By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

A delegation led by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has successfully secured the release of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel detained in Burkina Faso.

The soldiers were detained after their aircraft conducted a precautionary landing at the nearest airfield in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. The NAF stated the landing was due to an observed technical concern and was carried out in full compliance with standard safety and international aviation protocols.

The Burkinabé government, however, had initially described the unscheduled arrival as a breach of its sovereignty.

At the request of President Bola Tinubu, Minister Tuggar’s delegation met with Burkina Faso’s junta leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré. According to a statement from the minister’s spokesperson, Alkasim Abdulkadir, the issue was “amicably resolved” following discussions.

The talks extended beyond the immediate incident, serving as a diplomatic channel to reaffirm ties. Abdulkadir noted that Tuggar conveyed a message of “solidarity and fraternity” from President Tinubu. Both parties discussed enhancing bilateral relations and regional integration, with a focus on coordinated political, security, and economic cooperation—particularly in addressing shared regional security challenges.

“Both sides agreed to sustain regular consultations and pursue practical measures to deepen bilateral cooperation and regional integration, reflecting a shared resolve to promote peace, unity, and stability in the sub-region,” the statement read.

The Nigerian delegation included high-ranking officials such as the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mohammed Mohammed; the NAF Chief of Policy and Plans, A.Y. Abdullahi; Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, Olawale Awe; and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Chief of Protocol, Wahab Akande.

NMDPRA Boss, Engr. Farouk, Resigns Amidst Fraud Allegation

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Engr. Ahmed Farouk, has tendered his resignation letter amidst corruption allegations levelled against him by the President of Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

The development was announced on Wednesday evening by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

This newspaper had reported that the Dangote’s petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) specifically alleges that Ahmed spent over $7 million on his children’s education in Switzerland—funds Dangote claims cannot be justified by a public servant’s legitimate earnings. The petition calls for Ahmed’s arrest, investigation, and prosecution.

Following the petition, the ICPC vows to scrutinize the allegation with due diligence.

Meanwhile, pursuant to the resignation of Engr. Farouk, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sent new nomination for the NMDPRA position to the Senate for confirmation.

The new nominee is Engr. Saidu Aliyu Mohammed.

He was born in 1957 in Gombe, and graduated from Ahmadu Bello University in 1981 with a Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering. He was announced today as an independent non-executive director at Seplat Energy.

His prior roles include Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and Nigerian Gas Company, as well as Chair of the boards of West African Gas Pipeline Company, Nigeria LNG subsidiaries, and NNPC Retail.

The Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has reflected on the past glory and future prospects of Kano during the One Kano Agenda two-day conference on economy and politics held at Khalifa Isyaku Rabiu University.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Faruk Umar Ibrahim, Governor Yusuf emphasized the importance of unity, moral revival, and collective responsibility in restoring Kano’s historic position as a hub of commerce, culture, and education.

Delivering the governor’s message, Ibrahim said: “If we had known what Kano is, we would have kept quiet and listened well.” He recalled a friend’s warning from 40 years ago that a time might come when people would be “ejected from Kano,” stressing the need to follow the “Dambatta way” of resilience and reform.

Governor Yusuf expressed gratitude to the organizers of the conference, describing the movement as a noble effort deserving the support of all patriotic Kano citizens. He noted that Kano, Nigeria’s most populous state with 65 percent of its population being youth, was once regarded as a paradise and a gathering place for businessmen, scholars, and elites.

He lamented that the state now faces challenges such as enmity among people, lack of mutual support, moral decadence, and drug abuse. “The way out is for Kano people to unite. No one can shape the state except ourselves. We should not fold our arms and allow war to consume us,” he declared.

The governor assured that beginning next year, his administration will embark on fresh projects after fulfilling all campaign promises by December 2025.

On his part the Director General of One Kano Agenda, Abbas Abdullahi Yakasai, welcomed participants and underscored the urgency of economic and political reform. He described Kano as not just a state but the “heartbeat of the northern economy,” urging stakeholders to focus on reviving its economic strength.

Yakasai particularly called on the youth to rise to the occasion, stressing that their contributions are vital to shaping Kano’s future. “In all we do, we have to look at Kano first. We shouldn’t fold our arms and allow people to destroy the state,” he said.

He further highlighted Governor Yusuf’s concern for women, the elderly, and children, noting that the administration is committed to supporting vulnerable groups while confronting the enemies of Kano.

The conference brought together political leaders, academics, and community stakeholders, served as a platform to deliberate on Kano’s economic revival and political stability.