The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • 2027: APC NC Forum urges Mutfwang to join ruling party 

    2027: APC NC Forum urges Mutfwang to join ruling party 

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) North Central Forum has called on Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, to join the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing the move as both “imperative and politically expedient.”

    The group said aligning with the APC at this stage would not only strengthen Mutfwang’s political relevance but also fast-track development in Plateau State and across the North Central region.

    Speaking in Jos on Thursday during the Forum’s third quarterly meeting, Chairman of the APC North Central Forum, Saleh Zazzaga, said Mutfwang’s leadership qualities and progressive mindset align naturally with the APC’s philosophy.

    “Governor Mutfwang has shown through his words and actions that he is a progressive leader. For him to advance his developmental vision, he should follow his own mantra, ‘The Time is Now,’ and join the APC,” Zazzaga stated.

    He added that such a move would place the governor in alignment with President Bola Tinubu, who has demonstrated a strong interest in Plateau’s development, and also enable him to collaborate effectively with other APC governors in the North Central region to drive growth and unity.

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    Zazzaga noted that since most Plateau legislators are members of the APC, joining the ruling party would enhance executive-legislative cooperation, helping to address the state’s security and infrastructural challenges more effectively.

    According to him, recent political developments have vindicated the Forum’s earlier call for Mutfwang to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC — a call the group made based on its political forecasts before and after the 2023 general elections.

    Zazzaga also highlighted some of the Forum’s achievements, including advocacy for the creation of the North Central Development Commission, the successful campaign for the return of the APC National Chairmanship to the region, and its consistent support for President Tinubu’s policies.

    “Among all our calls, one of the most strategic remains our appeal to Governor Caleb Mutfwang to join the APC. We have made this call since 2023, and though others are now echoing it, the truth remains that we saw the political direction long before anyone else did,” Zazzaga said.

    Zazzaga, however, dismissed dissenting voices within the APC opposing Mutfwang’s possible defection, describing them as “politically short-sighted and out of tune with strategic realities.”

    “Politics is about timing, foresight, and alignment. Now is the time for Mutfwang to join the APC and consolidate his good works with a stronger national platform,” he stressed.

  • 11 former commissioners return as Bago releases names of new commissioner-nominees

    11 former commissioners return as Bago releases names of new commissioner-nominees

    After over two months of dissolving his cabinet, the Niger state governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has released the names of commissioner nominees.

    Only 11 out of the 30 former commissioners are returning to the state executive Council.

    Bago had dissolved his cabinet in September 2025 after a performance appraisal of his appointees, saying that the dissolution was aimed at realigning the administration with his vision, with some commissioners not meeting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

    The governor said the shakeup was to rejig the team after a performance appraisal, as some appointees had exceeded their KPIs while others had not, while he stated that there was no need for some ministries.

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    Among those not returning are the Commissioners for Primary Health, Secondary and Tertiary Health, Secondary and Tertiary Education, Agriculture, Climate Change, Housing, Culture and Tourism, Youths and Sports, Homeland Security, Humanitarian Affairs, Livestock and Fisheries, among others.

    In a memo signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Abubakar Usman, dated 11th November, the names of the nominees would be forwarded to the Niger state House of Assembly for confirmation while they undergo the necessary security clearance processes.

    The memo stated that the Governor congratulated the commissioner-nominees, urging them to remain committed to the vision of transforming Niger state into a model of sustainable growth and responsible governance.

  • Science teachers hiring to boost education in Zamfara — AGILE

    Science teachers hiring to boost education in Zamfara — AGILE

    The recruitment of 500 Science teachers by the Zamfara state government would strengthen education and learning in the state, the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (Zamfara AGILE Project), has said.
    
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Project Communications Officer, Bashir Kabiru Ahmad, disclosing that the State Project Coordinator and Permanent Secretary, Hajiya Saadatu Abdu Gusau, made the commendation while commenting on the successful recruitment of the teachers.

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According to the statement, the coordinator said the recruitment exercise was part of Governor Dauda Lawal’s commitments signed on 5th July, 2023, to fulfill the criteria for AGILE intervention in the state.

    Abdu Gusau further described the recruitment of teachers as part of the AGILE mandates under Sub-component 3.1(System Strengthening) adding that the AGILE Project will collaborate with stakeholders to monitor the deployment of the successful candidates to the most deserving areas of need, based on the earlier needs assessment conducted in the schools with a view to ensuring equity and improved access to quality teaching across the state.

