By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Federal Government to immediately clarify the terms of a $5 billion health cooperation agreement recently signed with the United States, citing “materially different” and potentially unconstitutional framings of the deal.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, expressed alarm over what it described as conflicting portrayals of the five-year bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in December.

While the Nigerian government has presented the agreement as an inclusive framework to strengthen health security and boost domestic financing, U.S. official statements framed it as focusing strongly on supporting Christian faith-based healthcare providers.

The ADC highlighted that the U.S. version introduces “identity-based elements” absent from Nigeria’s account, suggesting funds could be directed primarily to health institutions linked to one religion—a move the party says violates constitutional guarantees against discrimination.

“The U.S. characterisation indicates that spending under the MoU should be targeted at health institutions backed by a particular religion only,” Abdullahi stated. “This raises serious constitutional and national cohesion concerns.”

Under the agreement, the U.S. intends to commit nearly $2.1 billion over five years, while Nigeria is to increase its domestic health spending by about $3 billion in the same period. The deal covers HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child health, and polio interventions.

The ADC also pointed to a clause allowing the U.S. President or Secretary of State to pause or terminate programmes deemed against national interest—a condition reportedly omitted from Nigeria’s public explanation of the MoU.

“Why is the Nigerian government committing more resources under an arrangement that appears discriminatory and grants unilateral termination powers to a foreign government?” Abdullahi questioned.

Citing Sections 42(1), 15, and 17 of the 1999 Constitution, which prohibit discrimination and obligate the state to promote national integration, the ADC insisted that any agreement introducing identity-based distinctions in public service provision is fundamentally flawed.

The party has demanded that the Federal Government clearly state which version reflects the actual terms and explain the significant discrepancies between the two accounts.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

For hundreds of thousands of commuters, the Mararaba-Keffi road is not merely a route but a grueling daily test of endurance. On a typical morning, the passage connecting Nasarawa State to Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, transforms into a stagnant river of metal and frustration. A series of interviews with road users trapped in the gridlock paints a vivid picture of a systemic transport crisis, as filed by Nigerian Tracker’s Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa.

By 7:30 AM, Muazu, a 34-year-old banker, had already been in his private car for over an hour, stuck near Mararaba Market. He left his home in Ado at 6:15 AM for his office in Central Area. “This road is a nightmare every single day,” he lamented, gesturing at the unmoving sea of vehicles.

He identified the core issues as a catastrophic mismatch between road capacity and population. “One major road for a million people. And every morning, broken-down vehicles, carelessly parked tankers, and too many FRSC checkpoints that just seem to slow us down for no reason.” His solution echoed a common refrain: actionable infrastructure development.

“They’ve been talking about expanding this road for years. Thankfully, our voices have been heard by this current administration of President Bola Tinubu. We hope they get it fixed as soon as possible. We need action, not talk,” Muazu said.

A Commercial Driver Calculating Losses

Quite a distance away, Sanusi, a 52-year-old commercial bus driver, was parked in front of the Sahad Stores opposite First Bank, slowly filling his vehicle with passengers. The traffic had decimated his livelihood. “My brother, it’s a total loss. Before, like 8 years back, I could do three trips to Wuse by 10 AM. Now, I’m lucky to do one. The fuel we burn in this traffic alone can take us to Kaduna.”

From his professional view point, he pinpointed the chaotic merging near Karu junction and the proliferation of illegal shortcuts as critical failures.

“Everyone forces their way in. And the buses stopping anywhere to pick passengers—we are all guilty.” He advocated for dedicated bus lanes and the completion of the long-promised road expansion.

A Teacher’s Ordeal

Inside a cramped tricycle (keke) at the Karu Bridge junction, Chioma, a 28-year-old teacher heading for Garki, watched her morning vanish.

“By the time I get there, first period is almost finished. It’s so discouraging.”

She observed a culture of impatience exacerbating the blockage, with drivers using oncoming lanes to jump the queue.

“Then causing a total block when they meet oncoming vehicles.” She also cited sand and gravel trucks spilling debris and street traders encroaching onto the roadway. Her desired fix was a reliable, scheduled bus service and a dedicated bypass for heavy goods vehicles.

An Expert’s Diagnosis

Transport economist Dr. Idris Adetola, in a phone interview with our correspondent, synthesized these complaints into a stark diagnosis. He described the Mararaba-Keffi corridor as a “textbook case of dormitory town planning failure,” where massive residential development occurred without parallel transport investment. “One over-capacity road connects everyone to their jobs in Abuja. Add poor traffic management, zero mass transit alternatives, and weak enforcement, and you have a predictable crisis.”

Dr. Idris proposed a multi-tiered solution: immediate enforced traffic management, a critical short-term launch of a high-capacity Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, and a long-term strategy to decentralize Abuja’s economy and complete stalled rail and road projects. “The people’s daily suffering,” he concluded, “is a direct result of planning neglect.”

Asked if he is hoping for an improvement in the ongoing reconstruction on that route, Dr. Idris replied: “Well, this is Nigeria! You never can tell the next news. But I hope they do better with the ongoing reconstruction.”

Together, these voices from the daily users form a unified testimony: the Mararaba-Keffi gridlock is more than an inconvenience; it is a daily economic and social drain, demanding urgent and holistic intervention.

Over three million Muslims from across Nigeria and several African countries converged on Katsina State to commemorate the Maulud (birthday) of the late Tijjaniyya spiritual leader, Sheikh Ibrahim Niasse.

The week-long religious event was held at the Dukko Radda Stadium, Katsina, and was organised by the Majma’u Ahbab Niasse association. It attracted prominent Islamic scholars, traditional rulers, and thousands of followers of the Tijjaniyya order from Nigeria’s 36 states and neighbouring West African nations.
Speaking at the gathering, the President of Majma’u Ahbab Niasse, Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Sani Auwal, said the 2026 celebration marked the 40th anniversary of the annual Maulud. He explained that the event was aimed at honouring the life and teachings of Sheikh Ibrahim Niasse, while also offering prayers for peace, unity, and economic development in Katsina State, the North-West region, and Nigeria at large.

Sheikh Auwal, who also serves as Commissioner at the Kano State Ministry for Religious Affairs, noted that Katsina State was hosting the Maulud for the third time, having previously hosted in 2002 and 2016. He added that other states such as Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi have also hosted similar commemorations in the past.

He commended the Katsina State Government for providing a peaceful and conducive environment for the event and prayed for sustained stability and harmony in the state and the country.

Addressing the gathering, the Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, called for unity among Tijjaniyya adherents and the broader Muslim Ummah. He highlighted the historic role of Sheikh Ibrahim Niasse in the spread of Islam across Africa, describing him as an influential scholar whose legacy transcended national boundaries.
In his remarks, Governor of Katsina State, Dr Dikko Umaru Radda, expressed appreciation to the organisers for choosing Katsina as the host state. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting religious activities that foster peace, unity, and social cohesion, while urging continued prayers for Nigeria.

Dignitaries from Nigeria and West Africa graced the occasion, including representatives of the Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), as well as Khalifa Sheikh Mahi Sheikh Ibrahim Niasse, represented by Muhammad Qurash Sheikh Ibrahim Niasse from Senegal.
The Maulud, which commenced on Sunday and lasted seven days, concluded on Saturday with Qur’anic recitations, prayers, lectures, and conferences, all highlighting the life, teachings, and enduring legacy of the renowned Tijjaniyya leader.