By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a new university in Kaduna State and named it after Late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, to the honour the former Chief of  Staff Supreme Headquarters (equivalent to Vice President)as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 2026 Democracy Day celebration on June 12.

The President announced the decision on Friday during his Democracy Day nationwide broadcast that the Federal Government had approved the revitalisation and renaming of the completed Institute of Petroleum Studies, Kaduna, as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology.

Tinubu said the decision was taken in recognition of Yar’Adua’s contributions to Nigeria’s democratic development and his vision of national unity and partnership.

The late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, an older brother of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, was one of the political gladiators in the aborted Third Republic and advocate of June 12, 1993 presidential election actualisation.

“Among the architects of modern democratic Nigeria, we honour General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua for his vision of national partnership,” the President said.

“In recognition of his contributions, the Federal Government has approved the revitalisation and renaming of the completed Institute of Petroleum Studies, Kaduna, as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology,” Tinubu declared.

The President paid tribute to other prominent figures, living and dead, who played significant roles in Nigeria’s struggle for democracy.

He described June 12 as a defining moment in Nigeria’s history and remembered several heroes of the democratic movement, including late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, whom he said helped lay the foundation for the freedoms Nigerians enjoy today.

Tinubu noted that the country owed a debt of gratitude to patriots who endured persecution, imprisonment, exile and even death in the fight for democratic governance.

He also announced national honours for dozens of pro-democracy activists, journalists, lawyers, politicians and military officers who, according to him, suffered persecution and incarceration during the struggle to restore democratic rule in Nigeria.

Among those recognised were Arthur Nwankwo, Mrs Joe Okei-Odumakin, Richard Akinnola, Ishola Williams and several military officers who participated in the June 12 democratic struggle.

Tinubu said the full honours list would be released in the coming days.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s democratic journey, the President said the country has enjoyed 27 uninterrupted years of civilian rule since 1999, describing it as the longest stretch of democratic governance in the nation’s history.

He urged Nigerians to remain united and committed to strengthening democratic institutions, stressing that the sacrifices of the nation’s heroes must not be in vain.

“The generation of our founding fathers secured independence the generation of June 12 secured democracy. Our generation must secure prosperity,” Tinubu said.

The President expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future, saying democracy must translate into improved living standards, economic opportunities and security for all citizens.

The Northern Youth Assembly (NYA) has commended the National Assembly for its approval of the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish State Police across Nigeria, describing the development as a landmark step toward addressing the country’s persistent security challenges.

In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Abdulhafiz Garba, the group said the overwhelming support for the bill by federal lawmakers reflects a growing national consensus on the need to strengthen security through a more decentralized and community-focused policing system.

According to the assembly, the endorsement of the bill by 289 legislators, with only four voting against it, demonstrates the urgency attached to security reforms and the recognition that local communities must play a more active role in maintaining peace and order.

The group noted that insecurity has remained one of the most pressing concerns across Northern Nigeria, where communities have grappled with banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, cattle rustling, and communal conflicts. These challenges, it said, have disrupted economic activities, displaced families, and undermined social stability across the region.

The NYA argued that while officers of the Nigeria Police Force have continued to make sacrifices in the line of duty, the existing centralized policing structure has struggled to adequately respond to the country’s complex and evolving security threats due to Nigeria’s vast population and geographical size.

It maintained that the creation of State Police would provide an additional layer of security by enabling state governments to establish law enforcement agencies capable of responding swiftly to local challenges while complementing federal security institutions.

The assembly highlighted intelligence gathering as one of the major advantages of the proposed reform. It explained that security personnel recruited from local communities would possess deeper knowledge of the language, culture, terrain, and social environment of their states, making it easier to detect criminal activities and prevent threats before they escalate.

The group further stated that decentralized policing would improve emergency response times, as state-controlled police formations would be able to act promptly without waiting for instructions from distant command structures.

Beyond security, the Northern Youth Assembly said the reform could create significant employment opportunities for young people. It noted that recruitment into state police services would provide jobs for thousands of youths while helping to reduce unemployment and strengthen community engagement.

According to the organization, improved security would also encourage investment, boost agricultural production, revive local economies, and facilitate safer movement of goods and people across Northern Nigeria.

The group pointed to several countries operating successful decentralized policing systems, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and Germany. It argued that these examples demonstrate that state-based policing structures can coexist with federal law enforcement agencies without undermining national unity.

Rather than weakening the federation, the assembly said decentralized policing has proven effective in enhancing accountability, improving public safety, and ensuring more responsive governance in many democratic nations.

Describing the passage of the bill as a historic moment, the NYA said the reform offers renewed hope for communities affected by insecurity and represents a significant step toward building a safer and more prosperous Nigeria.

The organization pledged its continued support for policies aimed at promoting peace, security, youth empowerment, economic development, and national unity, while urging relevant stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the proposed State Police framework once it becomes law.

By: Lamara Garba

The Kano State Government is considering plans to establish a state-owned airline as part of efforts to expand its economic base, enhance transportation services and create new sources of revenue for the state.

Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf disclosed this while addressing Kano pilgrims in Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.

According to the Governor, the proposal is informed by the strategic importance of the aviation industry in the global economy and its immense potential to contribute to the socio-economic development of Kano State.

“We are thinking of floating an airline company for the state, and this will help in flying the flag of our dear state as well as serving the interests of the people and the government of Kano,” Governor Yusuf stated.

The Governor explained that beyond its commercial value, a state-owned airline would provide Kano with greater flexibility in transportation planning, facilitate business activities and improve connectivity with other parts of Nigeria and the international community.

He noted that the aviation sector remains one of the fastest-growing industries worldwide, contributing significantly to trade, tourism, investment and job creation. According to him, Kano, being a historic commercial centre and one of the largest states in Nigeria, stands to benefit enormously from investments in air transportation.

Governor Yusuf further revealed that the proposed airline could, in the future, play a vital role in the transportation of pilgrims during Hajj and Umrah operations, reducing logistical challenges and ensuring more efficient service delivery for intending pilgrims from the state.

While appealing to Kano pilgrims currently in the Holy Land to remain calm and patient ahead of their return journey, the Governor assured them that adequate arrangements were being made to ensure a smooth and hitch-free airlift operation expected to commence on June 24.

“Our administration remains committed to exploring innovative ways of improving service delivery, creating employment opportunities and strengthening the economic foundations of Kano State. We believe that investments in strategic sectors such as aviation will open new windows of opportunity for our people and generate sustainable revenue for government,” he added.

Observers say the proposed airline project reflects the administration’s broader vision of transforming Kano into a modern economic hub capable of attracting investment, supporting commerce and enhancing the state’s competitiveness in an increasingly interconnected world.

The initiative, if successfully implemented, is expected to complement ongoing efforts by the administration in infrastructure development, commerce, education, healthcare and human capital development, while positioning Kano as a major player in Nigeria’s aviation and transportation industry.