The Historica Nigeria

2025

National, News

Nigeria Mourns the Passing of Elder Statesman Alhaji Isyaku Ibrahim at 88

Nigeria has lost one of its most enduring political figures, Alhaji Isyaku Ibrahim, who passed away at the age of 88. A towering presence in journalism, diplomacy, business, and politics, his death marks the end of an era in Nigeria’s public life. The news of his passing was conveyed in a statement signed by seasoned journalist Bashir Idris Ibrahim, who described the late elder statesman on his verified Facebook page as “a journalist, diplomat, business tycoon, philanthropist and politician.” His career spanned decades and touched nearly every facet of Nigeria’s development. In 1979, Ibrahim played a pivotal role in shaping Nigeria’s Second Republic. As leader of the Plateau delegates, alongside Abdullahi Adamu and Saleh Hassan, he nominated Shehu Shagari as the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) presidential flagbearer. Despite Shagari’s eventual victory, Ibrahim declined to serve in the administration, a decision that underscored his principled approach to politics. Read Also: Nigeria Loses Former Agriculture Minister Audu Ogbeh at 78 His political journey was deeply intertwined with Nigeria’s founding fathers. He was a close associate of Malam Aminu Kano, Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe, and JS Tarka during the First Republic. His influence extended into the Fourth Republic, where he emerged as one of the pioneer leaders and financiers of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from 1998 until 2007. He later parted ways with the party following a disagreement over President Olusegun Obasanjo’s controversial third-term bid. Ibrahim’s commitment to democratic ideals was evident during the PDP primaries in 2003. Nigeria Tracker recalls that he served as campaign manager for Vice President Dr. Alex Ekwueme in his contest against President Obasanjo. During live updates from Eagle Square, Ibrahim openly expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the primaries, showcasing his fearless advocacy for transparency and fairness. Beyond politics, Ibrahim was a passionate supporter of Nigerian football. In 1974, he made history by hiring Brazilian coach Lopez to manage Mighty Jets, becoming the first Nigerian to bring in a foreign coach. He also sponsored future coaching legends Ismaila Mabo and Garba Okoye for training in Hungary in 1976, laying the foundation for Nigeria’s football development. Ibrahim’s connection to Nigerian history was profound. He often shared vivid recollections of the First and Second Republics with striking accuracy. His close relationship with the late Umaru Dikko was both personal and historical; he once revealed that Dikko was born in his hometown of Wamba, now in Nasarawa State, where Dikko’s father served as a judge under the Native Authority. Until mid-2023, before illness slowed him down, Ibrahim remained a living archive of Nigeria’s political evolution. His sharp memory, principled voice, and commitment to truth earned him respect across generations. Alhaji Isyaku Ibrahim’s passing leaves a significant void in Nigeria’s political and cultural landscape. His legacy will endure through the institutions he helped build, the leaders he mentored, and the ideals he consistently championed.  

National, News

NSCDC Deploys 20,850 Personnel for August 16 By-Elections

The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, OFR, has ordered the deployment of 20,850 officers and men to ensure a hitch-free conduct of the by-elections scheduled for Saturday, August 16, 2025, in 16 constituencies across 12 states of the federation. This was contained in a statement signed by the Corps’ National Public Relations Officer, CSC Afolabi Babawale, who noted that all State Commandants in the affected states have been adequately briefed with emphasis on professionalism, respect for citizens’ fundamental human rights, and commitment to ensuring peaceful elections. Prof. Audi assured the public of the Corps’ readiness to protect critical national assets and infrastructure, secure election materials, safeguard officials, and monitor the entire election process in synergy with the Nigeria Police, which is the lead agency in election duty operations. Read Also: Polytechnic Union Threatens Strike, Gives FG 21 Days to Meet Demands He reiterated that the by-elections would be conducted under adequate security, free from any form of hitch, and urged eligible voters to turn out en masse to vote for candidates of their choice as an expression of their franchise and fundamental rights. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the elections will be held to fill two senatorial seats, five federal constituencies, and nine state constituencies. NSCDC personnel have been directed to collaborate with other security agencies in Anambra, Edo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Ogun, Oyo, Taraba, Kogi, Kano, Niger, and other states where the polls will take place.

