An Al Jazeera journalist was killed on Sunday during an Israeli strike on the Gaza Strip, according to the broadcaster.
The Doha-based news network identified the victim as Mohammad Salama, a cameraman working for its bureau in Gaza. Al Jazeera said Salama lost his life while covering Israeli bombardments in the city of Rafah, located in southern Gaza.
The channel strongly condemned his death, describing it as a result of “an Israeli air raid targeting the vicinity of the Abu Youssef al-Najjar Medical Complex in Rafah.” The strike claimed the lives of 14 people, including Salama.
In a statement, Al Jazeera demanded that those responsible be held to account and accused Israel of deliberately targeting journalists to silence media coverage of the ongoing war.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also confirmed Salama’s death and added that several other journalists were wounded in the attack. According to CPJ, more than 170 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza since the conflict erupted last year.
Israel has repeatedly denied accusations of intentionally striking reporters. The Israeli military insists its operations are aimed at Hamas and other armed groups, though it acknowledges that journalists have been among the casualties.
Al Jazeera has now lost multiple staff members since the war began. In May, another correspondent, Shireen Abu Akleh, was killed while covering an Israeli raid in the West Bank. That case drew widespread international condemnation and calls for accountability.
The Gaza war, which began after Hamas launched an unprecedented assault on Israel last year, has left tens of thousands dead and displaced most of Gaza’s population. Amid the devastation, journalists continue to face grave risks while reporting from the enclave.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has confirmed his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, insisting that Nigeria must be “rescued from the intensive care unit.”
His declaration followed comments made by Prof. Ola Olateju of Achievers University, Ondo, who had represented him at a political event in Lagos. Olateju had told defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that Abubakar was not desperate to be president.
“Atiku Abubakar’s plan is to build a better Nigeria. It’s not about him being president. It’s about having a good government that can deliver for Nigerians. It’s not a personal thing for him, and that’s why some of us are with him,” Olateju said.
However, Abubakar distanced himself from the remarks, clarifying in a telephone interview with his former media adviser, Tunde Olusunle, that the statements did not reflect his position.
“I did not issue that statement. When people stand in for me at events, we preview my thoughts on the instant subject and what my contribution or intervention will be, so we are on the same page,” Abubakar said from the United Arab Emirates. “In this particular instance, there was no engagement with me to distil my thoughts. Prof Olateju was not speaking for me.”
Reaffirming his ambition, he declared:
“I will run in 2027. Nigeria needs to be decisively rescued from the intensive care unit it has been consigned [to]. The degeneration in our country, the level of poverty and pain, the anguish, is unacceptable.
“The accompanying deceit, the loss of values, the mega-scale, unimpeded thievery, the absolute lack of accountability, must disturb every concerned patriot. I will be offering myself to lead the reclamation and reconstruction of our traumatised homeland.”
Abubakar added that the ADC coalition, of which he is a member, is mobilising a strong grassroots movement.
“ADC is leading a potent mass movement which will shock the world. We will upstage the status quo in a way which will leave doubters dumbstruck,” he said.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano State Command, has arrested a 29-year-old man for allegedly being in possession of 7,000 capsules of Tramadol.
In a statement on Monday, the Command’s spokesperson, Sadiq Muhammad-Maigatari, said the suspect was apprehended on Saturday by operatives of the Kiru Area Command along the Zaria–Kano Road, at Kwanar Dangora. The drugs, weighing 4.1 kilograms, were reportedly transported from Lagos and concealed in a 20-litre oil jerrycan.
Muhammad-Maigatari described the seizure as a significant breakthrough in the agency’s campaign against drug abuse in the state. He added that the professionalism displayed by the operatives highlighted NDLEA’s “unwavering commitment to disrupting the supply chain of illicit substances and ensuring community safety.”
The state Commander, Abubakar Idris-Ahmad, commended the officers for their diligence and praised NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba-Marwa, for his continued support.
He reaffirmed the command’s determination to rid Kano of illicit substances, while calling on the public to maintain their support and cooperation.
President Bola Tinubu landed in Brasília on Monday to commence a state visit focused on deepening diplomatic and economic relations with Brazil.
At the Brasília Air Base, he was welcomed by top Brazilian officials, including Ambassador Carlos Sérgio Sobral Duarte and Brazil’s envoy to Nigeria, Ambassador Carlos José Areias Moreno Garcete.
In a Monday statement, Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, underscored the importance of the visit.
