Daily Blinks, Abuja (2026)

11/03/2026

UTME candidates across Nigerian states, from the state with the highest number of candidates to the state with the lowest.

10/02/2026

Nigeria Feels Fragile When Federal Character Principle Is Abused — Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has urged members of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) to uphold transparency, professionalism, and consistency in all their engagements and decisions, warning that the abuse of the federal character principle makes the country feel fragile.

The President gave the charge on January 22 during the swearing-in of Ayo Omidiran as Chairperson of the FCC, alongside 37 commissioners representing the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The ceremony took place at the State House, Abuja.

26/12/2025

Kaduna, Katsina Hold PCVE Capacity-Building Workshops to Strengthen State and Local Action Plans

Capacity-building and drafting workshops aimed at strengthening Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) efforts were held in Kaduna and Katsina States in December 2025, bringing together key stakeholders to support the development of State and Local Action Plans (SAPs/LAPs) on PCVE.

The sessions took place in Kaduna State on 11 December 2025, and in Katsina State from 16–17 December 2025. The workshops were facilitated by Sadiq Muhammad Mustapha and organised by the PAVE Network and PCVE KIRH, in collaboration with the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), with support from the Nigeria Economic Youth Investment Fund (NEYIF) and funding from the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF).

The workshops targeted members of the newly inaugurated Technical Working Groups (TWGs) in both states, with a focus on strengthening their capacity to collaboratively design context-specific and inclusive PCVE State and Local Action Plans. Participants were equipped with practical knowledge and tools to guide coordinated planning, implementation, and monitoring of PCVE interventions.

Discussions during the sessions examined prevailing violent extremism trends in North-West Nigeria and their implications for state-level responses. Participants were also guided through the structure, core components, and coordination mechanisms required for effective PCVE SAPs and LAPs. Through facilitated group work, TWG members identified priority risks, thematic focus areas, and sectoral roles to inform the drafting of the action plans.

The level of engagement throughout the workshops underscored the importance of collaborative approaches to PCVE, emphasizing shared responsibility, early intervention, and trust-building between institutions and communities. Stakeholders expressed optimism that the enhanced capacity of the TWGs would translate into coordinated and sustainable action as Kaduna and Katsina States move forward with the development and implementation of their PCVE SAPs and LAPs.

Organisers commended the commitment of all partners and participants to advancing inclusive and locally driven solutions to violent extremism in the North-West region of Nigeria.

16/11/2025

‎Kano State Government Begins Probe Into Suspected Gastroenteritis Cases in Rano LGA
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‎Aminu Abdullahi Ibrahim
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‎Kano State Government has launched an investigation into suspected gastroenteritis cases in Rano Local Government Area after concerns emerged from residents of Rurum Tsohon Gari Ward.
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‎The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, in coordination with the Director General of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC), Dr. Muhammad Adamu Abbas, authorized and mobilized the KNCDC Rapid Response Team (RRT) on 13 November to conduct an urgent field assessment.
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‎The response team visited Katanga and Gidan Rimi settlements to verify the reports, assess the situation, search for cases, and review records at health facilities.
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‎The preliminary findings revealed one recovered case in Gidan Rimi and one active suspected case in Katanga, which was immediately referred to Tiga General Hospital for appropriate care.
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‎The team also confirmed two community-reported deaths linked to suspected gastroenteritis in Katanga. No additional active cases were discovered during the community and facility assessments, and Rurum PHC had no gastroenteritis cases recorded in its register.
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‎The investigation showed that rumors of an outbreak had been amplified through media reports, causing unnecessary panic among residents. These concerns were addressed during engagements with community leaders and households.
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‎The RRT also held advocacy visits to the HOD PHCMB in Rano, representatives of Gidan Hakimi, and the Tsohon Gari District Head. Surveillance activities were strengthened through active case searches both in the community and at Rurum PHC.
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‎Community sensitization sessions were conducted to promote hygiene, early reporting, and proper health-seeking behavior.
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‎The report highlighted challenges related to misinformation and underscored the need for stakeholders to adhere to official channels for reporting suspected public health events. Identified cases were line-listed, while arrangements were made for timely drug supply from the state level.
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‎Recommendations from the KNCDC include intensifying surveillance across Rano LGA—especially in Rurum Tsohon Gari Ward—improving communication between District Heads and Disease Surveillance Officers, ensuring prompt reporting of suspected cases, and sustaining community awareness on hygiene and early care-seeking.

