Abbas Yushau Yusuf

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) for what he described as their sustained commitment to improving security across the Northwest and Nigeria as a whole.

The governor gave the commendation on Thursday while declaring open the Northwest State Directors of Security Services Zonal Conference held in Kano.

Addressing delegates drawn from Katsina, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states, Governor Yusuf described the conference as a critical platform for security stakeholders to exchange ideas, share operational experiences and strengthen coordinated responses to emerging threats in the region.

He noted that Kano, being the most populous and cosmopolitan state in the Northwest, places high priority on security and peaceful coexistence, stressing that insecurity in neighboring states inevitably affects Kano.

“Kano has always placed the highest priority on security. Challenges faced by our sister states inevitably affect us as well because criminal activities cannot be confined by borders,” the governor said.

Governor Yusuf cited the recent kidnapping of the Secretary of Kibiya Local Government Area, Alhaji Hamza Musa Durba, as an example of the growing security concerns confronting the region. He disclosed that through intelligence-led operations by security agencies, the victim was rescued and the suspects arrested on March 26, 2026.

He praised the DSS and other intelligence agencies for their prompt response and professionalism, saying their efforts deserved “absolute commendation.”

The governor also acknowledged the support of the Federal Government under President Tinubu, noting that the administration’s determination to secure lives and property has strengthened collective efforts against criminality.

According to him, Kano State has invested significantly in upgrading security infrastructure and logistics for security agencies, including equipment earlier procured for the DSS.

Governor Yusuf said the state remains relatively peaceful despite several security challenges confronting the Northwest, including banditry, farmers-herders conflicts, cyberbullying, cyberstalking and the activities of street miscreants.

“I must commend the Kano State Command of the DSS for its proactive role in containing these threats and for working closely with sister security agencies to safeguard our people,” he added.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing an enabling environment and logistical support for security agencies to effectively discharge their responsibilities.

“As I formally declare this conference open, I trust that your deliberations will yield fresh ideas and practical solutions that will promote peace and socio-economic development across the region,” he said.

Earlier in his remarks, the Kano State Director of the DSS, Hussaini Abubakar, said the zonal conference was convened to address security issues peculiar to the Northwest region and to strengthen collaboration among security agencies.

According to him, the meeting aligns with the vision of the DSS leadership to respond promptly to emerging threats across the region.

He identified major security concerns facing the Northwest as banditry, cyberbullying, illegal mining, sabotage of critical national assets and campaigns capable of threatening national cohesion.

Abubakar said the DSS has continued to engage in tactical operations to counter these threats and expressed appreciation to the Director-General of the DSS and the Kano State Government for supporting the conference.

Also speaking, the Kano State Commissioner of Police, Adamu Bakori, who was represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police Lawal Mani, said the Northwest continues to face serious security challenges, including kidnapping and violent crimes that require seamless inter-agency cooperation.

He revealed that Kano had recently witnessed infiltration attempts by bandits operating along the Kano-Kaduna-Katsina border corridors but noted that the cordial working relationship between the police, DSS and other security agencies had contributed significantly to the peace currently enjoyed in the state.

In his remarks, the representative of the Kano Brigade Commander and Chief of Staff, Colonel J.I. Ogwi, emphasized the importance of sustained synergy among security agencies in tackling insecurity.

He said collaboration among sister agencies remains indispensable in ongoing efforts to contain criminal activities and maintain stability in the region.

Delivering a goodwill message, the Director of Special Services, Kano State Government, retired Major General Muhammad Sani, described the conference as timely given the security challenges confronting the Northwest.

He observed that the region, despite its rich human and natural resources, continues to grapple with banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes and urban crime, worsened by poverty, unemployment and climate-related pressures.

“True security is more than the absence of violence. It is the presence of order, trust and justice,” he said.

According to him, intelligence gathering and ethical information sharing remain critical to achieving lasting peace and stability.

The retired military officer urged security agencies to adopt proactive strategies, deepen inter-agency collaboration and build stronger partnerships with local communities.

“Your work is often silent, but its impact is profound. The peace of a village, the safety of a market and the freedom of a child to attend school all depend on your vigilance and integrity,” he told participants.

He expressed optimism that the conference would produce practical solutions capable of restoring lasting peace across Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Jigawa and Zamfara states, as well as the entire country.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the Federal Government’s touting of Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth, accusing the administration of celebrating abstract figures while millions of citizens grapple with hunger, inflation, and collapsing purchasing power.

In a strongly worded press statement issued on Wednesday, the opposition party said the government’s economic messaging is “disconnected from the harsh economic realities facing ordinary Nigerians.”

