Author: Habibu Dan-Garba

Sokoto Eye-Care, Sightsavers offers eye care services to High Court Judges, others

Sokoto State Eye-Care Programme in collaboration with Sightsavers Nigeria have offered free eye care services to High Court Judges and others in Sokoto State.

The Programme Manager, Dr Nasir Umar told the Newsmen that the exercise was part of the commemoration of 2026 World Glacauma Week.

Umar said the exercise comprised Glacauma screening, optic nerve and intraultra pressure checks and offered medications as well as provide free eye glasses to citizens.

He said the exercise was also to create awarenesses of glaucoma prevalences, screen people to detect early glaucoma and offer management tips.

” We superceded the initial target of 50 people as more people patronised the services making the exercise a great success.

” Many people have benefited with medications, free eye glasses and other supports during the exercise,” Umar-Yabo said.

A beneficiary, Kabiru Jafaru, expressed appreciation over the support and thanked the organizers stressing that with the free eye glasses given to him he can now see very well.

Cross-section of other beneficiaries commended Sightsavers for the exercise which would surely health peoples health condition and general well-being.

The exercise also featured general eye screening, virtual equity, conjunctivitis, pandoscapy and provision of reading glasses and allergy test.

Pray for Nigeria’s Unity, Peace instead of cursing our nation- Dingyadi urges citizens

Nigerians performing the lesser Hajj in Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have been advised to refrain from using bulgar language, cursing and criticizing the nation’s leadership while offering prayers during the month of Ramadan.

Yusuf Dingyadi, Senior Special Assistant on Media to the APC National Chairman, made this appeal in a release circulated to press in Sokoto on Sunday

Dingyadi, who is currently in Saudi Arabia performing the Ramadan lesser Hajj with other other Muslims across the globe, noted that those praying against Nigeria and its leadership are contributing to much to the continued crisis, bedevilling the nation, include insecurity and other political challenges.

He expressed sadness and dismay that some group of Nigerians are being recorded on social media abusing, cursing some particular political leaders or openly castigating their leaders in front of the Holy Ka’abah where sensitive decorum, respect and fair of Almighty God is needed above anywhere in the world.

Dingyadi emphasized that those who travel to the Holy land should do so for sacrifices, prayers, and seeking divine redemption, rather than displaying contents or abuses and casting aspersions at leaders because of certain reasons that normally associated with leadership challenges.

He urged Nigerians performing the pilgrimage or lesser Hajj to focus on fervent prayers for Nigeria to overcome its challenges, rather than engaging in negative prayers for the nation and its leaders.

He said this is particularly important now as people are observing the last ten days of Ramadan with greater minds of fear of Almighty God, seeking divine guidance and blessings.

He called on leaders not to be a burden to their people, instead stand firm and bring an end to the numerous challenges facing them, most particular of insecurity, poverty and injustice.

Ubandoma, PDP governorship candidate defect to ADC

The 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Sokoto State, Saidu Umar, popularly known as Ubandoma Sokoto, has resigned from the party, citing unresolved leadership disputes at the national level.

Umar disclosed this in a resignation letter addressed to the PDP chairman of Sarkin Adar Kofar Atiku Ward in Sokoto South Local Government Area.

“I write to formally notify you of my resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) effective immediately,” Umar stated in the letter.

His resignation comes days after former Sokoto State governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, also dumped the PDP, a development that has intensified political realignments in the state.

Explaining his decision, Umar said persistent internal conflicts and legal disputes over the party’s leadership structure had weakened cohesion within the PDP.

“The lingering legal challenges and the existence of parallel leadership within the party at national level have unfortunately remained unresolved and continue to hinder unity, stability and effective political engagement within the party structure,” he said.

Despite leaving the party, the former governorship candidate expressed appreciation to the PDP for giving him the opportunity to contest the 2023 election on its platform.

“I remain sincerely grateful to the party for the confidence reposed in me through the opportunity to contest as its governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections in Sokoto State,” he said.

