The Kano State Censorship Board has announced a ban on vulgar content displayed on tricycles, popularly known as Adaidaita Sahu, in a renewed effort to safeguard public morality and enforce state regulations.
A statement issued on Saturday by the Board’s spokesperson, Abdullahi Sani Sulaiman, said the decision followed widespread complaints from residents over indecent pictures, offensive messages, and nonsensical phrases plastered on tricycles plying various routes across the city.
Executive Secretary of the Board, Abba El-Mustapha, who led an awareness campaign on Maiduguri Road, Zaria Road, and Sani Marshall Road, emphasised the importance of preserving Kano’s cultural and moral heritage.
“El-Mustapha warned that anyone found violating the directive, irrespective of their status, will face serious consequences,” the statement said.
He further explained that the law mandates all literary and artistic materials to be screened and approved by the Board before public display or distribution.
“This is about protecting the values we hold dear in Kano. No tricycle should be used as a platform to corrupt minds with vulgar or meaningless content,” El-Mustapha added.
As part of the sensitisation drive, tricycle operators and the general public were educated on the importance of compliance with the new directive.
The Board recalled a similar campaign in February, during which over 20 tricycles were apprehended for displaying offensive content. Their owners were later released after pledging to adhere to the rules.
The Board reiterated its commitment to promoting decency and warned that enforcement would be sustained across the state.
The number of corpses recovered so far from the flood that ravaged Niger State communities in Mokwa Local Government Area has risen to 151 with 3,018 persons displaced.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency, made this known on Saturday morning in a terse statement in which it said three communities were affected and two bridges washed away.
Director General of the agency, Abdullahi Baba-Arah, revealed that 503 households were affected while 265 homes were washed away. Two roads were also washed away, while 11 people were injured in the flooding disaster.
“The latest update from the Mokwa communities flood shows that 151 corpses have so far been recovered, while 11 persons were injured.
“Also, 3,018 persons have been displaced, while 503 households were affected, and 265 homes washed away. Three communities in Mokwa LG were also affected, while two roads and two bridges were affected by the flood,” Baba-Arah said.
NSEMA had stated on Thursday that a deadly flood disaster ravaged two communities of Tiffin maza and Anguwan hausawa in Mokwa town of Mokwa LG in Niger State.
Açording to the agency, the incident occurred on Wednesday night during a downpour that lasted hours.
It said the surging flood water submerged and washed away over 50 residential houses with their occupants.
The Olu of Epe Kingdom, Oba Shefiu Olatunji Adewale, has passed away.
The 86-year-old monarch reportedly died in the early hours of Saturday, 31st May 2025.
The 19th ruler of Epe will be laid to rest today in accordance with Islamic rites.
Confirming the death to PUNCH Online on Saturday, High Chief Odedeogboro Balogun of Epe Kingdom, Musiliu Adeniyi said the king’s passing was true and he will be buried today.
“The news is true. It was this morning.
“He will be buried 4’O clock today,” Adeniyi said
Prior to his ascension to the throne, Oba Adewale served as Otun-Balogun, the third-highest chieftaincy title in the land, before being promoted to Balogun and subsequently crowned king.
A retired Director of Administration in the Ministry of Education, he also once served as Executive Secretary at the Ministry of Lands.
There was a dramatic scene at the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, Kogi State, on Friday as a man identified as Adamu Muhammed Tenimu, reportedly fainted after receiving the news that his wife had delivered a set of triplets.
The incident occurred shortly after the delivery.
Eyewitnesses said the man, upon hearing that his wife had given birth to three babies, all girls, was overwhelmed by emotion and slumped.
Hospital officials and sympathisers quickly came to his aid and successfully revived him.
The new mother and her triplets were said to be in stable condition.
Speaking to journalists shortly after regaining consciousness, Muhammed, a job seeker, expressed a mixture of joy and sadness, citing his inability to meet the financial responsibilities that now accompany the birth.
“I thank God for this miracle, but I am confused and sad. I didn’t know we were expecting triplets. Right now, we don’t even have the means and financial capacity to pay the hospital bills, let alone care for three babies at once,” he said, while shedding tears profusely.
