National News
Zulum slams world bank, allow us implement projects the way it suits us

Zulum slams world bank, allow us implement projects the way it suits us
By: Bodunrin Kayode
Governor Babagana Zulum has called on the World Bank to allow Borno state to implement sponsored projects from them the way it suits his people.
He made the request when the task team leader for the world bank hybrid implementation support mission in Borno state, Dr joy Iganye Agene led her delegation to pay an advocacy courtesy call on him last week.
Zulum regretted that the “Kogi Tifa” project so dear to him was abandoned purely due to lack of corporation coupled with technical disagreements on what dimensions the width of the project should take.
” For agreements to be reached, I want the World Bank to work to ensure efficiency and sustainability of the entire project. Projects should be designed to suit our peculiarities here and not the other way round.
” What are we saying? We are saying 9 metres instead of 3metres width is not feasible to us. We must find a common ground to agree because the money for the project is a loan which we must pay back and not a grant.
” Whoever sits on this seat when I am gone must pay back this loan so we cannot be careless about it at this stage. There is no harm in creating a new design but we must own the project.
“I believe that all projects must be driven by the community because we have both Arid, Semi Arid and humid environments within the state” said Zulum.
The Governor stressed that there was massive “over invoicing” in what he has seen in the project and this phenomenon to him as a trained engineer can kill the very spirit of the people and the entire humanity as it concerns this project.
” We should strive for a common ground however that will ensure that desertification must be dealt with headlong. This phenomenon has affected our people badly and as a matter of fact, it is a major challenge to our people. If you get to Kala Balge, you can drive for 10 km without seeing one tree. That is what I am talking about.
” This is why we must set alternative standards for firewood for our people who have suffered during this lingering insurgency war which has consumed over 300,000 people. They have been so badly affected that they must certainly be given alternatives while we work on the Climatic factors.”
Earlier the task team leader from the world bank Dr joy Agene told the Governor that there was need for massive landscape restoration in the entire state.
She posited that over 70% of Borno state has been degraded as a result of massive denudation which is why the Governor, Professor Zulum has been appointed as one of the Ambassadors of the project.
The world bank team leader noted that Borno is loosing land to sand dunes and desert encroachment and this should be stopped quickly she stressed.
Agene expressed regrets that only seven states have keyed into the project out of 19 in the north with over a million hectares of land which will be worked on within the region.
“Borno is also part of the stage two states which is why we brought experts to tamper with the engineering on the land for the benefit of the people” she said.
Dr Agene called on the Governor to continue his support of the project which is better completed under the watch of an engineer adding that the fact that he had dropped the first N100m that will make the project flourish is a sign of good things to come.
To ensure that residents in rural areas like Ngamdu have fire wood through out the year, “woodlots” would be established in most of the council areas already establishment as implemention sites.
There would also be Agroforestry plantations to support the communities badly affected by climate change so the people can have permanent cash crops to live on.
And the Borno office of ACRESAL will equally support communities to adopt sustainable landscape management practices after the surface water has been well managed with concrete drainage channels.
Zulum slams world bank, allow us implement projects the way it suits us
National News
Unidentified visitor dies suddenly at Niger Government House Lodge

Unidentified visitor dies suddenly at Niger Government House Lodge
By: Zagazola Makama
The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the sudden death of an unidentified man who collapsed and died at Government House Lodge, Minna. Zagazola learnt that the incident occurred on Friday, Aug. 2, 2025.
Sources said that the deceased had visited House No. 8, Government House Lodge, in an attempt to see Mr. Sammy, Chairman of Niger Foods. However, upon meeting his host’s absence, the man suddenly took ill.
Medical doctors were reportedly contacted from the IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna, for urgent attention. Unfortunately, by the time the doctor arrived, the man had already passed away.
Following the report, a team of police operatives from GRA Division visited the scene. The body was photographed and evacuated to the IBB Specialist Hospital Mortuary for autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
Unidentified visitor dies suddenly at Niger Government House Lodge
National News
Bauchi Guber: Sen Buba accepts calls by Bauchi North APC members to contest in 2027

