The Historica Nigeria

Author name: Umar Idris Shuaibu

International, Religious

Saudi Arabia Appoints Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Humaid as New Grand Mufti

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has appointed Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Humaid as the new Grand Mufti and Chairman of the Senior Council of Scholars. The appointment was announced by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques following the death of Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 82. Read Also: FCT Minister of State Bunkure Pushes Women’s Economic Inclusion at UNGA80 Sheikh bin Humaid, a respected Islamic scholar, currently serves as one of the nine Imams of the Grand Mosque in Mecca. His new role places him at the helm of the Kingdom’s highest religious authority, where he is expected to guide matters of Islamic jurisprudence and provide leadership for the Council of Scholars. The Historica Nigeria earlier reported the passing of Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh, who had served as Grand Mufti since 1999.

Abuja, Kano, News, Politics

Ganduje Hosts Former Kano LG Chairmen Ahead of 2027 Elections

Immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, CON, on Monday received the 44 local government chairmen who served during his tenure as governor. The meeting, held at his residence in Asokoro, rekindled old ties between the former governor and the local government leadership structure that played a central role in his administration. The chairmen, who served under the then Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo, described the visit as both a reunion and a show of solidarity. Political observers see the gathering as part of Ganduje’s strategic moves to consolidate his base as preparations for the 2027 general elections intensify. Coming at a time of heightened political activity across the country, the meeting signals efforts by the former governor to strengthen his grassroots network and reposition his political camp. Related: Ganduje’s Dual Commitment to Education and Faith in Kano While details of the closed-door discussions were not made public, sources at the event hinted that issues of unity, strategy, and political direction ahead of the elections topped the agenda. The chairmen reportedly pledged their loyalty and readiness to support Ganduje’s leadership as the state and national political dynamics unfold. Dr. Ganduje, who has remained a key figure in the ruling party after leaving Government House in 2023, is believed to be working quietly to rally his allies and build broader consensus around his political vision. His ability to reconnect with grassroots leaders, many of whom maintain strong influence in their local domains, could prove pivotal in shaping the political outcome in Kano State and beyond. The meeting also highlighted the role of local government structures as the foundation of political mobilization in Nigeria. As one political analyst noted, “No serious political player heading into 2027 can ignore the influence of local government leaders. Ganduje’s meeting with them shows he understands the importance of building from the grassroots up.” With Kano remaining one of the nation’s most politically strategic states, developments around Ganduje’s camp will continue to draw attention as the race towards 2027 gathers momentum.

Business, National, News

CBN Slashes Interest Rate to 27% in First Adjustment of 2025

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reduced the benchmark interest rate to 27.00 per cent, marking its first monetary policy adjustment of 2025. The decision was announced on Tuesday by CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, at the end of the 302nd MPC meeting in Abuja. Read Also: Nigeria Pushes Blue Economy Agenda with Seabed Mapping, Hydrography Initiatives “The Committee decided to reduce the Monetary Policy Rate by 50 basis points to 27 per cent,” Cardoso said. The adjustment comes after three consecutive pauses in rate changes and follows six straight hikes recorded in 2024. Cardoso explained that the cut was influenced by consistent signs of disinflation in recent months.

Abuja, Kano, News

FCT Minister of State Bunkure Pushes Women’s Economic Inclusion at UNGA80

Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure, has reiterated that empowering women economically remains one of the most effective pathways to reducing poverty, achieving equity, and fostering sustainable peace. She made the declaration in New York while attending an economic empowerment forum for women political leaders and economic experts, held on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Read Also: Ganduje’s Dual Commitment to Education and Faith in Kano Dr. Mahmoud expressed delight that under the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Renewed Hope Agenda has prioritized gender inclusion, youth development, and the creation of opportunities that enable women to thrive as innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders. She reaffirmed the commitment of the FCT Administration to building an enabling environment where women can access finance, acquire relevant skills, and participate in markets, thereby contributing fully to national development. Commending the organizers of the forum, the Minister described the platform as a vital space where ideas, policies, and strategies could converge to accelerate global progress on women’s empowerment. According to her, strengthening women’s economic independence is not only critical to national growth but also central to creating a more equitable and peaceful society.