Umar also acknowledged the support he received from party leaders, members and supporters during the electioneering period.

He, however, reaffirmed his commitment to democratic values and the development of the state.

“While I step aside from the formal membership of the party, I remain committed to the pursuit of good governance, democratic values and the continued development of our dear state and nation,” he added.

Copies of the resignation letter were also sent to the PDP chairman in Sokoto South Local Government Area and the state chairman of the party.

Umar was the PDP governorship candidate in the 2023 election in Sokoto State, where he contested against the candidate of the All Progressives Congress and others. His resignation adds to the growing list of defections linked to the party’s ongoing leadership crisis at the national level.

PDP crisis calculated attempt to weaken opposition for 2027 – Tambuwal

Sen. Aminu Tambuwal had announced decamping to ADC siting lingering crises and the reason he left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He described the crisis as a calculated attempt to weaken opposition participation ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Tambuwal made the allegation iin Sokoto while addressing journalists on his recent defection from the PDP to the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC).

The former Sokoto State governor said his decision to leave the PDP followed extensive consultations and a long period of review of Nigeria’s political environment.

According to him, the process that led to his defection began over two years ago.

“When we projected into the future, we saw clear signs that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration might want to turn Nigeria into a one-party state,” he said.

Tambuwal explained that a panel comprising political experts, practising politicians and professors from reputable universities was commissioned to study Nigeria’s evolving political situation.

He said the panel included members from the PDP, Labour Party and the APC.

“From the analysis, it appeared that the PDP and the Labour Party, which are the major opposition parties, might not survive in their current form.

“The clear understanding from the study was that both parties may not be in a position to field strong presidential candidates in the 2027 general election,” he said.

Tambuwal alleged that efforts were being made to weaken the PDP and the Labour Party to the level of smaller parties, which he said, often negotiated with the government at the centre during elections.

“That was the intention, and one of the conditions was that Peter Obi must not remain in the Labour Party to contest,” he alleged.

According to him, the development informed the decision by like-minded politicians to align with the ADC in order to build a stronger opposition platform.

“We are not new in this political game. We saw the signs early and decided to act in order to stop the calculated attempt,” he said.

Tambuwal added that the ADC movement was not about personal ambition but about building a people-focused political platform.

“ADC is about the people and about Nigeria. Today, the country is divided between those in government and those outside it.

“Many Nigerians are unhappy with the current situation, including insecurity, poverty, corruption and abuse of public trust,” he said.

He emphasised that elections in Nigeria are ultimately decided by the people, noting that sitting presidents and governors had lost elections in the past when voters were not convinced by their leadership.

Tambuwal stressed that his defection was not about personal political interest but about the future of his constituents and Nigeria as a whole.

Forum reject Sen. Wadada’s claim on N210 trillion NNPC funds

The Ajiya Solidarity Forum (ASF) has rejected the claim made by Sen. Ahmad Wadada on alleged N210 trillion discrepancy in the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Hamza Usman, the National Coordinator ASF and made available to the newsmen on Monday in Sokoto.

According to the statement, ASF is a coalition of professionals and stakeholders committed to transparency and the defense of public institutional integrity.

ASF described the allegation as a mirage and cautioned against political theatre in NNPCL’s oversight activities.

” The forum issued a formal rejoinder to the claims made by the Chairman of the Senate Public Accounts Committee, Sen. Ahmed Wadada, regarding an alleged ₦210 trillion discrepancy in the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

” We respect the Senate’s constitutional mandate for oversight, the forum is deeply concerned by the mathematical impossibility of the figures being brandished and the subsequent threat to issue arrest warrants for former officials, including the immediate past Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Umar Ajiya, ” ASF said.

According to the statement, Sen. Wadada’s claim of ₦210 trillion “unaccounted for” funds is not based on forensic reality but on a fundamental misreading of corporate balance sheets.

The group explained that the national budget context of Nigeria emblem with the entire 2024 national budget stands at approximately N28.7 trillion.