Kano, News

12 Died, Five Injured in Kano Road Crash

A fatal road accident has claimed the lives of at least 12 people and left five others injured in the early hours of Friday in Samawa village, Garun Malam Local Government Area of Kano State. According to the Kano Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the crash occurred at about 2:40 a.m. along the Zaria–Kano Expressway. It involved a DAF CF95 trailer carrying both goods and passengers. Read Also: Governor Yusuf Presents ₦5 Million Each and Plots of Land to Families of 22 Fallen Kano Athletes FRSC spokesperson in Kano, Abdullahi Labaran, said the trailer, which was heavily loaded, veered off the road, resulting in the tragic loss of lives. “Out of the 19 persons on board, 12 died on the spot, five sustained varying degrees of injuries, while two escaped unhurt,” he stated. Emergency responders evacuated the injured to Kura General Hospital for treatment, while the remains of the deceased were deposited at the Nassarawa Hospital morgue. The FRSC has renewed its call for strict adherence to road safety regulations, particularly by long-distance drivers operating at night. Investigations into the cause of the accident are ongoing. This tragedy adds to growing concerns over the high rate of fatal crashes on Nigeria’s highways, especially those involving overloaded commercial vehicles.

National, News

Tinubu Unveils New Leadership for Nigerian Television Authority

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of a new management team for the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). A statement stated that the President approved the appointment of veteran media executive Rotimi Richard Pedro as the new Director-General of the state broadcaster. Other key appointments include Katsina State’s Karimah Bello as Executive Director of Marketing, Stella Din from Plateau State as Executive Director of News, and Sophia Issa Mohammed from Adamawa State as Managing Director of NTA Enterprises Limited. Read Also: Tinubu Nominates Ummasalma Rabiu from Kano, Louis Odion to FCCPC Pedro, a Lagos native, is an accomplished media entrepreneur and consultant with nearly three decades of leadership experience in broadcasting, sports rights, and marketing communications across Africa, the UK, and the Middle East. A trained entertainment and intellectual property lawyer, Pedro also holds an MSc in Investment Management & Finance from City University Business School, London. In 1995, he founded Optima Sports Management International (OSMI), which became one of Africa’s leading sports content providers, distributing premium events such as the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FIFA World Cup, and CAF competitions to audiences in more than 40 countries. His career includes leading roles at Bloomberg Television Africa, Rapid Blue Format, and consultancy work for FIFA, UEFA, Fremantle Media, and the African Union of Broadcasters. Notably, he helped the AUB secure exclusive pan-African free-to-air media rights for all CAF competitions.

Kano, News

Abba Ganduje Distributes Over 1,000 Solar Lights to 38 Wards in Kano

The Executive Director, Engineering, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Engr. Abba Abdullahi Ganduje, has distributed 1,130 solar-powered lights to 38 wards in Rimingado and Tofa Local Government Areas of Kano State. The Director of Campaign for Engr. Abba Ganduje, Dr. Junaidu Yakubu Muhammad, disclosed this to newsmen, stating that each ward in the two local governments will receive 350 solar lights. He added that the lights have already been handed over to relevant stakeholders in the communities for installation. Read Also: Unlike Others, Ganduje Completed All Projects Before His Exit According to him, Engr. Abba Ganduje directed that the installation be completed within one week to enable him to focus on other key developmental projects for his constituents. Reports indicate that a similar project had earlier been carried out with the installation of 810 solar lights, in addition to the provision of a transformer in Dawanau Ward. The initiative also included the distribution of about 200 solar home systems to youths. The next phase, according to Dr. Junaidu, will focus on another round of youth empowerment programmes.

Education, National, News

Polytechnic Union Threatens Strike, Gives FG 21 Days to Meet Demands

Public polytechnics across Nigeria may soon be thrown into another round of industrial unrest as the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has issued the Federal Government a 21-day deadline to address lingering issues affecting the sector or face a possible shutdown of academic activities. Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday after an emergency meeting of the union’s leadership, ASUP President, Comrade Shammah Kpanja, accused the government of insincerity and reneging on commitments to address key issues affecting staff welfare, accreditation processes, and other unresolved matters. Kpanja expressed strong opposition to the continued decision by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to outsource the accreditation of polytechnics to private companies, despite earlier assurances to halt the practice. He alleged that many of the firms contracted lacked the competence for such tasks, with some registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) under unrelated sectors such as farming, business consultancy, or medical services. Read Also: ABCOAD Secures NBTE Accreditation for 11 ND, HND Programmes The union also accused the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) of failing to release the circular for payment of the Peculiar Academic Allowance, a key provision in the ASUP/FGN 2010 agreement and lamented its removal from the national budgeting template. On discrimination against Higher National Diploma (HND) holders, Kpanja faulted the Federal Government for stalling the approval of a dual mandate structure designed to end the disparity between HND and degree qualifications. He said this inaction was perpetuating long-standing bias against polytechnic graduates. Other grievances listed by the union include the non-payment of 25/35 per cent arrears from the 2023 salary review, the delayed release of the second tranche of the NEEDS Assessment intervention, non-payment of promotion arrears in several state-owned polytechnics, some dating back to 2019 and the unresolved CONTISS 15 arrears which have lingered since 2014. ASUP also criticised the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) for what it described as a “non-committal disposition” to genuine dialogue and for failing to act on resolutions from previous negotiations. “The continued delay and non-approval of a dual mandate structure has facilitated discrimination against polytechnic education and its products,” Kpanja warned. “If our demands are not addressed within 21 days, the union may have no choice but to declare a trade dispute and withdraw the services of our members across public polytechnics and monotechnics nationwide.” With the ultimatum counting down, stakeholders fear another disruption to academic activities in the nation’s technical education sector if a resolution is not reached.