04/11/2025

CGC Adeniyi Strengthens Ties with AfCFTA, Secures Endorsement for Customs PACT to Boost Intra-African Trade

By Aminu Abdullahi Ibrahim

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to partnering with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat to promote trade integration, enhance data accuracy, and remove structural barriers limiting intra-African trade.

Adeniyi made this known on Monday, November 3, 2025, during a courtesy visit to the AfCFTA Secretariat in Accra, Ghana, where he met with senior officials to deliberate on strategies to improve Customs efficiency and strengthen the AfCFTA implementation process across the continent.

Speaking at the meeting, the Customs Chief commended the Secretariat for its sustained efforts in mobilising stakeholders—ranging from Customs administrations and development partners to private sector players—towards advancing Africa’s trade potential.

He disclosed that the engagement with the Secretariat has provided a solid framework for the upcoming Customs-Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) conference, scheduled for November 17–19, 2025, in Abuja.

> “The AfCFTA Secretariat has been instrumental in bringing African Customs and economic operators together. We now have a clear direction for the Abuja meeting, which will serve as a landmark for deepening Customs collaboration in Africa,” Adeniyi stated.

Highlighting the outcomes of the ongoing partnership, Adeniyi noted that Customs administrations must take the lead in resolving deficiencies in trade data across the continent, stressing that accurate trade statistics are essential for effective policy decisions.

> “Customs must take a front role in addressing the deficiencies in our trade data across the continent. This is a challenge I have accepted to tackle with my colleagues,” he affirmed.

He further emphasised the need to strengthen the existing AfCFTA structure that unites all heads of Customs administrations under one framework, adding that the institutionalisation of the Customs PACT would ensure long-term coordination and policy consistency across African borders.

> “Once the Customs PACT is institutionalised, it will operate effectively within the Secretariat’s framework to drive sustainable trade facilitation,” Adeniyi added.

The Comptroller-General expressed optimism that the upcoming C-PACT conference would set a new benchmark for Customs collaboration, data-driven governance, and cross-border trade facilitation across Africa.

In his remarks, the AfCFTA Secretary-General, Wamkele Mene, welcomed the Nigerian delegation and lauded the Nigeria Customs Service for its leadership in championing regional cooperation among Customs authorities.

Mene acknowledged the persistent challenges hindering trade growth in Africa, such as poor logistics infrastructure, high transportation costs, and limited inter-agency coordination. He expressed confidence that the C-PACT conference would provide an opportunity to address these obstacles and develop practical solutions.

He revealed that the Secretariat is considering making the C-PACT conference an annual institutional event to sustain regional dialogue on Customs cooperation and data integration. Mene also referenced an existing Memorandum of Understanding between AfCFTA and the World Customs Organisation (WCO), aimed at enhancing private sector participation and implementing electronic certificates of origin across Africa.

He further mentioned ongoing discussions on establishing a Single Bond Guarantee Scheme to strengthen the AfCFTA’s Annex on Transit and improve cross-border efficiency.

Reaffirming the central role of Customs in AfCFTA’s success, Mene called for active involvement of Customs administrations in shaping the continent’s trade data systems, developing Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) recognition frameworks, and improving trade statistics management.

“Customs is at the heart of the AfCFTA process. Their leadership and cooperation are vital to realising our shared vision of seamless trade across Africa,” Mene concluded.

01/11/2025

TinT, IBP Engage Stakeholders on Tax Equity, Boosting Kano’s Revenue Potentials

Aminu Abdullahi Ibrahim

Transparency and Accountability in Totality (TinT), popularly known as FollowTaxes, has convened a two-day review and reflection session in Kano aimed at assessing the revenue potential of the state’s informal sector and identifying evidence-based approaches for equitable taxation and improved revenue systems.

The engagement, supported by the International Budget Partnership (IBP) under the Tax for Equity Project, took place at the Kano State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS) headquarters and Quarter House Hotel. The project has been implemented in Kano over the past three years.

Speaking during the session, Halliru Ahmad Khalifa, Executive Director of TinT, said the event was designed to review findings from a recent study on the informal sector and validate them with relevant stakeholders.

“Our engagement was mainly to validate research conducted to understand the revenue potential of the informal sector — what is currently being generated and what could potentially be achieved,” Khalifa explained.

He added that the session also served as an “outcome harvesting and review meeting” to reflect on the project’s achievements and challenges since inception.