He stated that, “The official welcome ceremony, with full military honours, will take place on Monday at the Planalto Palace.
“The leaders will witness the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and address a joint press conference afterwards.”
On arrival from Los Angeles, United States, Tinubu was received by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu.
He was later welcomed at his hotel by members of the Nigerian delegation, which included ministers, heads of government agencies, and leaders from the private sector.
These delegates are set to take part in a series of bilateral discussions and formalize agreements through the signing of Memoranda of Understanding.
An official welcoming ceremony, featuring full military honours, has been scheduled for Monday at the Planalto Palace.
After the ceremony, Tinubu will hold a closed-door meeting with Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
The private talks will be followed by broader bilateral sessions involving senior officials from both nations.
Both leaders are expected to oversee the signing of MoUs and jointly address the press.
The visit represents another milestone in the series of high-level interactions that have strengthened ties between Nigeria and Brazil since Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023.
These engagements include his attendance at the BRICS Leaders’ Summit in July 2025 and the G20 Summit in November 2024, both hosted in Brazil.
Nigeria and Brazil’s bilateral relationship, which began in the early 1960s, has in recent years concentrated on strategic sectors such as agriculture and defence.
New agreements, including a defence cooperation accord and the establishment of a strategic dialogue framework, highlight the determination of both countries to broaden their partnership.
This visit is expected to reinforce initiatives like the $1.1 billion Green Imperative Programme (GIP) and the $2.5 billion JBS investment, which are designed to enhance Nigeria’s food security and generate employment opportunities.
The Nigerian Governors’ Forum has named Dr. Abdulateef Shittu as its new Director-General as part of a fresh wave of appointments aimed at restructuring its secretariat and bringing its operations in line with global best practices
The announcement was made in a statement on Sunday by Yunusa Abdullahi, who has also been appointed the NGF’s Director of Media and Strategic Communications.
According to Abdullahi, the appointments came after a thorough review conducted by Deloitte, which was engaged to streamline NGF processes and strengthen its role as a leading subnational policy hub.
He emphasized that the changes went beyond routine administration, representing a deliberate move toward building a more dynamic and results-oriented institution.
Among the new appointments is Mr. Edmund Nnaji, a seasoned legal practitioner with extensive experience in corporate law, who will serve as Executive Director of Finance and Administration.
Prof. Dauda Yinusa, a former Commissioner for Economic Planning, Budget, and Development, has been appointed Executive Director of Policy, Strategy, and Research.
Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab, renowned for his expertise in health systems reform and programme management, has been named Executive Director of Programmes and Partnerships.
Chijioke Chuku, a seasoned lawyer with more than 20 years of policy and legal expertise, was also appointed General Counsel and Head of Energy.
Mrs. Hauwa Haliru-Hassan was promoted to Director of Gender Affairs and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum.
Dr. Ibrahim Ahmad Katsina, who brings 30 years of experience in security and conflict resolution, was named Senior Security Adviser.
Abdullahi will additionally serve as the Director of Media and Strategic Communications.
He highlighted that the appointments demonstrate the NGF’s dedication to establishing a multidisciplinary leadership team equipped to address Nigeria’s governance challenges, ranging from economic transformation and security to human capital development.
Nigeria is set to obtain a $190 million renewable energy loan backed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), according to Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu.
The ministry revealed in a statement on Saturday that Adelabu made the disclosure at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama, Japan.
The Nigerian delegation, led by President Bola Tinubu, held high-level talks on power, infrastructure, and industrial transformation as key drivers of sustainable development.
Adelabu explained that the facility is intended to expand distributed renewable energy solutions, especially in underserved communities.
“This builds on the recently launched $750 million World Bank Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) programme under the Mission 300 Compact, which aims to bring clean and reliable electricity to more than 17 million Nigerians,” the ministry noted.
The minister also held discussions with leading Japanese companies, including Toshiba, Hitachi, Japan’s transmission and distribution corporation, and energy exchange firms. Talks centered on improving transmission infrastructure, boosting efficiency, and cutting system losses.
According to the ministry, the initiative aligns with recent Federal Executive Council approval of counterpart funding of ₦19.08 billion to unlock a $238 million JICA loan for grid expansion. The funding will support projects such as 102.95km of new 330kV double circuit lines, 104.59km of 132kV double circuit lines, four 330/132/33kV substations, two 132/33kV substations, and multiple line bay extensions.