  • Zamfara, UNFPA sensitise stakeholders to demographic dividends

    Zamfara, UNFPA sensitise stakeholders to demographic dividends

    The Zamfara Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has sensitised the members of the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs),media and the academia to demographic dividends.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the four-day capacity building and sensitisation was part of the UNFPA’s global mandate, with focus on countries and regions with young population.
    The first category of the training,  held in Gusau on Tuesday, had participants from media houses, academic institutions and CSOs.
    Mr Lawal Shehu, State UNFPA Coordinator, said the training aimed to sensitise stakeholders in the concept of demographic dividend.
    “As we just heard from the resource persons, the demographic dividends is a process through which we can harness the potential of our teeming population.
    “You know, in Zamfara, about 60 percent of our population are dependent, which means the lesser population working to take care of the larger population.
    “In this kind situation, there must be a problem to have a society that a larger population depends on the lesser.

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    “In this situation, the economy cannot be able to grow smoothly,” Shehu said.
    He added that the training was necessary to sensitise stakeholders to the concept of the demographic dividends and ways of addressing over dependency on the lesser population.
    “This is the first step, to have  stakeholders such as CSOs, the media and academics, after which we are going to further develop a roadmap for the demographic dividend.
    “We will also integrate the demographic dividend in to the state development plan,” Shehu added.
    Mr Andat Dasogot, the Assistant Representative of the UNFPA who facilitated the training said engagement with the stakeholders was necessary considering their roles in the sensitisation process.
    “The demographic dividends aim to ensure that we reduce the dependants in our growing population.
    “This is to ensure that we invest more in education, skills, health and create more opportunities the teeming population and provides good governance for them.
    “Having extended all our presentations, we expect the participants to move further and extend the knowledge acquired at their various levels”, Dasogot said.
    Mr Fauzideen Muhammad, one of the participants said the training was able to explain more on how to harness future developments through the population potential.
    “At our level, we are going to provide technical support in the areas of monitoring and evaluation to achieve the goal of achieving demographic dividend in the state,”he said.
    At the end of the training, members of the CSOs and media that attended the training planned to sensitise policy makers in the state to the need to come up with policy frameworks to ensure the successful implementation of demographic dividends in the state.

  • First Lady tasks women Women groups on peace, progress

    First Lady tasks women Women groups on peace, progress

    The First Lady of Zamfara State, Hajiya Huriyya Dauda Lawal, has commended the women of the Zuru Emirate Progressive Association (ZEPA), Zamfara State Chapter, for their exemplary display of unity, love, and cooperation.

    Hajiya Huriyya Lawal stated this during a special gathering held at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Gusau, to mark the Association’s Cultural Day and Fundraising.

    Represented by Hajiya Luba Ammani, a Permanent Member of the Teachers’ Service Board, Mrs Lawal expressed deep appreciation for the collective efforts of the women in promoting peaceful coexistence and mutual support among themselves and other communities across Zamfara State.

    She described their conduct as a true reflection of the values of compassion, togetherness, and the strength of womanhood.

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    “As mothers, sisters, and builders of homes, your contributions to the peace and progress of Zamfara State are immeasurable,” she stated. “I want to assure you that my door is always open, not only to the Zuru women but to all women and communities across the state,” she added.

    The First Lady urged women to remain united and steadfast in their efforts to build a stronger and more inclusive Zamfara, where every community feels a sense of belonging and every woman has a voice.

    In a statement issued by the Press Secretary, Office of the First Lady, Rabi Yusuf, the First Lady donated the sum of ₦1.5 million to the association in support of their developmental efforts.

    In her response, the Chairperson of the Association, Mrs Victoria Dabai, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the First Lady for her continuous motherly care, support, and encouragement to women across the state.

    She described the wife of the Governor as a compassionate leader and a true mother to all women in Zamfara State and assured that the association would continue to support her initiatives aimed at promoting peace, empowerment, and unity among women.

  • Cholera intervention drugs shared to 14 Zamfara LGs

    Cholera intervention drugs shared to 14 Zamfara LGs

    The Zamfara State Government has distributed cholera intervention drugs and medical consumables across the state.

    The cholera intervention drugs aimed at containing the spread of the disease’s across the 14 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the
    State.

    The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nafisa Muhammad Maradun flag-off the distribution at the Drugs and Medical Consumable Agency (DMCA) Store, Samaru Gusau.

    Dr. Maradun said the distribution represented the state government’s swift and timely response to the cholera outbreak, stressing that all items were provided free of charge and warned medical personnel against diversion or extortion of the patients.