Bauchi Guber: Sen Buba accepts calls by Bauchi North APC members to contest in 2027
By Amina Ahmed Dankawuwa
The Senator representing Bauchi South at the national assembly, Senator Shehu Buba Umar has accepted the calls by the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bauchi North Senatorial District to contest for Governorship come 2027.
The Director General of the campaign for the actualisation of Sen Buba’s Gubernatorial ambition, Alhaji Muhammad Sade (Usman) accepted the calls on behalf of the Senator during a town hall meeting held on Saturday by the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bauchi North Senatorial in Azare.
He appealed to members of APC to maintain peace with all other aspirants within the party.
“Let’s respect other aspirants, such that anybody who win the primary election can have will be assisted by others, so we must value and respect each other”, he reasoned.
Muhammad Sade also called on party members to commence looking for delegates for ahead of the party primaries.
“It is now that we have to look for those that have votes. I call on our esteemed supporters to start mobilizing for delegate”, he emphasized.
He also advised social media handlers (citizens journalist) to avoid creating problems for personal gain, adding that social media some times create a lot of problem within and out side the party endorsed Senator representing Bauchi South, Senator Shehu Buba Umar for Bauchi Governor come 2027.
Baushe Daily Times reports that members of the APC gathered in thousands during the meeting in Azare during which they unanimously agreed to support Senator Shehu Buba for Governor come 2027.
Earlier in a welcoming address, former majority leader in the Bauchi state house of assembly, Hon Tijjani Mohammed Aliyu, the choice to support Sen Shehu buba Umar’s Governorship ambition was due to his concern and care he has for the people of Bauchi state.
“He respects us, he values our people politically and he also call on party members to respect each other because politics shouldn’t be considered as a do or die affair”, he said.
Also speaking, Alhaji Bashir Bukar Rimin Zayam charged the youth to cast their votes for the youth only and avoid voting older politicians who will always be going abroad for medical attention.
He therefore, appealed to members of APC to mobilised people to support Sen Shehu Buba for Governor.
Among those who attended the town hall meeting include state assembly member Azare/Madangala Hon Zakariyya sale maigero, comr sabo Mohammed S A to Sen Shehu Buba on media and communication, Hon kasuwa Shehu Damana, Hon Adamu Fanta Misau, Hon maiwada Misau,Hon Mohammed Hassan, Barr Muktar Umar, Alhaji Nura Adamu among others.
Bauchi Guber: Sen Buba accepts calls by Bauchi North APC members to contest in 2027
National News
NHRC: Closure of Badeggi Radio, A Suppression of Press Freedom, Affront to Democracy

NHRC: Closure of Badeggi Radio, A Suppression of Press Freedom, Affront to Democracy
By: Michael Mike
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has condemned in strong terms the closure of Badeggi Radio in Niger State by the State Governor Mohammed Bago, discribing it as not only a suppression of press freedom but an affront to democracy.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission Dr Tony Ojukwu, condemned the action while reacting to the ugly incident. He said the governor’s decision to shut down the radio station without following due process is disappointing and a clear violation of the right to freedom of expression, as guaranteed by Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Ojukwu noted that the consequences of suppressing press freedom are far-reaching and can lead to increased government opacity, reduced citizen participation, creat obstacles to accountability, and weakening of democratic institutions.
He said: “The arbitrary shutdown of media outlets undermines the checks and balances essential to a functioning democracy.”
He called on Governor Bago to immediately unseal the Radio Station and allow it to resume full operations, asking him to channel issues concerning any alleged unconstitutional operations of the Radio Station to the appropriate authority and not act with impunity.
He said: “This is both a moral imperative and a democratic requirement.”
Ojukwu who is also the president of the Network of National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa ( NNHRI-WA) urged the governments to protect journalists and media freedom, foster a culture of tolerance, and support independent media. “Journalists must be able to operate without fear of harassment, intimidation, or violence,” He emphasized.
He lamented that the media has severally come under attack in various forms, a situation he termed as unacceptable in a civilized society.
He called on the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to be firm in carrying out its Statutory mandate which must not be abused at any slight opportunity.
He used the opportunity to ask media practitioners to be professional at all times in order to prevent needless censorship by political office holders.
He also called on Nigerian Guild of Editors to provide professional guidance at regular intervals as this will curb the use of hate speech, fake news and other unprofessional conducts capable of adversely affecting the media houses.
He insisted that the Commission remains committed to promoting and protecting human rights in Nigeria and would continue to monitor the situation closely.
NHRC: Closure of Badeggi Radio, A Suppression of Press Freedom, Affront to Democracy
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