According to him, the family had only struggled to prepare for one baby as the pregnancy had not been regularly scanned due to financial constraints.
“This blessing is huge, but so is the burden. I don’t even have money to buy diapers or baby food. I don’t know where to start,” he lamented.
Onlookers who confirmed the situation told our correspondent that while the birth was successful, the family was in urgent need of medical supplies, nutrition, and financial aid to support the care of the newborns.
“The babies are healthy, but this family needs help. We are calling on the government, NGOs, religious groups, and well-meaning Nigerians to support them,” a family member said.
Friends and well-wishers of the family have also begun a mobilisation drive, calling on citizens to assist in whatever capacity they can.
“We urge the Kogi State Government and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to intervene.
“The father is a law-abiding, hardworking man, and this situation deserves attention,” said Mr. Nuhu Alhassan, a colleague.
Calls have also gone out to philanthropic organisations and individuals to donate baby essentials, food supplies, and funds for hospital expenses.
“The joy of childbirth should not be overshadowed by fear of survival. We must stand together as a people and support this family,” Sikiru Olamide added.
The triplets, born weighing 1.8kg, 2.0kg, and 2.3kg, respectively, have been placed under observation at the hospital’s neonatal unit and are responding well.
The Oyo State Government said it pays more than ₦1 billion every month on pensioners’ gratuities.
The Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, revealed this in a statement on Friday.
Oyelade also said that pensioners in the state earn more than in any other state in the federation, saying the state governor, Seyi Makinde, has been paying pension and gratuity without default since 2019.
“Pensioners in Oyo State are the envy of their colleagues in all other states of the federation, not only because they get equal welfare attention as active civil servants do from the Governor, but also because their pension and wages rise commensurately with those of active government workers,” Oyelade said.
The Commissioner said that Makinde has factored into their pension the 33 per cent increment that was supposed to have been implemented since 2010, adding that he has also added the 2019 consequential adjustment which excluded pensioners at the time.
“As of today, no pensioner in Oyo State earns less than ₦25,000.
“Some of them were earning as little as ₦1,000 or less during the past administrations.
“What is more, their salaries are not delayed for months as was the tradition before 2019; indeed, they are paid on the same day with over 130,000 government workers,” the Commissioner said.
Oyelade recalled that in September last year, the Federal Bureau of Statistics, NBC, a Federal Government agency, categorised Oyo State as the most worker-friendly state.
“As we speak, Governor Makinde has committed up to ₦1 billion monthly to offset the backlog of gratuities and has reduced the deficit of previous administrations from 2008 to 2016.
“The Governor earmarked ₦500 million on a monthly basis to settle the gratuities owed by the previous administration and another ₦500 million for the gratuity of those who retired during his own administration, starting from 2019.
“As a matter of fact, Governor Makinde’s era brought a total end to the payment of 30 per cent pension which pensioners have had to endure under the previous administration,” Oyelade added.
The commissioner added that all things being equal, the Governor will clear the backlog of gratuity of previous administrations, which he said, ran into over ₦200 billion before the end of his tenure.
Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, has announced the burial arrangements for his late parents, Chief Nwabali Godspower Onyekamu and Mrs. Grace Nwabali (née Mmai), describing the moment as one of unimaginable grief.
In a message shared alongside the burial poster on his Instagram on Friday, Nwabali expressed the depth of his pain.
“About time to put my dad and mom to rest. Something I never imagined doing so soon at this point of my life. Difficult to believe I will never set my eyes on you again.
“It’s a different kind of pain I never wish for my enemy. Thank you for everything,” he wrote.
According to the family announcement, the funeral activities will span three days, starting from Thursday, June 5, 2025, with a Service of Songs at 5pm at the late Chief’s residence on Osafu Lane, Okwuzi Egbema, Rivers State.
On Friday, June 6, the body of Late Mrs. Grace Nwabali will leave Gbegbe Hospital Mortuary, Omoku, to her father’s compound and then to her husband’s residence, where she will lie in state from 11am.
The final burial rites will be held on Saturday, June 7.
At 9am, the remains of Chief Nwabali Godpower will depart Gbegbe Hospital Mortuary to his maternal home, before being received by the Okwuzi Council of Chiefs at 10am.
