The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has dismissed fears of division among Nigerian Muslims over the issue of Ramadan. In a statement circulated on both social and conventional media on Tuesday, 18th February 2025, the Islamic human rights group described those who recently fixed the date for the commencement of this year’s Ramadan as Islamic scholars engaging in sheer academic exercise. The statement, signed by MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, explained that the scholars merely partook in calculating the movement of celestial objects, as done in astronomy, to determine the date of the crescent’s appearance. He said: “The attention of…
Author: TheStories
The Sokoto State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning has inaugurated a Technical Working Committee to facilitate the implementation of Governor Ahmad Aliyu’s Nine-Point Agenda. Inaugurating the committee, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Abubakar Mohammad Zayyana, emphasized that the initiative aims to enhance understanding of the governor’s vision and ensure effective policy implementation by relevant ministries. Dr. Zayyana stated that the committee’s mandate includes: Defining expected outcomes for each agenda point. Identifying achievements recorded so far. Recommending strategies for efficient execution. He urged the committee members to work with dedication, assuring them of the ministry’s full support…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Sokoto State has responded to recent remarks made by the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), rejecting claims that previous administrations failed to develop the state. In a statement by the state chairman, Bello Aliyu Goronyo, the PDP noted that contributions by past governors, both military and civilian, have played a significant role in shaping Sokoto’s development over the years. The party emphasized that governance is a collective effort and dissociated itself from any narrative that disregards the efforts of past administrations. The PDP also addressed concerns about socio-economic challenges facing Sokoto…
The newly appointed Customs Area Controller of the Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone (FTZ) Command, Onne Port Harcourt, Comptroller Aliyu Alkali, has reaffirmed his commitment to facilitating trade and ensuring compliance within the zone. During a strategic meeting on February 13, 2025, held at the Free Zone Authority Mable House, Onne, Rivers State, Comptroller Alkali engaged key government agencies, enterprises, shipping companies, and industry associations operating within the Oil and Gas FTZ. Addressing the gathering, he emphasized the importance of strict adherence to trade regulations and urged all freight forwarders, enterprises, and stakeholders to perfect their Single Goods Declaration…
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, at the ongoing African Union (AU) summit, at the ongoing African Union (AU) summit, reiterated his strong support for the establishment of an African-led credit rating agency (ACRA), emphasizing its potential role in ensuring fair and transparent credit evaluations for African nations. President Tinubu remarked that an independent African rating agency would mitigate biases typically associated with existing global credit rating systems that often undermine the financial assessments of African economies. “An independent African-led rating agency will help provide fairer assessments of African economies and reduce the bias often observed in existing global rating agencies,” he…
President Bola Tinubu has urged the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) to prioritize the establishment of a Combined Maritime Task Force to strengthen security in the Gulf of Guinea. Speaking at the 38th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Sunday, President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to host the task force’s headquarters in Lagos. His statement, delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to addressing maritime security threats in the region. “The time has come for the African Union Peace and Security Council to prioritize the creation of a Combined…
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled a trans-border drug trafficking syndicate, arresting four members in intelligence-led operations. The operation led to the seizure of multi-million-naira worth of tramadol pills concealed in the bumpers and false bottoms of Sienna buses heading to border towns. Following weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance by operatives of NDLEA’s Directorate of Intelligence, a Sienna bus with registration number ABJ 452 HG was intercepted along the Nasarawa-Toto road in Keffi, Nasarawa State, on Tuesday, January 27, 2025, at 6:00 AM. Two suspects, Zahradeen Adamu (27) and Abubakar Usman (44), were arrested…
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) wishes to clarify that it does not assign examination towns to candidates for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) or the optional Mock Examination. Candidates are responsible for selecting their preferred examination towns, and JAMB only allocates spaces based on availability. At present, 90% of the available slots for the optional Mock Examination nationwide have been filled, leaving limited spaces in a few states. The remaining slots are available in Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, and Yobe. Candidates interested in the mock exam are advised to select their examination towns…
My first encounter with Usman Ododo occurred at the PRNigeria Centre, Abuja, in February 2021, exactly four years ago, when he sought strategic communication support for Governor Yahaya Bello’s aspirations. He portrayed a committed and loyal aide, yet I found it peculiar that he never mentioned his own political ambitions. It was through our legal adviser, now Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Yunus Abdulsalam, who accompanied him, that I learned Ododo was likely to be the anointed candidate of then-Governor Yahaya Bello. At the time, I struggled to understand how Yahaya Bello—a charismatic and high-profile governor—could endorse someone who struck…
The Sokoto State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, in collaboration with the State CARES Coordination Unit (SSCU), has organized a two-day capacity-building workshop for staff of the NG-CARES Programme to enhance their skills for effective service delivery. Declaring the workshop open, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Abubakar Muhammad Zayyana, emphasized the importance of equipping NG-CARES personnel with the necessary knowledge to achieve the programme’s objectives. He urged participants to remain committed to their responsibilities, ensuring that vulnerable populations in the state fully benefit from the initiative. Dr. Zayyana highlighted that the capacity-building effort aligns with Governor…