International, News, Religious

Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh, Dies at 82

Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti and Head of the Council of Senior Scholars, Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh, passed away in Riyadh on Tuesday morning at the age of 82, the Royal Court has announced. Funeral prayers for the late scholar will be held at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh after the Asr prayer on Tuesday. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman, has also ordered funeral prayers in absentia at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, and across all mosques in the Kingdom. King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman extended condolences to the family of Sheikh Al-Sheikh, the Saudi people, and the wider Islamic world. “With the passing of Al-Sheikh, Saudi Arabia and the Islamic world have lost a distinguished scholar who made significant contributions to the service of Islam and Muslims,” the Royal Court said in a statement. Read Also: Saudi Authorities Approve Burial of Aminu Dantata in Madinah Sheikh Al-Sheikh, who served as head of the General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta, and the Supreme Council of the Muslim World League, was widely respected across the Muslim world. He was appointed Grand Mufti in June 1999 by King Fahd, succeeding Sheikh Abdul Aziz Ibn Baz. Life and Career Born on November 30, 1943, in Makkah, Sheikh Al-Sheikh memorized the Qur’an at an early age but lost his sight at 17. He studied at Imam Mohammad bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh, graduating in 1965 with a specialization in Arabic and Islamic Shariah. His teaching career began at the Imam al-Dawa Scholarly Institute in Riyadh before he later taught at the College of Shariah and the Higher Institute of Judiciary. Over the years, he served as imam at several prominent mosques, including Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh, and from 1982, he delivered the annual Arafat sermon at Namirah Mosque for 34 consecutive years. In 1987, he was appointed to the Council of Senior Scholars and became a full-time member of the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta in 1991. He later rose to the position of Deputy Grand Mufti in 1995. Following the death of Sheikh Abdulaziz Ibn Baz in 1999, he was appointed Grand Mufti, a role he held for over two decades. Sheikh Al-Sheikh’s passing marks the end of an era in Saudi Arabia’s religious establishment, where his influence shaped Islamic scholarship and guidance for millions of Muslims worldwide.

National, News

CAC Turns to AI to Address Service Delays

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has announced plans to deploy an Artificial Intelligence (AI) agent to address a backlog of more than 7,000 company registration applications and ease service delays. Registrar-General and CEO of the CAC, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN, disclosed this on Monday in Kano during a stakeholders’ forum. He explained that the AI agent will be deployed to handle requests across compliance, registry, and customer service functions with speed and accuracy, thereby tackling challenges that have slowed down service delivery. “In a bid to tackle the backlog of 7,000 registration applications, an AI agent was in the pipeline to handle requests across compliance, registry, and customer service with speed and accuracy,” the Commission said in a statement quoting the Registrar-General. Bumpy Transition to AI Portal Magaji admitted that the transition to the Commission’s AI-driven portal has been less than smooth, with many customers experiencing delays in approvals, particularly for services not covered in the first phase of deployment. He attributed most of the delays to the overwhelming number of applications that the new system has had to process. Read Also: CAC Defers Implementation of Revised Service Fees to October 1st The CAC boss added that AI will also be deployed to manage the high volume of daily inquiries received by the Commission. According to him, the system receives no fewer than 3,000 emails per day, and the AI tool being developed is capable of reading and comprehending those emails within a minute, detecting duplicate requests, and rerouting messages to the appropriate departments for faster resolution. Magaji reassured stakeholders that the Commission is working to stabilize its newly introduced AI portal and improve customer satisfaction. “Problems have been identified, and solutions are already in motion,” he said. Backstory The CAC had earlier in June launched its AI-driven registration portal, aimed at transforming Nigeria’s business environment by simplifying company registration processes and accelerating approvals. The new platform, described by the Commission as a complete overhaul of its Company Registration Portal (CRP), was programmed to provide instant name approvals and suggest alternatives when preferred names are unavailable. Magaji had explained that name reservations under the new system would be as seamless as opening an email account, with AI ensuring real-time approvals. However, users of the portal have faced significant challenges, ranging from failed payment reflections to difficulties submitting documents. These glitches contributed to the backlog the Commission is now seeking to clear. Despite the challenges, the CAC announced in July that the portal was processing over 11,000 transactions daily, describing the development as a major leap in automation, albeit one that still requires adjustments to function smoothly.

Abuja, Kano, National

Ganduje’s Dual Commitment to Education and Faith in Kano

It has been a week of contrasts for Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In Kano, the former governor’s presence has been felt not only in the halls of academia but also in the quiet hum of prayer gatherings at his residence. Together, these moments sketch a portrait of a man whose influence continues to straddle education, faith, and community life. At the Amani Event Centre, the spotlight was firmly on Bayero University, Kano (BUK). It was a farewell to the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sagir Adamu Abbas, and a warm welcome for his successor, the 12th Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Haruna Musa. The ceremony, fittingly tagged “Grand Academic Salute: Celebrating Academic Excellence, Transformative Leadership and Legacies of Prof. Sagir Adamu Abbas, and Ushering in the 12th Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Haruna Musa,” was organized by Prof. Hafsat Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. Here, Ganduje spoke as a statesman, warning that governance suffers when leaders abandon projects midway. “Cancelling or abandoning existing projects and programmes weakens governance and slows progress,” he cautioned, his words drawing nods from scholars and dignitaries. By the evening’s end, Ganduje and his wife, Prof. Hafsat Ganduje, had been presented with honours for their contributions to education and their longstanding support for the university. Related: Abba Ganduje: Reshaping Kano’s Political Landscape Through Empowerment But just days later, the atmosphere shifted. At Muhammad Gauyama Hall, inside Ganduje’s Kano residence, the mood was deeply spiritual. Rows of clerics, community leaders, and faithful gathered as the Ganduje Foundation announced the conversion of 280 new Muslims — 202 women and 78 men. For the family-led Foundation, this was more than a statistic; it was the continuation of a legacy that blends faith with philanthropy. “We found many rural farmers who already shared our way of life but had not embraced Islam. Today, they are part of the faith, and we pray Allah keeps them steadfast,” Ganduje said, his voice carrying both pride and hope. To each convert, the Foundation offered a bag of fertilizer, clothing, a financial token, and Islamic books, alongside the promise of mentorship from its Da’awah team. For Ganduje’s daughters, Dr. Asiya of the North West Development Commission and Dr. Amina, the moment was personal. Both paid tribute to their father’s lifelong commitment to combining religious outreach with development projects — from mosque building to borehole drilling, from medical outreaches to community education. “This is what we grew up watching,” Asiya noted, calling it a tradition worth sustaining. Together, the two events captured Ganduje in full: the politician who speaks of continuity in governance, the community leader who prays for peace, and the philanthropist whose Foundation has recorded more than 45,000 conversions since its inception. For his admirers, these are the marks of a legacy built beyond politics. For his critics, they are reminders of the blurred lines between influence, faith, and power. Yet, whichever way one reads it, the story of Ganduje today is not just that of a former party chairman or governor. It is of a man standing firmly at the crossroads of academia, faith, and community, still shaping the narrative of Kano in his own way.