By 11am, the body will lie in state at his residence, followed by internment and other funeral activities at 12 noon.
Reception and entertainment of guests will follow at CPS Okwuzi Egbema.
Nwabali passed away at the age of 72, while Mrs. Grace Nwabali was 63.
The family expressed gratitude to all well-wishers and invited friends and loved ones to honour their parents’ memory on June 6 and 7.
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum has commiserated with the Niger State Government on the flood, which has claimed many lives in the Mokwa Local Government Area of the state.
In a statement signed by the NGF chairman, AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq, on Friday, the forum said that it was shocked by the magnitude of the flood, which has claimed many lives and property in the community.
However, it commiserated with Governor Usman Bago, the government, and the people of the state for the loss of lives and property.
It would be recalled that no fewer than 21 people had died and property worth millions of Naira had been damaged by the flood which ravaged Mokwa in the state.
AbdulRazaq, who is the governor of Kwara State, wrote, “The Nigeria Governors’ Forum stands in solidarity with the government and people of Niger State on the devastating flood that has wreaked huge havoc in Mokwa town of the state.
“We are shocked by the magnitude of the flooding, which has resulted in the loss of lives and properties in the community.
“We sincerely commiserate with the affected families and express our support to the state government at this difficult time.
“We also commend the interventions of the Niger State Government and its coordination with the emergency responders to support the victims of this disaster.
“This flood again reminds us of the stark realities of climate change and the accompanying effects on how we live. We commit ourselves as leaders of our people to continue to work with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to not only help our people cope with this global challenge but also to strengthen mitigative actions and relief institutions.
“We pray God to console families who have lost loved ones and properties in the Mokwa incident, and we urge citizens to support the government’s efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change and to cooperate with agencies working to assist those in urgent need at this time.”
The All Progressives Congress has commended President Bola Tinubu for his bold and transformative economic reforms, declaring that they have significantly stabilised Nigeria’s macroeconomic fundamentals and repositioned the country for sustainable growth.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the ruling party said Tinubu’s decisive actions, particularly in the areas of fuel subsidy removal, foreign exchange unification, and debt restructuring, have helped address long-standing distortions that plagued the nation’s economy for decades.
According to Morka, the Tinubu administration’s far-reaching reforms have not only restored investor confidence but also attracted over $50 billion in foreign direct investments, achieved consecutive trade surpluses since 2023, and reduced the debt servicing ratio from 98 percent to 68 percent.
“These reforms were inevitable and crucial to stabilising and positioning the economy for steady and sustainable growth,” Morka said.
He noted that the removal of fuel subsidies and harmonisation of exchange rates were landmark decisions that previous administrations failed to implement, often preferring to “kick the can down the road.”
Morka stated that under Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria has recorded a GDP growth of 3.38 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024, a development lauded by both the International Monetary Fund and the African Development Bank as a clear indicator of a rebounding economy.
The party spokesperson also highlighted other notable achievements of the administration, including the clearance of the Central Bank’s backlog of foreign exchange obligations, overhauling the tax system, granting financial autonomy to local governments, and improving oil production which now stands above 1.8 million barrels per day.
“In the face of daunting generational challenges, this President demonstrated political will never before recorded in our contemporary political history.
“Like a confident surgeon, he has enacted and continues to enact policy reforms skillfully designed to give our country not just a chance of urgent resuscitation but a real shot at rejuvenating wellness”, Morka noted.
While acknowledging the temporary hardships imposed by the reforms, the APC maintained that the policies were designed with the long-term wellbeing of Nigerians in mind.
It urged citizens to remain patient and supportive as the administration continues to unfold the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The statement comes as President Tinubu marks the midpoint of his first four-year tenure, with the APC expressing confidence in the administration’s commitment to delivering even greater benefits to Nigerians in the years ahead.
Abia Government has said that it will offset the hospital bills of the Aba Billboard accident victims.
Mrs Victoria Onwubiko, Managing Director, Abia State Signage and Advertising Agency, made this known on Thursday in Aba at the Salad Market entrance, the site of the accident.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that a big billboard fell on some passengers in five tricycles in Aba on Wednesday, following a boisterous wind, killing one person, and injuring seven others.