It added that three JICA-funded substations — built through a $32 million grant — are nearing commissioning in Apo (FCT), Keffi (Nasarawa), and Apapa (Lagos). These are expected to improve electricity reliability for households, industries, and businesses, including the Lagos Port.
Speaking on a panel themed “HICKARE Africa: Harnessing Innovation, Co-creation, and Knowledge for Accessible and Resilient Energy for Africa,” Adelabu highlighted Nigeria’s electricity challenges, noting that only 55–60 percent of citizens currently have access, much of it unreliable.
He outlined government plans to boost grid coverage in urban centers while expanding off-grid solutions like solar mini-grids and standalone systems in rural and peri-urban areas. He also acknowledged obstacles such as limited affordable financing, high upfront costs for rural consumers, and low adoption of productive-use equipment.
Despite these barriers, Adelabu reaffirmed government commitment to energy sector reforms through enabling policies, stronger private-sector participation, and local manufacturing of renewable components.
He commended JICA and the Japanese government for their “long-standing support” in Nigeria’s power sector, particularly in infrastructure, capacity-building, technical studies, and financing, expressing confidence in deeper partnerships to drive Nigeria’s energy transition.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a call for President Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Katsina and Zamfara states, citing a wave of violent attacks in the region that have claimed dozens of lives in recent weeks.
The party references specific incidents, including a massacre in Malumfashi, Katsina, where around 30 worshippers were killed in a mosque, and 20 villagers were burned in their homes.
In Zamfara, recent attacks reportedly killed 24 people, injured 16, and led to 144 kidnappings across multiple local government areas.
Additionally, major attacks in July 2025 included a raid in Zamfara’s Jengebe village, where over 100 farmers were reportedly abducted and nine killed. In another Zamfara community, Banga village, roughly 56 people were abducted, and 38 were killed despite ransom payments. A mosque attack in Katsina in August 2025 resulted in at least 50 deaths, prompting military and police deployment in the aftermath.
These recent high-casualty events and frequent kidnappings strongly suggest that the banditry threat is indeed escalating in both Zamfara and Katsina.
Why Is This Happening?
Several factors may be contributing to the intensification of banditry in Zamfara and Katsina. These include:
Proliferation of armed camps and criminal networks: Bandits maintain camps in forests and rural enclaves, often spanning Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and other neighbouring states, facilitating cross-border raids and kidnappings.
Resource competition and weak security presence: Many rural communities are under-protected, with long stretches of road and villages vulnerable to attacks and kidnappings.
Ransom-driven incentives: In cases such as Banga village, ransom demands are substantial, and even when paid, may not guarantee safe release, leading to mass executions as a demonstration of power or intimidation.
Statistics Since January 2025 to Date
While comprehensive official aggregations are limited, multiple reported incidents allow for a partial reconstruction of the scale and trend:
January 2025: 80 bandits neutralised in a joint security operation in Katsina, targeting multiple bandit camps, a blow to the operational capacity of bandit groups in Jibia and neighbouring local councils.
February 2025: In Katsina, a bandit attack in Kurya Madaro community resulted in five killed, several injured, and livestock rustled.
In Zamfara, an attack led to one death, one injury, and four abducted, with cattle theft also reported.
March 2025: A series of attacks across Zamfara — including in Talata-Mafara, Bukkuyum, Kaura-Namoda LGAs, resulted in multiple fatalities, displacement, Property destruction, and cattle rustling. Some security operatives and civilians were killed in clashes with bandits.
June 2025: Reports of seven villages razed near Gusau (Zamfara capital), and roads in Katsina shut down after bandit attacks, including abductions and shootings along major routes.
July 2025:
Jengebe village (Zamfara): Over 100 farmers abducted, nine killed during a weekend raid.
Banga village (Zamfara): 56 abducted, with 38 killed, despite ransom payment.
August 2025:
Unguwan Mantau, Katsina State: Bandit attack on a mosque and surrounding villages, with at least 50 killed.
Is the ADC Doing This for Politics?
The ADC’s call for a state of emergency, and its harsh criticism of the federal government and other political actors, has drawn responses and accusations of politicising insecurity. ADC has accused both the ruling APC and PDP of prioritising power and politics over citizen welfare, and has lambasted a PDP governors’ meeting held in Zamfara shortly after attacks, deeming it insensitive and politically opportunistic.
In response, the PDP Governors’ Forum has defended its meeting, stating that it was scheduled, and accused the ADC of exploiting human tragedy for political capital, labeling their criticism as irresponsible. They contend that security reform and deliberation were among the deliberation topics, and that empathy for victims should be demonstrated by visits to affected areas rather than public statements.