    Dr. Nafisa also tasked the LGA teams to ensure judicious utilization of the commodities and issued a strong warning.

    “Anyone caught selling the drugs would face the full wrath of the law. The Health Commissioner warned.
    She further urged health workers to be transparent and accountable, and also called on the members of the community to report any observed misconduct related to the misuse or diversion of the supplies.

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    The Executive Secretary of the Zamfara State Drugs and Medical Consumable Agency (DMCA), Pharmacist Sani Bello, expressed deep appreciation to the state governor.

    “We thank His Excellency, Governor Dr. Dauda Lawal, for his kindness and timely gesture,” Pharmacist Bello said.

    “His commitment to the health and well-being of the people of Zamfara is evident in the prompt provision of these life-saving drugs and consumables.”

    Hon. Bello Jabaka, Chairman of the Maru Local Government Area, commended the Health Commissioner for her commitment and echoed the appreciation for Governor Lawal’s continuous support to the state’s residents.

    He assured that the drugs and medical supplies, which include items such as Ringer’s lactate, Dextrose saline, Normal Saline, cannula, I.V.F. giving sets, syringes, plasters, and antibiotics, would be distributed as planned and used judiciously to combat cholera in all affected areas.

  • Governor Lawal pledges support to boost police welfare

    Governor Lawal pledges support to boost police welfare

    Governor Dauda Lawal has pledged support to improve welfare of police personnel to enhance its operations in the state.

    Lawal said this during a courtesy visit by Mohammed Sheidu, Executive Secretary, Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF).

    This is contained in a statement by his media aide, Suleiman Idris, on Tuesday in  Gusau.

    Lawal said that his administration would collaborate with the fund in improving the welfare of the police personnel working in the state.

    “My administration is making a conscious effort to ensure the welfare of the police is guaranteed. That is why we are currently renovating the Zamfara police headquarters.

    “We are also constructing some structures at the Zamfara Mobile Command. We have achieved a lot there, and we plan to do more.

    “I am pleased that the Executive Secretary mentioned the police housing estate. If you examine the condition of the police barracks, you will see that it is quite unfortunate.

    “I was part of the Presidential Committee on police reform. We were chosen by the National Economic Council (NEC), to inspect facilities at the police colleges and the Police Staff College.

    ” Last week, the governors of Nasarawa, Taraba, and I traveled to Kaduna, Plateau and Borno for this purpose.

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    “It is heartbreaking when you see the state of the police and still expect them to perform miracles,” he said.

    Lawal said that he was among the advocates for a complete overhaul of the police welfare, to enable it to operate effectively.

    The governor said the state government would identify land to be transferred to the fund to fasttrack development of the police housing estate project.

    “We will provide the land immediately,” Lawal said.

    Earlier, Sheidu said his team was in the state to inspect the newly constructed special forces barracks by the fund.

    He commended the governor over his support to the police welfare and development of viable infrastructure.

  • 500 Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Computer, Agric teachers hired for Zamfara

    500 Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Computer, Agric teachers hired for Zamfara

    Governor Dauda Lawal has approved the hiring of 500 qualified teachers for Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, English, Computer Science, Entrepreneurship, Agriculture, among others in the Zamfara state public schools.

    This is part of efforts to reform and strengthen the education sector, according to a statement by the Chairman of the Zamfara State Civil Service Commission and Recruitment Committee, Aliyu Mohammed Tutur.

    He said the approval followed the completion of a “rigorous and transparent” selection exercise conducted by the Zamfara State Committee for Teacher Recruitment and Deployment.
    
Tutur said a total of 11,708 candidates applied through the state’s online portal, out of which 8,184 met the eligibility criteria and were screened.

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    “A total of 3,105 candidates participated in the Computer-Based Test conducted under strict supervision, and based on the 40 per cent benchmark, 1,033 candidates qualified for the final oral interview,” he explained.
    
He added that after evaluation by subject panelists, 500 candidates were recommended for appointment across the state. The recruitment, he noted, focused on core subjects such as English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Studies, Entrepreneurship, Agricultural Science, Home Economics, and Animal Husbandry.
    
The committee chairman outlined the steps taken in the recruitment process to include the development of recruitment guidelines, establishment of an online portal, screening and verification of credentials, conduct of computer-based tests, and final selection based on merit, equity, and quality.

    The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology commended the governor for his “steadfast dedication and purposeful commitment” to revitalising the education sector, describing the recruitment as a clear demonstration of his resolve to bridge the gap in qualified teaching personnel and enhance education quality in public schools.
    
