Residents of communities in Nassarawa, Kumbotso, and Gezawa LGAs are crying out over the worsening condition of the Yandodo–Mai-Allo–Oromi–Mariri road, where deep potholes, flooding, and years of neglect have reportedly forced pregnant women to give birth inside tricycles and left thousands battling daily hardship despite the government’s road contract award.

By Sani Magaji Garko and Abbas Yushau Yusuf

Residents of several communities across Nassarawa, Kumbotso, and Gezawa Local Government Areas have appealed to the Kano State Government to urgently commence full-scale work on the Yandodo–Mai-Allo–Oromi–Mariri road project, lamenting that the prolonged delay has exposed thousands of residents to hardship and danger.

The affected road links Yandodo, Mai-Allo, Oromi, and Mariri, with another section extending from Oromi to Yargana and Tsamiya Babba in Gezawa Local Government Area. Residents described it as a major transport corridor serving densely populated communities.

They said that although the Kano State Government awarded the project to a construction company, full-scale work has yet to commence, leaving the road riddled with deep potholes, severe erosion, and persistent flooding.

Speaking  a tricycle operator, Adamu Alhassan, recounted what he described as one of the most heartbreaking consequences of the deteriorating road.

According to him, four different pregnant women gave birth inside his tricycle on separate occasions because the poor condition of the road prevented them from reaching hospitals in time.

«”I have personally witnessed four pregnant women deliver inside my tricycle at different times because we could not get them to the hospital quickly due to the condition of this road,” he said.»

He explained that whenever labour became too advanced during the journey, he had no option but to stop his tricycle at a safe location.

«”I would park the tricycle and cover the woman to provide some privacy until the delivery was completed. After that, I would immediately continue the journey to the hospital so that the mother and newborn could receive proper medical treatment and professional care,” he added.»

Another resident and Chairman of Tricycle Operators in the area, Hussaini Sa’idu, said the stalled road project has become a major source of suffering for residents, especially pregnant women, children, elderly persons, and other vulnerable members of the communities.

He said years of neglect had left the road filled with potholes and extensive erosion, making movement extremely difficult.

According to him, the situation worsens during the rainy season when floodwaters overtop sections of the road.

«”When there is heavy rainfall, residents cannot cross the road for several hours because of the volume and speed of the floodwater. People are afraid of being swept away, so they wait until the water subsides before continuing their journey,” he said.»

Sa’idu noted that the poor condition of the road has disrupted transportation, delayed access to hospitals, schools, and markets, and increased transportation costs for residents.

He appealed to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to intervene by ensuring that the contractor handling the project returns to the site without further delay.

Global Tracker recalls that in October 2025, the Kano State Commissioner for Works, Marwan Ahmed, announced the award of the contract for the construction of the strategic road.

A few months later, the government erected the project’s signboard at the site, signalling the commencement of the project.

However, despite the placement of the signboard, residents said full-scale construction has yet to begin, with the road remaining in a deplorable condition.

Several other residents who spoke  expressed concern that despite the strategic importance of the road, the project has failed to take off, exposing road users to avoidable hardship and safety risks.

They said the completion of the road would significantly improve socio-economic activities, ease transportation, enhance access to healthcare and education, and reduce the suffering currently experienced by thousands of residents across the affected communities.

Another resident, Alhaji Mukhtar Adamu, told a Nigerian Tracker correspondent that the number of pregnant women who have delivered babies inside tricycles (Adaidaita Sahu) due to the deplorable condition of the road is impossible to quantify, despite the road being located within the Kano metropolis.

He added that thousands of residents are often dropped along the Kano Major Ring Road because tricycle operators cannot convey them to their doorsteps due to the impassable condition of the Mai-Allo Road.

According to him, residents were hopeful when the government erected the signboard announcing the reconstruction of the road. However, they said nothing has happened since then, apart from the dust and hardship caused by the deteriorating road.