“Today, we’ve brought together government representatives, civil society organizations, and the media to identify results, challenges, and key focus areas for the next phase of the project,” he noted.

According to him, the feedback and recommendations gathered will guide TinT’s future programming and advocacy initiatives.

“We aim to adopt an evidence-based and consultative approach. All insights from this engagement will be consolidated into a single document to inform our advocacy briefs, policy recommendations, and future programs,” Khalifa added.

In a presentation titled “Potential Revenue Simulation of the Kano State Informal Sector: Assessing Leakages, Compliance Gaps, and Reform Pathways,” Simeon Olatunde of the Tax Justice and Governance Platform (TJ&GP), Kaduna, described the informal sector as the backbone of Kano’s economy, employing thousands across markets like Kantin Kwari, Kasuwar Rimi, and Sabon Gari.

He, however, noted that despite its vast scale, the sector’s tax contribution remains minimal. The study, he said, revealed significant revenue leakages and compliance challenges that hinder optimal performance.

Olatunde identified major sources of revenue leakages to include cash-based tax collection, unauthorized collectors, overlapping tax rates, receipt manipulation, and weak data systems.

He recommended adopting a One-Tax Policy, improving transparency and accountability, linking taxation to market services, providing business support, strengthening trust between taxpayers and government, and digitizing revenue collection.

Also speaking, Nafiu Shehu Rikadawa, Special Assistant to the Executive Chairman of KIRS, commended the initiative, describing it as a model for inclusive dialogue between government, civil society, and the business community.

“This session is commendable and should be replicated by others. It provides a platform for government agencies, civil society groups, and market stakeholders to exchange ideas that can enhance revenue generation and accountability,” Rikadawa said.

He emphasized the importance of research-driven policymaking, assuring that the state government would consider the session’s recommendations in strengthening Kano’s tax systems and ensuring that policies align with the public interest.

26/10/2025

TJ&GP Partners Zamfara Revenue Service to Deepen Fairness and Accountability in Tax Administration

Aminu Abdullahi Ibrahim

The Tax Justice & Governance Platform (TJ&GP) has led a major effort to enhance fairness, transparency, and accountability in Zamfara State’s tax administration through the establishment of a Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) Framework for the Zamfara State Internal Revenue Service (ZIRS).

At the request of ZIRS, TJ&GP facilitated a two-day technical engagement in Kaduna State from October 15 to 16, 2025, focusing on validating the GRM Framework and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), as well as training participants on the GRM Monthly Master Tracking Dashboard for improved complaint monitoring and reporting.

The new framework is designed to create a functional and inclusive system for addressing taxpayer grievances, thereby promoting trust between citizens and tax authorities.

This initiative aligns with the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025, which introduces the Office of the Ombuds to ensure fairness in taxpayer engagement. With the development of this framework, Zamfara joins other forward-looking states — including Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, and Gombe — that are advancing similar tax reforms.

The Tax Justice & Governance Platform expressed gratitude to Christian Aid in Nigeria and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) for their support in making the engagement a success.

23/10/2025

Kano offers scholarships to Bissau citizens to study English and Hausa

Aminu Abdullahi Ibrahim

The Kano State Government and the Republic of Guinea Bissau have agreed to strengthen bilateral relations aimed at enhancing cooperation in agriculture, education, culture, tourism, and human capital development.

The agreement followed a high-level meeting held in Bissau, where a delegation representing Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, led by the National Chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Dr. Ajuji Ahmed, paid a courtesy visit to the President of Guinea Bissau, His Excellency Umaro Sissoco Embaló.

A statement issued by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Thursday, said both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepen collaboration that promotes job creation, youth empowerment, and skill acquisition.

As part of the partnership, Kano will introduce joint initiatives in GSM repairs, fish farming, and cashew and mango value chains — key sectors expected to boost economic productivity and employment.

In a gesture to strengthen cultural and linguistic exchange, the Kano State Government also announced 50 scholarship slots for citizens of Guinea Bissau to study English and Hausa languages in one of its state-owned tertiary institutions.

President Umaro Sissoco Embaló commended the visionary leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and expressed readiness to visit Kano soon. He disclosed that he had directed his Minister of Defence to lead a government delegation to Kano to further explore potential areas of cooperation.

The Kano delegation included Commissioner for Women Affairs, Children and Persons with Disabilities, Hajiya Amina Abdullahi; Special Adviser on Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities, Hajiya Sadiya Abdu Bichi; former Director-General of Urban Beautification, Arc. Danjuma Zarewa; and Hon. Muhammad Sani Gumel.

