Author: Aminu Imam

Kano-Kaduna railway project: China approves $254m loan for FG 

Aminu Imam
KD KN rail project

The China Development Bank, (CDB), has approved a $254.76 million loan to support the construction of the Kano-Kaduna railway project in Nigeria by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the bank said the funding would facilitate the smooth implementation of the infrastructure project. The construction is being handled by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, (CCECC), with financial backing from the CDB. “The Kano-Kaduna railway spans a total of 203 kilometers and is designed as a standard-gauge railway. Upon completion, it will establish a direct…

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‘Power shedding in Abuja to last 11 more days’ – TCN

Aminu Imam
Power shedding in Abuja

The Transmission Company of Nigeria, (TCN), has revealed that Abuja, will experience an 11-day power outage for seven hours daily across various parts of the nation’s capital, as a precautionary measure during an on-going road construction. Among those affected will be hoteliers, hospitality services, artisans, and other service-based industries.  TCN attributed the need for the power shedding to the relocation of eight 132kV and 33kV towers along the Kukwaba/Apo 132kV line due to the Federal Capital Development Agency’s road dualisation project along the Apo axis.  This relocation work will necessitate…

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“Tinubu’s cabals more dangerous than Buhari’s” – Dalung

Aminu Imam
Dalung on Tinubu cabals

Former Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has raised concerns over the influence of power brokers around President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Dalung, who stated this during a television programme yesterday, described them as more dangerous than the cabals surrounding former President Muhammadu Buhari. He asserted that while Buhari’s cabals were less experienced and unrefined in power dynamics, Tinubu’s circle consisted of ambitious, educated, and politically astute individuals capable of manipulating power and building barriers around the presidency. Dalung emphasised that the Tinubu administration could face significant challenges due to…

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2025 Hajj: NAHCON begins preparations with Saudi visit

Aminu Imam
NAHCON on2025 Hajj

National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, (NAHCON), has commenced preparations for the 2025 Hajj with a working visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Led by the Commission’s Chairman, Prof. Abdullahi Usman, the delegation’s visit, which started on Tuesday, was at the invitation of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. Assistant Director of Information and Publications at the Commission, Fatima Usara, disclosed this in a statement yesterday, said: “A delegation, led by the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Prof. Abdullahi Usman, has embarked on a working visit…

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‘Upright’ policeman, who Buhari honoured for rejecting $200,000 bribe, converts to Islam

Aminu Imam
Upright’ policeman

The policeman, Assistant Commissioner of Police, (ACP) Daniel Amah, renowned for rejecting a $200,000 bribe, has embraced Islam, in a ceremony held at the palace of the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II. During the private event, which was held on Tuesday, Amah was formally welcomed into the faith. He adopted Muhammad as his new name. Speaking in Hausa, the Emir urged Amah to seek Islamic knowledge and diligently observe the five pillars of Islam: belief in Allah, the five daily prayers, fasting during Ramadan, pilgrimage to Mecca, and Zakat,…

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Tax reforms Bills: “Govs. limited knowledge responsible for criticism” – Oyedele 

Aminu Imam
Oyedele on tax reform

Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, yesterday advised critics of President Bola Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills to study the documents for informed opinions. Recall that Tinubu on October 3 last year transmitted his four tax reform Bills to the 10th National Assembly for approval. They consist of: the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill. Since he unveiled the Bills, Tinubu has come under intense criticism, particularly from…

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Equitable Revenue Distribution: Coalition calls for banks to move HQs to Abuja 

Aminu Imam
Coalition on banks HQs

…Demands reopening of land borders The Coalition of Northern Groups, (CNG), Civil Society Organisations, (CSOs), and other critical stakeholders in northern Nigeria have called for the immediate relocation of the nation’s deposit banks’ headquarters to Abuja. This was contained in a statement co-signed by Comrade Muhammed Usman Deba, Gombe State Coordinator, CNG; Comrade Habiba Isah Gaude, Voice for Rural Women, and Comrade Lawal Idris Lawantee, Acting Chairman, CSOs, following a town hall meeting in Gombe State. According to the statement, it is unjust for banks to situate their headquarters in…

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Food Security: FG rolls out measures to crash food prices in 180 days 

Aminu Imam

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has announced immediate measures to address the high cost of food in the country. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, announced this on his official X account, stating that there will be a 150-day duty-free import window for food commodities. This window will include: the suspension of duties, tariffs and taxes for the importation of certain food commodities through land and sea borders. The targeted commodities include maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas. Kyari said,…

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ICPC charges el-Rufai’s ex-commissioner to court over alleged money laundering

Aminu Imam
ICPC drags

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC), has charged Nasir el-Rufai’s former Chief of Staff and Finance Commissioner, Muhammad Bashir Sa’idu, to the Federal High Court in Kaduna. Sa’idu was charged along with one Ibrahim Muktar, a public officer ‘in the employment of the Ministry of Finance’, yesterday. According to the charge sheet,  with Reference No: FHC/KD/IC/2025, the defendants are slammed with a 2-count charge bordering on money laundering. This is contrary to earlier claims that Sa’idu had been exonerated of all charges after 10 months of…

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Police uncover masterminds behind Abuja Islamiyya school bombing

Aminu Imam
Police uncover masterminds2

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, has said the explosives at an Islamiyyah school in the Kuchibiyi community, of Bwari Area Council of the FCT, which resulted in the deaths of two persons, were suspected to have been brought to the school by three suspects from Kastina State. According to the Police Command yesterday, the explosion occurred at approximately 11am, at the Tsangagyar Sani Uthman Islamiyya school, located in Kuchibuyi village, Byazhin area of the FCT. A statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, said the Command…

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