Mustapha Alfanla _Kano

The management of AMTAY technology Ltd on Saturday 13th, December rewarded its members of staff for outstanding and dedicated selfless services at the 15th years anniversary of corporate service.

The event which took place in Kano saw the emergence of seven (7) staffers, who were rewarded with plagues and gifts worth #20.5m for their loyalty and commitment to the company.

Among the highest recipients, were two staff members presented with all expensive paid trip to perform Hajj for 2026. It included the Project Manager, Engr. Rabiu Shehu Bilyaminu, (mnse) and a General Supervisor, Lawan Hamisu.

Other categories include the Best site Engineer, Engr. Mustapha Abubakar, who received a plague and smart TV; Best Car Driver of the year, Bello Tanko; Best Truck driver of the year, Abubakar Mahmud; Most Active and Dedicated Mason award, Sulaiman Usman Yaro; Most Active and Dedicated Foreman award, Yakubu Emmanuel, all of whom received plagues and a Fridge each.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director/CEO, Engr. Dr. Muhammad Tayyeb Abdulwahhab, said, though, the company is still very young, but decided to reward excellence and dedication of pioneering staffers of the company. In his words, “hard work pays when it is appreciated, and that is why we decided to honour those who deserved it”.

Side attractions at the event include traditional displays by the Koroso dancers, who thrilled the audience with their wonderful acrobatic performances.

Dignitaries at the event include the COREN Registrar, Prof. O. A. U. Uche, FNSE, who was represented by Engr. Prof. Aaron Aboshio, FNSE; Abdullahi Maiwada PhD. mnipr, mniia, Deputy Comptroller of Customs, National Public Relations Officer of Nigeria Customs; Hon. Bashar Aliyu Buhari, S.A to Hon. Minister, Fed. Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning; Dr. Usman Yahaya Kansila, FNSE, FNIM
Chairman, UYK Groups ably represented by Alh. Nasidi Sabo; Dr. Adamu Mato, Gado da masun Rano, Turakin Bunkure and other well wishers.

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.