Governor Yusuf reiterated his administration’s commitment to building international partnerships that create opportunities for Kano’s citizens, particularly in trade, education, and cultural exchange.

13/10/2025

AMG Foundation Makes Second Donation of Emergency Drugs to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital

In a continued effort to support healthcare delivery in Kano State, the Aminu Magashi Garba (AMG) Foundation has made a second-round donation of emergency drugs and medical consumables worth ₦200,000 to the Accident and Emergency Department of Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital (MMSH), Kano.

The donation, made in collaboration with the Kano State Healthcare Forum, Community Health and Research Initiative (CHR), Youth Society for the Prevention of Infectious Diseases and Social Vices (YOSPIS), and Vulnerable People Support and Development Initiative (V-PeSDI), was officially presented on Monday, October 13.

The handover ceremony was attended by the outgoing Matron of the department, Matron Hassana, the newly appointed head, Mallam Munnir Idris, and other hospital staff.

Speaking during the presentation, Dr. Aminu Magashi Garba, Chair of the AMG Foundation, underscored the importance of using the donated items judiciously to benefit vulnerable patients, who remain the primary focus of the Foundation’s humanitarian interventions.

In his remarks, Mallam Munnir Idris, the incoming head of the A&E department, expressed sincere appreciation to the AMG Foundation for its continued support, noting that the donation will significantly improve service delivery and patient care in the facility.

11/10/2025

Nigerian Army Troops Rescue Kidnapped Victims in Kwara

Following a kidnap incident in Efagi village under Lafiagi, Edu LGA of Kwara state, troops of 2 Division/Sector 3 Operation FANSAN YAMMA rescued 2 kidnapped victims who were taken from their home in Efagi Lafiagi by kidnappers during the early hours of Friday, 10 October, 2025.

Captain Stephen Nwanko Acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations 22 Armoured Brigade, Ilorin made this known in a statement issued Saturday.

He said the troops deployed at the Patrol Base in Lafiagi got a wave of the incident and immediately mobilised to the area in collaboration with vigilante group.

“They pursued the criminals, and engaged them in a fire fight, forcing the bandits to flee and abandoning the victims. Unfortunately, one soldier and a vigilante member sustained gun shot wounds during the encounter. Both were immediately evacuated for treatment.”

He noted that the rescued victims were reunited with their families, while troops continued further exploitation of the area.

The Commander, 22 Armoured Brigade, Brigadier General Ezra Barkins, commended the troops for their gallantry and professionalism.

He reaffirmed the Brigade’s resolve to sustain operations against criminal elements and urged residents to provide timely, actionable intelligence to support security efforts.

08/10/2025

Government House Press Crew Hold NNPP Social Media Team in Lively 1–1 Encounter

By Aminu Abdullahi Ibrahim

A spirited friendly match between the Government House Press Crew and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) Social Media Team ended in a thrilling 1–1 draw on Tuesday evening at the ARTV Sports Ground in Kano.

Kano focus report the encounter, filled with excitement and friendly rivalry, was organized to celebrate the birth of a baby boy to Nasara Radio correspondent, Jabir Ali Dan Abba.

Both sides displayed impressive skills and teamwork, keeping spectators entertained throughout the game.

The Government House Press Crew, coached by Sadiq Iliyasu, took an early lead before the NNPP Social Media Team, under the guidance of Nura Muhammad Dandago, leveled the score in the second half.

Beyond the competition, the match served as a platform to foster unity and strengthen collaboration between journalists and social media influencers working closely with the Kano State Government.

At the close of the event, the Director of Publications at the Government House, Usman Gwadabe, and the managing director of ARTV Television Station, Hauwa Isa Ibrahim, were honored for their remarkable contributions to media development and public communication in the state.

05/10/2025

Jonathan Arrives in Guinea-Bissau for Pre-Election Mission

Former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has arrived in Bissau as part of the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) Pre-Election Mission ahead of Guinea-Bissau’s presidential election scheduled for November 23, 2025.

Jonathan, who is leading the delegation, expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Guinea-Bissau, as well as officials of the Nigerian Embassy, for their warm reception and hospitality upon arrival.

He stated that the mission looks forward to engaging constructively with key stakeholders to promote peaceful, inclusive, and credible electoral processes in the country.

The WAEF delegation’s visit underscores the regional body’s continued commitment to strengthening democracy and ensuring stability across West Africa.

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