“People do not eat GDP,” the ADC declared, arguing that growth is meaningless unless it translates into lower food prices, job creation, stronger purchasing power, and improved living conditions.

The statement, signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said Nigeria’s reported economic uptick does nothing to ease the daily suffering in markets, farms, factories, and homes across the country.

“No government should be celebrating economic statistics while millions of its citizens are battling hunger, poverty, collapsing purchasing power, and rising hopelessness,” the ADC said.

The party specifically cited unbearable food prices, punitive transportation costs, widespread small-business closures, salary erosion, and rising unemployment as evidence of a deepening crisis — one it says official GDP figures fail to capture.

“Economic growth that does not reduce suffering, create jobs, improve incomes, or restore dignity to citizens is empty growth,” the ADC said. “Growth that only exists in official reports while citizens descend deeper into hardship is not meaningful progress. It is economic abstraction disconnected from human reality.”

The ADC urged the government to stop “celebrating statistics” and instead show humility, acknowledge the pain Nigerians are experiencing, and focus on policies that deliver measurable improvements in living conditions.

“The purpose of governance is not to manage public relations for economic statistics,” the party said. “The purpose of governance is to improve the living conditions of the people.”

Calling for an economy that works for ordinary citizens — through affordable food, stable electricity, decent jobs, lower business costs, and improved purchasing power — the ADC insisted that until growth is felt in people’s homes, the government has “no moral basis to declare economic success.”

“The true test of economic policy is simple: Can Nigerians live better today than they did yesterday?” the statement reads. “For millions of Nigerians, the answer is no.”

The Federal Government is yet to respond to the ADC’s criticism.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, on Wednesday warned that the scale of insecurity across different parts of Nigeria poses a major threat to the conduct of free and fair elections.

Amupitan made the remark during a visit to the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, in Abuja, as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.

He said the prevailing security challenges, including violence and threats to electoral processes, could undermine credible polls if not properly addressed.

Amupitan said, “In Nigeria, our electoral system has placed numerous challenges over the years, ranging from malpractices to threats of violence, vote trading that undermine the confidence of the electorates.

“These challenges not only affect the outcome of our elections, but also pose significant risks to our national security. Thus, it is imperative that we address these concerns with utmost seriousness and resolve. In this regard, I would like to emphasise the importance of the proactive security measures.

“The scale of insecurity across the various parts of Nigeria presents a threat to the conduct of the fair election. It is essential that we carry out total security risk analysis ahead of the election and this will enable us to identify potential flashpoints and deploy appropriate strategies to mitigate risks, thereby safeguarding voters, electoral officials and the integrity of the electoral process.”

According to him, such measures would help identify flashpoints and enable the deployment of strategies to safeguard voters, electoral officials and the integrity of the process.

Amupitan noted that elections scheduled for January 16, 2027 (presidential) and February 6, 2027 (governorship and state assemblies) require strong collaboration between INEC and security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police, which leads electoral security operations.

He added that ongoing electoral activities, including party congresses and forthcoming primaries under the Electoral Act 2026, further heighten the need for proactive security planning.

The INEC chairman also highlighted upcoming off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, as well as several by-elections across the country, describing them as critical tests for Nigeria’s democracy.

On humanitarian concerns, Amupitan drew attention to Internally Displaced Persons camps across the country, insisting that displaced citizens must not be disenfranchised.

“I also want to draw attention to several IDP camps that are scattered all over Nigeria.

Let me say that it is their right to also vote, and they must not be disenfranchised.

“As the electoral body, we are doing everything to ensure that all those in IDP camps are given the conducive environment to exercise their franchise, and also the people with disabilities. So therefore, we commend all these people, categories of persons, persons in IDP camps, as well as persons with disabilities to the IG for special attention and care,” he said.

Responding, the Inspector-General of Police assured that the Force would adopt intelligence-led deployment and preventive policing strategies to address emerging threats such as political violence, arms proliferation, cyber manipulation, and attacks on electoral infrastructure.

Disu said the police had commenced nationwide threat assessments and intelligence mapping, and would work closely with other security agencies to ensure adequate protection of electoral personnel, materials and facilities.

He also pledged strict enforcement of electoral laws, warning that offenders involved in vote-buying, ballot snatching, voter intimidation and destruction of electoral materials would be arrested and prosecuted.

The police chief further emphasised the importance of inter-agency collaboration, real-time intelligence sharing, and training of personnel to ensure professionalism and public confidence in the electoral process.