Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted cocaine consignments concealed in lipsticks and property title documents destined for the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, respectively. The illicit drug consignments were recovered from cargoes being prepared for shipment at a courier company in Lagos on Thursday, 3rd July 2025, by NDLEA officers from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI), attached to the logistics firm. A total of 420 grams of cocaine, factory-fitted in 84 pieces of female lipsticks heading to the UK, were seized, while 280 grams of the same Class A drug were uncovered…
Author: TheStories
By Uthman Baba-Sirajdeen, Minna [THESTORIES] – July 6, 2025 – Operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Niger State Police Command have rescued 35 victims suspected to have been held captive by Boko Haram insurgents in parts of the state. According to reliable sources, the victims—mostly women and children—were spotted in large numbers along the riverbank in Agwara while attempting to board canoes to cross into Yauri in Kebbi State. Their movement reportedly appeared suspicious, prompting residents to alert the police. It was also gathered that suspected bandits, believed to be armed Boko Haram fighters, had earlier been seen along…
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has announced the appointment of Bolaji Abdullahi, a former Minister of Sports, as its interim National Publicity Secretary, marking a significant step in revamping its communications strategy. Abdullahi takes over from Mabel Oboh, who served in the role with distinction and was lauded for her impressive contributions to the party’s public image. A seasoned broadcaster and political advocate, Oboh’s tenure was characterised by dynamic media engagement and efforts to make the ADC more accessible and relatable to Nigerians. As the former Publicity Secretary for Lagos State, Oboh effectively promoted the party’s principles, which earned her…
Former Governor and current Senator representing Sokoto North, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, has continued to endear himself to the people of Sokoto through his consistent leadership, generosity, and grassroots engagement. This affirmation came from former Senator Ibrahim Danbaba, who described Wamakko as a true servant-leader whose legacy is built on compassion and action, not political grandstanding. “Senator Wamakko is a man of the people. His concern for the masses is genuine—he empowers, he supports, and he listens,” Danbaba said during a recent interview. He noted that despite political differences in the past, Wamakko’s continued support for education, youth development, healthcare, and…
For decades, Nigeria’s tax system has symbolised everything wrong with the country’s broader fiscal culture—narrow tax bases, overburdened workers, under-taxed elites, a thriving informal sector, and rampant corruption. With a tax-to-GDP ratio that has hovered between 6% and 8%, Nigeria remains one of the poorest tax performers in Africa. This has forced the country into the clutches of debt, aid dependence, and volatile oil markets. By Prof. Chiwuike Uba, Ph.D., ACTI, FCNA In this context, the signing into law of four pivotal instruments in 2025—the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, and…
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has announced a new round of high-level appointments into key government institutions. According to a statement signed by the Director General, Media and Publicity, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the appointments are aimed at enhancing institutional performance and aligning with the administration’s development agenda. The list of newly appointed officials includes: Dr. Bashir A. Muzakkar as Director General, Kano State Information & Communication Technologies Development Agency (KASITDA). Dr. Muzakkar, formerly Special Adviser on Digital and Creative Economy, is expected to lead the state’s drive in the ICT sector. Kabiru Saidu Dakata as Director General, Kano…
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is at the center of political controversy following its adoption by an Atiku Abubakar-led coalition ahead of the 2027 elections, raising critical questions about whether the party was sold or seized. The absence of key ADC leaders during the coalition’s unveiling, the emergence of internal factions like the Concerned Stakeholders, and the appointment of new executives without broad consensus suggest a deep power struggle that threatens the party’s autonomy and credibility. As the ADC faces internal discord and external pressure, its ability to remain a genuine opposition force depends on reclaiming transparency, unity, and commitment to its founding ideals amid growing fears it may be reduced to a platform for elite ambitions.
By Uthman Baba-Sirajdeen, Minna [ASHENEWS] – July 2, 2025: The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has donated food items to survivors of the recent flood disaster in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State. While presenting the relief materials at the Office of the Deputy Governor, Yakubu Garba, the CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, expressed deep sorrow over the magnitude of destruction caused by the flood, stating that “we share in the pain it has inflicted on the affected communities.” Represented by the CAN Vice President, Rev. Dr. Stephen Baba Panya, Archbishop Okoh called on various groups and governments to…
By Uthman Baba-Sirajdeen, Minna – [ASHENEWS] July 2, 2025: Niger State Governor and farmer, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has called on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to immediately inaugurate campaign councils at the state, local government, and ward levels in preparation for the upcoming local government council elections. The governor made the call while hosting all APC flag bearers from the 25 local government areas of the state to a special dinner held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Minna. Governor Bago, who commended the APC for the rigorous screening process that produced the flag bearers for…
The political temperature ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections just got hotter with the formal adoption of the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) as the platform for a newly forged coalition of political heavyweights. At a symbolic gathering held on July 1, 2025, at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, the party announced David Mark—the longest-serving Senate President in Nigerian history—as its interim chairman, and Rauf Aregbesola, former Osun State governor and ex-Minister of Interior, as its secretary. The political architecture of this coalition is both deliberate and formidable. To borrow a football metaphor, this new opposition resembles the early-2000s Galácticos of…