The committee also assured that the newly recruited teachers would soon receive their appointment letters and be deployed to schools across the state, with particular focus on rural and hard-to-reach areas to promote equitable access to education.
“This development marks a milestone in the governor’s education reform agenda, aimed at promoting merit-based employment, enhancing teacher quality, and restoring public confidence in the state’s education system,” Tutur stated

  • Why I declared emergency in health, education— Governor Lawal

    Why I declared emergency in health, education— Governor Lawal

    Governor Dauda Lawal has said he declared emergency in education and health sector to revamp the two areas for the commonwealth of his citizens.

    He revealed this on Monday when he hosted the management of the newly established Federal University of Medical Sciences and Health Technology, Tsafe, in Gusau on Monday.

    The governor, welcoming the management team, stated that his administration had declared a state of emergency in education and health to demonstrate its commitment to revitalizing these two sectors.

    He said, “I want to welcome you to the Zamfara State Government House. This is the first time we are meeting officially to discuss the newly established university.

    “As you are aware, my administration declared two states of emergency: emergency on education and health. This new university combines the two; despite being a school, it focuses on medical sciences. Of course, health is an important sector that we value and are eager to revive. So, you are welcome here.

    “The good thing is that we have approximately four hectares of land, which is enough for any project we want to undertake to improve the university. My administration has invested over 8 billion naira in the school.

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    “As a responsible administration, we will do everything possible to ensure you have what you need for a smooth start. I believe in forming a united team to enable a seamless transition, especially since some students are already there. We need to consider this carefully and execute the process correctly.

    “Be assured that my government is committed to supporting the university fully. We will continue to seek additional funds, and everyone is united in this effort, standing by you.

    Earlier, Professor Ibrahim Yakasai, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Medical Sciences and Health Technology Tsafe, praised Governor Lawal for his efforts to revive the education and health sectors in Zamfara state.

    He said, “I want to commend you for declaring a state of emergency in education. Education is the backbone of development. I have gone around the hospitals in Zamfara and seen what you have achieved; you have the capacity, the will, and passion to make this university a success.”

    “I was in America the last time, and they did mention your name. I know you have gone a long way in trying to make Zamfara better. This university stands alone as the first and only university offering health sciences and medical technology. Our biggest issue in Nigeria is the lack of access to sophisticated medical equipment, but now the university is here to fill that gap.

    “The the university needs your support. Most importantly, we want to take off. I have visited the school and seen the renovation work that has been done. We currently don’t have any challenges. I firmly believe that you will provide us with 100% support. This is your university, and together we will take it to greater heights.”

  • 8,593 most vulnerable persons in Zamfara receive N40,000 each

    8,593 most vulnerable persons in Zamfara receive N40,000 each

    The Zamfara state government has shared N40,000 each to 8,593 vulnerable beneficiaries across the state.

    This was revealed by the AGILE coordinator in Zamfara State, Sa’adatu Abdu Gusau, in statement at the weekend.

    All beneficiaries received their cash through their bank accounts and withdrawals would be made through ATMs.

    The statement said, “Zamfara State AGILE under the leadership of His Excellency Dr. Dauda Lawal has disbursed the sum of N40,000 each to 8,593 beneficiaries across the State.”

    Ms Gusau said, “All ATM cards have been activated and withdrawals can be made immediately.”

    The AGILE coordinator also announced that “All complaints should be dropped in AGILE suggestion boxes provided in all schools, or through our GRM line 09041328888, CCT lead no. 09040528991, or through an official letter to Zamfara AGILE office.”

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    Earlier on September 12, 2025, Governor Lawal inaugurated the distribution of over N1 billion grants under the SABER (SERBS) programme to support local businesses at the JB Yakubu Secretariat, Gusau.

    The State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) is a five-year, performance-based, multi-sectoral initiative supported by the World Bank, carefully designed to dismantle barriers, stimulate private enterprise, and generate sustainable jobs for the people of Zamfara.

    N150,000 was distributed to 2,000 beneficiaries across the state to support nano and micro businesses; while 1,000 individuals in small and medium-sized businesses received N500,000 each. Also, 60 people from medium—and large-scale businesses will benefit from a grant of N5 million each.

    In December 2024, Governor Lawal also distributed about N5 billion to support the most vulnerable individuals in Zamfara State.

    The stimulus package was part of the COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus program (NG-CARES). It targeted 44,000 vulnerable individuals across 14 local government areas as part of the Zamfara state government’s empowerment initiative.