The escalating violence in Katsina and Zamfara underscores the urgent need for decisive action to restore security and protect vulnerable communities. The ADC’s call for a state of emergency has drawn mixed reactions, but the recurring massacres, kidnappings, and destruction highlight a crisis that extends beyond partisan interests.
Calls for emergency measures, enhanced security operations, and community-centered strategies reflect the mounting pressure on both federal and state governments to demonstrate effective leadership.
Finally, the lives and safety of citizens must remain the priority.
The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has uncovered and shut down 22 unapproved Colleges of Education operating across the country.
According to details contained in the commission’s recent report of achievements, the closure followed a nationwide crackdown on illegal tertiary institutions.
“The NCCE identified and shut down 22 illegal Colleges of Education operating across the country. The NCCE also carried out personnel audits and financial monitoring in all 21 federal Colleges of Education,” the statement noted.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier directed regulatory agencies, including the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and the NCCE, to eliminate all unlicensed higher institutions from Nigeria’s education system.
Speaking during the 14th convocation of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja, Tinubu — represented by Rakiya Ilyasu, Director of University Education at the Federal Ministry of Education — condemned what he described as “certificate millers” damaging the credibility of the education sector.
He stressed that his administration is committed to strengthening coordination among key agencies in education management to ensure efficiency and quality.
“The NYSC, JAMB, NUC, NBTE, and NCCE are working together to raise standards and make sure that unrecognised institutions and cases of forgery, whether at home or abroad, have no place in our education system,” the President added.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recently introduced a major regulatory shift aimed at strengthening ethics and governance in the telecom sector, a five-year “cooling-off” period that prevents its top officials from taking positions in telecom companies immediately after leaving office.
This move comes against the backdrop of previous cases where senior regulators seamlessly transitioned into roles within the same industry they once oversaw, raising concerns about conflicts of interest. By enforcing this gap for the chairman, executive vice-chairman, and board commissioners, the NCC hopes to enhance transparency, accountability, and public trust.
According to the Commission, companies with strong governance frameworks tend to deliver better services, maintain healthier finances, and comply more effectively with regulations. The big question now is what this policy means for Nigeria’s telecom industry in the long run.
The Japanese government has designated the city of Kisarazu as a settlement hub for Nigerians who wish to live and work in the country, unveiling a special visa scheme aimed at attracting highly skilled and innovative talents from Africa’s largest economy.
The initiative, which was announced on the sidelines of the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), is designed to boost cultural diplomacy, expand Japan’s workforce, and stimulate regional revitalisation.
In a statement signed by the Director of Information, State House,Abiodun Oladunjoye, the programme will enable more Nigerians to live and work in Japan,as a new visa category will be created for young Nigerians with exceptional skills, while artisans and blue-collar workers willing to upgrade their expertise will also benefit under the initiative.
At a ceremony led by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, more designations created for the programme include Nagai in Yamagata Prefecture as Tanzania’s hometown, Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture as Ghana’s, and Imabari in Ehime Prefecture as Mozambique’s.
“Through the arrangement, Japan looks to strengthen exchanges with the four African countries by officially connecting municipalities with existing relations with those nations.”
Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires and Acting Ambassador to Japan, Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, alongside Kisarazu Mayor Yoshikuni Watanabe, received the official certificate naming Kisarazu as the hometown of Nigerians.
“The four cities will foster a foundation for two-way exchanges for manpower development that will add value to the economic growth of Japan, Nigeria, and the other three African nations. Local authorities hope that the designations will increase the population of their cities, contributing to their regional revitalisation efforts. Kisarazu was the official host town of the Nigerian contingent for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The team conducted their pre-games training camps and acclimatisation in the city before moving to the Olympic village, in the COVID-19 delayed Olympic Games,” the statement added.
In his opening address at TICAD9, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced $5.5 billion in new investment for Africa, stressing collaboration, mutual understanding, and grassroots solutions.
“Japan is providing various cooperation and support for Africa. But first of all, Japan needs to know more about Africa. So, in creating solutions together, this co-creation at the TICAD 9, we focus on three important areas: private sector-led sustainable growth, Youth and Women, and Regional integration and connectivity within and beyond Africa,” Ishiba said.
He acknowledged Japan’s ageing population and shrinking agricultural land, and appealed to African nations for support as Japan tackles its demographic challenges.
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