The Chairman of Best Choice Specialist Hospital, Kano, Auwal Lawal Muhammad (Dan Malikin Garo), has congratulated the executive governor of Kano State Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, the good people of Kano State and Muslims across the world on the occasion of the Maulud celebration commemorating the birth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

In a statement he personally signed, Lawal commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for his efforts towards fostering unity among the people of Kano State.

According to the statement, the chairman was amazed on how governor Yusuf placing emphasis on the development to the state particularly in matters concerning religion, saying such initiatives would help reduce divisions, promote mutual understanding and strengthen peaceful coexistence across the state.

He urged Muslims to use the occasion of Maulud to strengthen their relationship with Allah through increased devotion and prayers for peace, stability and prosperity in Nigeria and Kano State.

The Chairman of Best Choice also praised the Governor for his efforts to improve the healthcare sector in the state.

He cited the renovation and upgrading of healthcare facilities, provision of modern medical equipment, as well as the training and development of healthcare workers as some of the administration’s efforts towards improving healthcare delivery in Kano.

Auwal Lawal further commended Governor Yusuf for his dedication, compassion and commitment to the wellbeing of the people, noting that his efforts continue to have a positive impact on the lives of residents across the state.

He prayed for continued peace, unity and prosperity in Kano State and Nigeria, while wishing the Governor and the people of Kano a blessed Maulud celebration now and beyond.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Alex Kiprotich, an associate editor of The Standard, a Kenyan newspaper, has been abducted by armed men.

The newspaper’s CEO, Chaacha Mwita, in a statement, said Mr Kiprotich was abducted along Gilgil-Nakuru Road shortly before 9:20 p.m. while travelling to Nakuru on Tuesday.

Mr Mwita said this is the second time in as many months that Mr Kiprotich had been targeted.

According to him, on June 27, 2026, armed men in a Toyota Probox, a vehicle model linked to enforced disappearances of government critics in Kenya, tried to seize him from his car as he drove to work in Nakuru.

He got away by locking his doors and driving off.

The Standard CEO linked the failed abduction attempt on Mr Kiprotich to President William Ruto’s government.

“That attempt came days after President William Ruto publicly criticised this Group over its coverage, and our own investigations traced the vehicle to the National Police Service’s Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau,” said Mr Mwita. “No one has ever been held to account for it. Tonight, that threat has been carried out.”

The Standard CEO added, “We do not believe this is a coincidence. Mr Kiprotich has been at the forefront of our editorial output, including reporting that has scrutinised the conduct of the state, and tonight’s abduction bears all the hallmarks of a targeted attack on a journalist for doing his job.”

“If that is confirmed, this is not simply a crime against one man. It is an assault on the Constitution of Kenya, on the freedoms of expression and of the media guaranteed under Articles 33 and 34, and on the right of every Kenyan to independent information.

“We say this plainly and without equivocation: the Standard Group holds the state responsible for Alex Kiprotich’s safety and his life, and for anything that happens to him while he remains missing. Protecting the life and liberty of every citizen is the state’s first duty, not an afterthought, and Mr Kiprotich’s safety now rests entirely in its hands.”

The government of Mr Ruto has not reacted to the latest allegation.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Nigeria has categorically declared that it does not possess, nor has it ever pursued, nuclear weapons or any other weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). The country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, delivered this affirmation during the 108th Plenary Meeting of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly.

Ambassador Ibrahim, who also serves as Chairman of the UN Committee on Budget and Administration, used the global platform to reiterate Nigeria’s steadfast commitment to international disarmament efforts, specifically the cessation of nuclear testing and the complete elimination of WMD threats.

In a significant diplomatic intervention, the Nigerian envoy called for a re-evaluation of Article 2(7) of the United Nations Charter, which enshrines the principle of non-intervention in the domestic affairs of sovereign states. While acknowledging the importance of state sovereignty, Ibrahim argued that this provision should not serve as a shield to protect nations that engage in nuclear testing or possess WMDs. He stressed that the international community must retain the capacity to act against such threats, regardless of domestic jurisdiction claims.

Conveying the official position of President Bola Tinubu, Ambassador Ibrahim detailed Nigeria’s robust domestic infrastructure for monitoring nuclear activities. He highlighted the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) as the primary institution overseeing the country’s nuclear regulatory framework and ensuring compliance with international safety and non-proliferation standards.

Reinforcing its commitment to global security, Nigeria maintains active cooperation with several nuclear-capable states, including Russia, China, France, South Korea, and the United States. Ambassador Ibrahim noted that President Tinubu has directed him to intensify these partnerships, with a specific focus on collaborative efforts to permanently end nuclear weapons testing worldwide.

African Solidarity and the CTBT Anniversary
Aligning with the broader continental position, Ambassador Ibrahim endorsed the statement delivered by the African Group. He further congratulated member states on the 30th anniversary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), reaffirming that Africa remains a designated nuclear-weapon-free zone—a status that has seen the continent categorically reject nuclear explosive testing.

“Nigeria neither possesses nuclear weapons nor has ever pursued a nuclear weapons programme,” Ibrahim stated emphatically, underscoring the nation’s dedication to a safer, nuclear-free world.

He urged all UN member states to sustain their momentum in the global campaign against nuclear testing, emphasizing that collective vigilance is essential to eliminating the existential threats posed by such arsenals.