or kataeregi or in Sahon Rami or even in Kutirko or Kutigi? What the people…
Nigeria’s GDP grew by 4.23% year-on-year in real terms in the second quarter of 2025, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The latest GDP report, released Monday in Abuja, shows the growth rate was higher than 3.48% in Q2 2024 and 3.13% in Q1 2025. The agriculture sector grew by 2.82%, while the industry sector expanded by 7.45%, a sharp rise from 3.72% in Q2 2024. The services sector also recorded a modest increase of 3.94%, up from 3.83% last year. The industry sector contributed the most to GDP at 17.31%, compared to 16.79% in the same period…
In an era where the intricacies of governance are increasingly scrutinized, the role of parliamentary budget offices has never been more pivotal. The 8th Annual Conference of the African Network of Parliamentary Budget Offices (AN-PBO), recently inaugurated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, epitomizes this significance. As he assumed the mantle of Patron of the Network, Abbas articulated a profound truth that resonates deeply within the corridors of power: public debt, when prudently managed, transcends its reputation as a mere burden and emerges as a catalyst for growth. This assertion invites us to reconsider the conventional…
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Kano State Command, has announced that 68 inmates successfully passed the 2025 National Examination Council (NECO) examinations. The Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSC Musbahu Lawan, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Kano. He said the feat was achieved under the Centre for Inmates’ Continuity Education, fully sponsored by the Kano State Government. According to him, the achievement reflects the implementation of the Correctional Service Act, 2019, which emphasizes rehabilitation and reformation of inmates through education and vocational training. “This success also reflects the directive of the Controller General of Corrections, CGC Sylvester…
The Federal University of Transportation (FUT) Daura has announced the commencement of its online screening exercise for candidates seeking admission for the 2025/2026 academic session. This was disclosed in a statement by the Registrar, Malam Umar Faruk-Bayu, on Sunday in Katsina. According to him, the screening exercise is open to candidates who applied through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) as well as the Direct Entry (DE) program. “Candidates who applied through UTME and scored 150 points and above, with at least five relevant O’Level credits, are eligible to participate,” the statement read. To register, applicants are required to log…
Several countries plan to formally recognise a Palestinian state during a conference in New York on Monday, ahead of the annual United Nations General Assembly. French President Emmanuel Macron will co-host the UN conference with Saudi Arabia at 3 p.m. (1900 GMT), aimed at reviving the two-state solution. Alongside France, Belgium and New Zealand have announced or signalled plans to recognise Palestine, despite strong Israeli opposition. Britain, Canada and Australia took the step on Sunday, becoming the first major Western economies to grant recognition. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney are expected to address the…
The debate over whether Nigerian lecturers should be described as poor or rich is as intriguing as it is revealing about the human tendency to construct narratives that suit convenience. I recall an online exchange where the respected social critic Baba Ali asked with disarming curiosity, “Can Nigerian lecturers be said to be poor?” He wasted no time answering his own question with a firm “Certainly not!” The platform, however, fell into silence—neither approving nor dismissing his hypothesis. Perhaps the quiet was not due to disinterest but rather the uncomfortable truth that no clear answer exists. The question itself exposes…
Nigeria lives and breathes football. The Super Eagles, draped in their iconic green, have long carried the nation’s hopes with their flair, history, and global recognition. From Olympic gold in Atlanta ’96 to multiple Africa Cup of Nations triumphs, their successes shine bright. Yet, their story is also marked by heartbreak. The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers have once again exposed painful cracks, stirring memories of past failures. The recent 1-1 draw against bitter rivals South Africa’s Bafana Bafana summed up the frustration: flashes of brilliance undone by missed chances, leaving fans to wonder why a team brimming with talent…
An older friend of mine, a denizen of the circles of power, told me a few days ago that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was considering a retired judge from Nasarawa State to succeed Professor Mahmood Yakubu as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He named him as Justice Abdullahi Mohammed Liman, whom, I am embarrassed to admit, I had never heard of. Apparently, Liman has been a loadstone for controversies and has had robust mentions in the news media, as I’ll show shortly. I probably never paid attention to his name because my background as a former reporter…