They argued that to suggest that a single entity “lost” N210 trillion, an amount nearly eight times the size of the national budged was an engage in economic fiction.

” The total crude oil revenue of the Federation over the seven-year period under review (2017–2023) does not aggregate to ₦210 trillion. Demanding a “refund” of money that was never earned by the state is an exercise in futility.

” The Forum wishes to clarify the two figures that the committee has erroneously “netted” together to create this sensation:
₦103 Trillion (Accrued Expenses): These represent the cumulative, multi-year obligations for Joint Venture (JV) Cash Calls.

” These are not “cash outflows” that have vanished; they are accounting entries of liabilities for production costs, royalties, and technical fees shared with international partners.

” N107 Trillion (Sundry Receivables): By definition, a receivable is money owed to the NNPCL, including massive subsidy debts from the Federal Government. Labeling a debt owed to a company as “missing funds” is a professional travesty, ” ASF explained.

The statement further explained that Ajiya served as CFO during a period of unprecedented transparency, during which the NNPCL published its first audited financial statements in over four decades.

ASF added that Ajiya’s leadership was instrumental in the transition of the NNPC from a statutory corporation to a commercial entity under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

” To characterize the N5.9 billion transition cost, a complex, international legal and corporate restructuring as a “mere name change” is to undermine the very reforms the National Assembly passed into law.

” The Ajiya Solidarity Forum warns that using “phantom numbers” to inflame public passion does not constitute effective oversight. It instead damages Nigeria’s reputation in the eyes of international investors and devalues the professional contributions of public servants like Mr. Ajiya.

” It is rather unfortunate to reduce a Senate probe into an avenue of public blackmail by engaging in mudslinging and media paparazzi just to attract crowd bullying and deliberately mislead Nigerians for personal or political interest, ASF said.

The group urged members of the Senate not to drive by personal and political interest to tarnish the image of the senate and derail genuine and sincere fight against corruption through a back door arm twisting of persons they are supposed to give fair hearing in giving account of their stewardship.

” We call on the Senate Public Accounts Committee to engage in a sober, technical reconciliation of accounts rather than media led ultimatums.

” Withdraw the threats of arrest against officials who have already provided 19 detailed responses to the committee’s queries and focus on the reality of the PIA framework, which distinguishes between “accrued liabilities” and “revenue discrepancies.” The forum pleaded.

NCS hands over drugs worth N99m drugs to NDLEA in Sokoto

The Nigerian Customs Service (NSC) Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command has handed over illicit drugs worth N99 million to the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Sokoto.

The Customs Area Controller, Mr Aliyu Isa-Ndako, presented the drugs with Duty Pard Value (DPV) of N99,963,500.00 to the State Commander of NDLEA, Mr Mustapha Gidado on Monday in Sokoto.

Isa-Ndako said the seized items were intercepted by NCS patrol team abandoned by unknown person along Maidoro village on Sokoto-Illela road.

He said illicit drugs comprised 182 cartons of CST Cough Syrup with codeine, Capsules NASACAM Piroxican capsules suspected to be snuggled into the country.

According to him, the presentation was part of Comptroller General (C-G) of NCS, Mr Bashir Adewale directive to handover illicit pharmaceutical products to NDLEA.

Area Comptroller explained that the handover is not merely procedural but a divisive step toward enabling the agency to commence immediate actions.

” This is in line with the recent understanding reached at the last CGC Conference in Abuja,” he said.

” This seizure demonstrates our commitment to protecting our nation from the scourge of illicit drugs.

” I reinstate NCS commitment to intelligent network and continues harmonious synergy to strengthen service for improve performance,” Area Controller said.

Responding, NDLEA Commander commended the NCS for the success which had demonstrated their collective efforts and achievements and translated the improve synergy and performance of the enforcement agencies

Gidado noted that his agency was looking forward to more collaboration with the NCS in the area of interception and seizures of imported unwholesome food items as well as adulterated and counterfeit drugs.