Onwubiko said the governor had given the necessary approval for procedures regarding the victims’ treatment without hindrances.
“So, we are glad there are not going to be any more deaths; from what we have seen, the victims in the hospital are recovering and doing well. We understand that about eight persons were involved in the accident; five are at the Abia University Teaching Hospital, two have been discharged and one is died,” she said.
Onwubiko added that the governor had sent his Chief of Staff for the proper management of the victims at ABSUTH, Aba.
According to her, there is no hoping that any one of them will go to the court as the state government is doing everything to take care of them.
She said ABSAA would ensure such accidents did not reoccur noting that henceforth the agency would inspect every advertising site in the state.
“We are going to ask the owners of sites like this to give us the technical drawings with which they built their sites. If we don’t see them, the bill board will come down for them to redo it to ensure safety,” she said.
The ABSAA MD pointed out that every site, whether high or low, which is not sound, will go down.
Mr Chinedu Nwibo, an eye-witness and a vulcaniser for tricycle operators, said there were seven persons at the entrance of the Salad Market on that Wednesday when the accident occurred.
“We were inside a little makeshift shop I had set up for my work when the rain started on Wednesday. The wind was very boisterous and some of the tricycle operators went into their tricycles to stay for the rain to stop. No sooner had they ran into their tricycles than a big iron pipe used to hoist a billboard fell on them. One Destiny Uguru, 27, from Izzi in Ebonyi state died from the accident while seven persons sustained injuries,” he said.
Nwibo called on the government to come to the aid of the victims especially by replacing their tricycles.
“The man that lost his life has an expectant wife and two children,” he said.
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, has congratulated President Bola Tinubu on the occasion of his second year in office.
In a congratulatory message on Thursday, Ododo lauded Tinubu for demonstrating visionary leadership and for inspiring resilience among Nigerians through bold and transformative policies.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Ismail Ishaq, on Thursday.
Ododo said, “Today marks two years of visionary leadership under our leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Your Renewed Hope Agenda has brought bold reforms, national recalibration, and a new sense of purpose across critical sectors of our economy and governance.”
He described the President’s second year as a season of harvest, emphasising that Nigeria is beginning to experience tangible benefits of the far-reaching economic reforms initiated during the first year of the administration.
“Key policy decisions such as the removal of the fuel subsidy, unification of the foreign exchange system, and reforms in the tax and financial sectors were credited for stabilising the economy and restoring investor confidence in Nigeria.
“President Tinubu’s second year in office has been about deepening reforms, managing the effects of bold policy initiatives, and translating difficult decisions into real economic gains.
“We are beginning to see signs of macroeconomic stability, increased non-oil revenue, and renewed private sector interest in key sectors such as gas, agriculture, transportation and technology,” he added.
Ododo also pointed to the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, and the administration’s push for food security and revitalisation of manufacturing as clear evidence of a strategic, long-term transformation agenda.
“We in Kogi State align fully with this national direction, building infrastructure, expanding access to healthcare and education, and creating opportunities for our people.
“The spirit of Renewed Hope is alive in our communities and in the hearts of our citizens,” Ododo said.
He reaffirmed Kogi State’s commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s agenda by tailoring state policies to attract investment, empower youth and extend the impact of national reforms to the grassroots.
In further support of the clean energy transition, the governor noted that Kogi was actively participating in the CNG revolution by training youths in conversion technology, a move he noted promotes cleaner alternatives, reduces dependency on fossil fuel, and generates sustainable jobs.
He also announced the planned launch of intra-city bus services in the state capital to ease urban transportation as part of the dividends of the renewed hope agenda.
“On behalf of the government and the good people of Kogi State, I congratulate Mr. President and all Nigerians on this important milestone. Together, we will continue to build a stronger, safer, and more prosperous nation.
“As the president marks this second anniversary in office, we celebrate your resilience, foresight, and unwavering commitment to building a Nigeria that works for all. The journey may be challenging, but your courage and dedication continue to inspire hope and confidence across the nation,” he restated.
