By Abdulgafar Oladimeji

The Kano edition of the Steron national community development through football competition , on Tuesday flagged off in all the wards in across the 15 metropolitan local governments in Kano .

The football competition sponsored by Steron Community Development Foundation will feature grass root football clubs drawn from the wards .

The managing director, Steron Resources International, Abubakar Sadiq Omar briefing sports writers in Kano last Monday, said the major motives behind the football competition is use football as a vehicle to empower Nigerian youths.

According to him, the Steron football project is borne as part of the company’s Cooperate Social Responsibility , CSR with the set out target to assist the youths to achieve their football dreams , saying it is also to make life more meaningful to the future population of Nigerians.

The Managing director , who was represented by the head of the foundation, Mr Musa Mohammed said “ we recognize the power of football as a very strong national unifier and tool for empowerment.

“we hosted similar competitions in other parts of the country, now we are in Kano , Kano is going to be exceptional.

“it is going to be exceptional because, we have invited football scouts to come and watch the matches, so that they can identify those players with exceptional talent, then we can proceed to help them pursue their professional football development.

Mohammed further said that “throughout the duration of the competition, we will be offering free medical services to players, coaches, back room staff, referees and football fans.”

Kano state Football Association, KSFA described the Steron football project as a comprehensive package that would touch all spheres in the pursuit of football development in the state.

The chairman KSFA youths competition committee,, Hassan Garo , spoke on the behalf of the state FA disclosed that the football competition kicks off , March 31st and runs through the first week of April 2026.

He stated that the tournament is an open competition without age restrictions, explaining that this is to allow talented players within all age ranges to showcase their football qualities

He said, however ,players who have featured in any level in either of the national major football leagues are exempted from taking part in the tourney.

In his words “ the tournament will start at the wards level centres, the winners at the wards will proceed to compete to produce the local government champion, then each local government champion will now compete to determine the overall champion.

“our joy at the FA knows no bound, because all the clubs have reasons to celebrate the coming of Steron, once you make it to the local government level you will get consolatory prizes

“meaning that if you advance from the ward stages to the local government you will not go home empty handed, also the scouts will be here to scout for talents.

“the opening match in the inter local government phase, which will involve the clubs that qualified from each local government will be played at Sani Abach stadium.

“The remaining matches at this level of the matches will be played at Mahaha ports complex, the final matches will return to be played at Sani Abach stadium.

He disclosed that provisions have been made for adequate security presence , adding that the state FA has prioritize the essence to make the competition an entertaining event.

He added that the media will be given a pivotal role to bring to Kano living rooms, live reports of the matches .

Garo stressed that “we are not leaving anything to chance, we want to see more private entities like Steron come into the game, either for communal purposes like this one or for commercial purposes, therefore we will always live up to expectations.

He enjoined Kano fans and football stakeholders to grab the opportunity been offered by the sponsors in the area of medical outreach to improve their well being.

Our correspondent reports that, the matches have kicked off in the designated ward centres across the state.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Nasiru Gawuna, the 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, has formally joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Gawuna, a former deputy governor of the state, received his membership card on Tuesday at his ward in Gawuna, Nasarawa Local Government Area. The event drew a large gathering of supporters and notable political figures, including former Governor Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, immediate-past Deputy Governor Aminu Gwarzo, and the state ADC chairman, Musa Ungogo.

Speaking after the registration, Gawuna thanked his supporters and party leaders, pledging his commitment to strengthening the ADC in Kano State.

His defection follows a formal resignation from the APC, which he described as a personal and voluntary decision. In a letter dated March 29, 2026, addressed to his ward chairman, Gawuna expressed appreciation to the APC for the opportunity to serve.

The move also comes after his resignation as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, effective March 31, 2026. His departure from the role complied with a directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu requiring political appointees to resign in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

Gawuna thanked the president for the trust reposed in him, noting it was an honor to serve in various capacities, including as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Bayero University, Kano.

Political observers view Gawuna’s entry into the ADC as a significant boost for the party, given his political influence and strong showing in the 2023 governorship election, where he secured 890,705 votes.

The development is the latest in a series of political realignments in Kano State ahead of the 2027 general elections, signaling continued shifts in the state’s political landscape.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Senate on Tuesday approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to secure $6 billion in external loans, granting legislative backing for the facilities hours after the Executive formally sought approval to finance critical infrastructure and address fiscal gaps.

The approval followed the consideration of a report submitted by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Senator Aliyu Wamakko (APC, Sokoto North).

In a letter read during plenary, President Tinubu sought approval for two separate facilities: a $5 billion loan from Abu Dhabi Bank to support budget deficit financing and meet existing debt obligations, and a $1 billion loan from UK Export Finance through Citibank London to fund the rehabilitation of the Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island Port.

According to the President, the port rehabilitation projects aim to address longstanding operational challenges, improve efficiency, enhance safety standards, support non-oil trade diversification, and position Nigeria as a regional trade hub.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the requests to the committee for expedited consideration, a directive that culminated in Tuesday’s approval.

The latest borrowing comes amid the Federal Government’s sustained reliance on domestic and external loans to finance budget deficits. Four months ago, the National Assembly approved a separate request to raise N1.15 trillion from the domestic debt market to fund the 2025 budget deficit.

In its report, the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts noted that the 2025 Appropriation Act provides for total expenditure of N59.99 trillion—an increase of N5.25 trillion from the Executive’s initial proposal—highlighting the widening fiscal gap driving the government’s borrowing strategy.