National, News

NLC Gives FG Seven-Day Ultimatum Over PENCOM Board, Alleged Diversion of Workers’ Funds

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to properly constitute the governing board of the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) or face industrial action. The labour body also accused the government of diverting workers’ contributions in the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) into national revenue, describing the move as illegal. In a communiqué issued after its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, and signed by NLC President, Mr. Joe Ajaero, the union described the delay in forming the PENCOM board, alongside what it called “alarming developments” in the NSITF, as an attack on workers’ rights. Read Also: FG Begins Second Phase of Wage Award Payments to Civil Servants The communiqué condemned the alleged diversion of 40 per cent of workers’ contributions, the government’s claim of ownership of the NLC headquarters, and moves to amend the NSITF Act in a way that would give the government full control over workers’ funds. “The CWC warns that these actions represent a direct assault on the rights of Nigerian workers and on the principle of tripartite governance recognised by international labour standards,” Ajaero stated. According to him, the NLC is demanding that within seven working days, the Federal Government must return all diverted NSITF funds, fully constitute the PENCOM board as required by law, and provide the NLC with a comprehensive status report on pension funds. “If these demands are not met within the stipulated period, the NLC will no longer guarantee industrial peace in the sector,” Ajaero warned.

Health, Kano, News

Kano Health Agencies, Lawmakers Conduct Joint Spot Check on Facilities

In a strategic move to strengthen synergy among health institutions and improve the quality of healthcare delivery in Kano State, the Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board (KSPHCMB), the Kano State Contributory Health Care Management Agency (KSCHMA), and members of the Kano State House of Assembly today conducted a Joint Oversight Facilities Spot Check and Accountability Exercise. This was conveyed in a statement signed by Sa’adatu Suleiman, Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board, who noted that the initiative reflects the Kano State Government’s firm commitment to building a transparent, efficient, and people-centered health sector, ensuring that every resident enjoys equitable access to quality health services. Read Also: FG Approves Nine New Private Universities Across Nigeria The high-level delegation included Professor Salisu Ahmad Ibrahim, Director General of the Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board; Dr. Rahila Muktar, Executive Secretary of the Kano State Contributory Health Management Agency; Hon. Zakariya Alhasan Ishaq, Member representing Kura/Garin Mallam Constituency and Chairman of the House Committee on Health; Hafizu Gambo, Member representing Bunkure Constituency; and Ibrahim Muhammad Malami, Member representing Rano Constituency. The exercise was aimed at assessing health facility standards, evaluating service delivery quality, and ensuring optimal use of human and material resources. It also sought to strengthen accountability mechanisms across the state’s health sector and encourage effective inter-agency collaboration. Speaking during the oversight visit, Hon. Zakariya Alhasan Ishaq reaffirmed the commitment of the Kano State House of Assembly to ensuring that health facilities meet the needs of the people and that resources allocated to the sector are properly utilized. He noted that such joint initiatives help bridge service gaps, improve transparency, and ensure citizens receive value for investments in healthcare. In her remarks, Dr. Rahila Muktar underscored the importance of coordinated supervision, noting that it allows agencies to identify challenges firsthand and work together to develop sustainable solutions aimed at improving service quality and patient satisfaction. Professor Salisu Ahmad Ibrahim reiterated the government’s determination to provide accessible, affordable, and quality primary healthcare services across all 44 Local Government Areas. He stressed that collaboration between agencies and legislative oversight is critical to achieving universal health coverage in the state. The spot check involved inspecting facility infrastructure, reviewing staffing adequacy, verifying the availability of essential drugs and equipment, and engaging with community members on their health service experiences. Findings from the exercise will guide policy reforms, budgetary planning, and targeted interventions to strengthen Kano’s healthcare system.