The residents urged the Kano State Government to investigate the cause of the delay, ensure accountability in the execution of the project, and facilitate its speedy commencement and completion in the public interest.

Efforts to obtain official comments from the relevant government authorities and the contractor handling the project were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday here that “the ceasefire with Iran ‘is over,’ and he does not want to deal with Iran anymore.”

Speaking to journalists alongside “NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump said he no longer wants to engage with Iranian officials.” “For me, I think it is over. I don’t want to deal with them anymore .They are sick people, they are led by sick people, they are vicious, violent people,” he noted.

“If they had nuclear weapons, they would use them. As far as I am concerned, it (the ceasefire) is over,” said Trump.

Trump expressed skepticism regarding future negotiations, saying “he would consult his negotiators but characterised dealing with Iranian officials as a ‘waste of time,’ accusing them of dishonesty.” Trump further said “Iranian representatives agree privately to terms regarding nuclear weapons but publicly deny those agreements after the meetings conclude.” “We make a deal. Everyone’s agreed: no nuclear weapon,” Trump said. “We make a deal, they go outside and talk to the press. They say we never even talked about it.” He concluded that “while negotiations could technically continue, he considers the current process to be at an end.”

In “a new round of escalation of tensions beginning Tuesday, the United States has launched strikes against 80 Iranian targets, and in response, Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps attacked 85 U.S. military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait.”

And to this development, the world, once again, is about to witness another round of hike in price of crude oil.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned a former Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Ltd (PHRC), Ahmed Dikko, over alleged money laundering.

Mr Dikko, who was arraigned before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, on a 12-count charge, pleaded not guilty.

Recall that the EFCC, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/360/2026, named Mr Dikko and Masterpiece Projects & Investment Ltd as first and second defendants.

In the charge dated and filed on June 22 by the commission’s counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, the anti-graft agency accused Mr Dikko of using N218 million to buy property in Abuja.

When the case was called, Mr Iheanacho informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the defendants to take their plea and that they were ready to proceed.

Ikechukwu Ajunwa, SAN, did not oppose the application but urged the court to enter a not guilty plea for the second defendant (the company).

In view of the not guilty plea, the prosecution applied for a trial date.

Mr Ajunwa did not oppose the application but informed the court that a bail application had been filed on behalf of Mr Dikko.

He said a copy of the bail application had also been served on the EFCC.

Mr Iheanacho acknowledged receiving the process and told the court that a counter affidavit had equally been filed in opposition to the bail request.

Moving the motion, MrAjunwa said it was dated and filed on July 3 in line with Sections 34(4) and 36 of the 1999 Constitution and Sections 158 and 156 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

According to him, the application is seeking for a leave for the defendant to be granted bail.

“The grounds for the application are there my lord,” he said.

The lawyer, who said Mr Dikko would not jump bail or interfere with the trial, said the 1st defendant had been reporting to the EFCC’s office as part of administrative bail terms.

Responding, Mr Iheanacho said the commission, on July 7, filed a counter affidavit opposing Mr Dikko’s request.

“We rely on all the paragraphs in our counter affidavit in urging the court to deny bail to the defendant. We also filed a written submission and adopted same in urging the honourable court to reject the bail application,” he said.

In his ruling, Justice Ekwo held that the court had the discretionary power to either grant or not to grant a bail.

He said since bail is a constitutional rights of the defendant, substantial evidence must be placed before the court why the defendant ought to be denied the request.

The judge consequently admitted Mr Dikko to a N150 million bail with one surety in the like sum who must possess a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.

He ordered that the surety must be a responsible citizen and must submit the documents of the landed property which should be verified by the court registrar.

Justice Ekwo, who ordered Mr Dikko to submit his passport with the court, directed that the defendant must not travel without the permission of court.

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until Oct. 12, October13 and 14 for commencement of trial.

The EFCC said the offence is contrary to Sections 2 (1) (a), 19(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 19 (2) (b) of the same Act.