National, News

10th Senate Shifts Plenary Resumption by Two Weeks

The leadership of the 10th Senate has once again adjusted its legislative calendar, shifting the official resumption of plenary sittings from September 23 to October 7, 2025. The latest postponement was contained in an internal memo signed by Chinedu Akubueze, Chief of Staff to the Senate President, and circulated to journalists on Monday. The extension, which prolongs the chamber’s annual recess by an additional two weeks, has generated mixed reactions within the National Assembly. No official reason was given, but sources told our correspondent that the delay was intended to allow lawmakers fully observe the October 1 Independence Day celebrations. Read Also: Ganduje Leads Prayer Session as 280 Converts Join Islam in Kano In the memo titled “Notice of Shift in Plenary Resumption Date,” Akubueze apologised to senators for the late communication. “This is to respectfully inform Distinguished Senators that the resumption of plenary sitting of the Senate, earlier scheduled for Tuesday, 23rd September, 2025, has been shifted to Tuesday, 7th October, 2025. Any inconvenience this short notice may cause is deeply regretted. Distinguished Senators are kindly invited to note the postponement and adjust their schedules accordingly,” the memo read in part. The Senate had adjourned plenary on July 24 for its annual recess. At the time, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the decision as an act of “chamber reciprocity,” noting that members of the House of Representatives had also embarked on a break in line with the legislative calendar. With the latest adjustment, critical debates and pending motions — including oversight inquiries into government spending and executive appointments — will remain on hold.

Kano, National

Governor Yusuf Announces Minor Cabinet Reshuffle in Kano

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has approved a minor cabinet reshuffle and senior staff postings within the civil service, aimed at strengthening governance and improving service delivery. The announcement was contained in a statement issued late Monday by the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa. According to the statement, the reshuffle affected key ministries including Justice, Transport, Environment, and Humanitarian Affairs. Read Also: A New Dawn for Learning: How Kano is Leading under governor Yusuf Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Haruna Isa Dederi, has been redeployed to the Ministry of Transport. The Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Mustapha Nuruddeen Muhammad, was reassigned to the Ministry of Environment as Permanent Secretary. The Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, who had been supervising the Ministry of Transport in an acting capacity, will now return to his substantive role. Governor Yusuf directed all affected officials to hand over to the most senior officers in their respective ministries, with the process to be concluded by the close of business on Tuesday, September 23. He explained that the redeployment was designed “to maximize capacity, align responsibilities, and ensure government delivers effective results on its mandate to the people of Kano State.” The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to “accountability, efficiency, and purposeful leadership,” and called on civil servants and political appointees to fully cooperate with the redeployed officials to ensure seamless transitions.

Katsina, National, Politics

Katsina Gov’s wife salutes First Lady @65

The wife of the Katsina State Governor, Hajiya Zulaihat Radda, has saluted the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu as she clocked 65 years. The Governor’s wife, who conveyed her greetings to the First Lady in a statement issued in Katsina on Sunday, said it was a special moment. She said, “Today is not only a moment of gratitude for the gift of your life, but also a celebration of the remarkable impact you continue to make as the First Lady of our dear nation. Read Also: Tinubu Gains Ground as Namadi, Badaru Camps Subtly Align in Jigawa “Your compassion, wisdom, and unwavering dedication to uplifting women, children, and vulnerable groups across Nigeria stand as a shining example of true leadership with a motherly heart. “You embody grace, humility, and strength, and your life of service inspires us all to contribute in our own ways towards building a better society.” The governor’s wife, on behalf of the good people of Katsina State, extended her warmest felicitations and prayers. ‘May Almighty Allah bless you abundantly with good health, peace of mind, and the fulfillment of all your noble aspirations. “May this new year of your life open greater doors of success, happiness, and divine guidance, so that you may continue to lead with vision and compassion. “Happy Birthday, I pray your day is filled with love, joy, and the warm embrace of family, friends, and all who hold you dear,” she prayed for the first lady. (NAN)

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