Abuja, Feature, Kano, Politics

Ganduje’s Statesmanship Beyond Kano Borders

When His Excellency Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and now Chairperson of the Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), stepped beyond Kano’s political terrain, it was clear he was entering a broader stage where his leadership would be tested on a national scale. As APC Chairman, Ganduje’s tenure was marked by a deliberate balancing act, holding together a party with diverse interests, regional tensions, and electoral ambitions. He leveraged his grassroots political experience to build consensus across state chapters, strengthen the party’s organisational structure, and maintain stability during a period when political realignments threatened cohesion. His style was not one of loud proclamations but of strategic engagement, often meeting key stakeholders quietly, resolving disputes behind the scenes, and ensuring that party machinery remained functional ahead of crucial elections. Related: Unlike Others, Ganduje Completed All Projects Before His Exit One of his defining strengths as Chairman was his ability to bridge the gap between national leadership and local realities. He understood that a political party’s strength lay in its capacity to remain connected to voters at the grassroots, a principle he had applied successfully in Kano. This skill allowed him to contribute to APC’s electoral strategies in the Northwest and beyond, positioning the party to remain competitive in Nigeria’s ever-evolving political environment. Today, as the head of FAAN’s Board, Ganduje faces a different kind of challenge, overseeing an agency critical to Nigeria’s aviation sector, with responsibilities that directly impact both the economy and the country’s global image. His appointment reflects not only political trust but also an expectation that he will bring administrative discipline, strategic oversight, and long-term planning to FAAN’s operations. The aviation sector demands a leader who understands governance beyond state boundaries, someone capable of balancing infrastructural development, operational efficiency, and stakeholder relations. Ganduje’s past record of managing complex, multi-level government projects, as seen in Kano’s urban renewal initiatives and rural development programmes, positions him to tackle FAAN’s challenges with both patience and focus. Read Also: Ganduje’s Legacy: Charting the Journey of a Political Titan From managing a ruling party’s internal dynamics to guiding a federal agency at the heart of Nigeria’s transportation network, Dr. Ganduje’s trajectory underscores a leadership style adaptable to different spheres of governance. His political experience, consensus-driven approach, and emphasis on sustainable reforms remain central to his work, whether in the corridors of party politics or the boardrooms of national infrastructure. Dr. Ganduje’s journey beyond Kano’s borders is not merely a personal career progression; it is a test of how skills honed in local governance can shape outcomes on the national stage. In both political and administrative arenas, he continues to prove that leadership, when grounded in strategy and steady execution, can transcend geography and remain relevant across Nigeria’s shifting landscapes. Umar is a digital journalist and public affairs analyst. shuaibuumaridris@gmail.com

Agriculture, Education, Kano

ABCOAD Secures NBTE Accreditation for 11 ND, HND Programmes

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has granted full accreditation to 11 academic programmes at the National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) levels at Audu Bako College of Agriculture, Dambatta (ABCOAD), Kano State. In a letter dated August 12, 2025 and signed by the Director of Polytechnic and Allied Programmes, Dr. Fatima Kabir Umar, conveyed the results of the Resource Verification/Accreditation exercise confirming the approval. Read Also: FG Approves Nine New Private Universities Across Nigeria List of Accredited Programmes: • HND Horticultural Technology • HND Fisheries Technology • HND Pasture and Range Management • HND Cyber Security • HND Artificial Intelligence • ND Home and Rural Economics • ND Wildlife and Eco-Tourism Management • ND Food Technology • ND Science Laboratory Technology • ND Environmental Science and Management • ND Irrigation Agronomy Reacting to the development, the Provost, Prof. M. A. Wailare, described the achievement as a major boost to the college’s profile, noting that the rigorous accreditation process reflects ABCOAD’s commitment to quality academic standards, modern infrastructure, and skilled faculty. He expressed gratitude to the Kano State Government under Governor Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf for funding the process, and commended staff, heads of departments, and stakeholders for their dedication during preparations and the exercise itself. NBTE accreditation certifies that technical and vocational institutions meet both national and international academic standards. With this milestone, ABCOAD aims to expand its academic reach, strengthen research collaborations, and make greater contributions to Nigeria’s agricultural sector. Prof. Wailare affirmed that the institution remains committed to excellence and national development.

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