INTERNATIONAL NEWS SYNDICATE

BY: NEWS DESK    Seventeen   family   members   linked   to   Jama’atu   Ahlis   Sunna   Lidda’awati   wal Jihad   have   voluntarily   surrendered   to   troops   of   Operation   HADIN   KAI   in   separate   incidents   in   Borno   State,   the   military   said   on   Wednesday.   The   Acting   Military   Information   Officer   of   Operation   HADIN   KAI,   Capt.   Mohammed   Goni,   disclosed   this   in   a   statement,   saying   the   surrendered   individuals   are   in   military   custody   undergoing   preliminary   profiling   and   debriefing   before   being   handed   over   to   the   appropriate   author...

By Adamu Aliyu Ngulde Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has appointed four Special Advisers and a Senior Technical Assistant as part of efforts to strengthen governance and accelerate post-insurgency recovery across the state. The newly appointed Special Advisers are Engr. Ali Goni Lawan, Hon. Ali Sheriff Galgal, Hon. Bukar Aliyu Daja, and Hon. Makinta M. Zarami. Governor Zulum also appointed Engr. Gujja Bukar Dalori as Senior Technical Assistant on Reconstruction. The appointments were announced in a statement issued by the Governor's Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya, who said they were made under Section 196(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended. According to the statement, the appointments are intended to strengthen the administration's capacity to deliver effective governance, drive reconstruction, and promote sustainable development following nearly two decades of insurgency in Borno State. Governor Zulum c...

BY: EDITOR The Borno State Government has suspended a road construction contract awarded to Qumecs Nigeria Limited, citing poor performance and significant delays despite substantial payments made to the contractor. The decision followed an inspection of the Industrial Hub Road project along the Maiduguri–Kano/Jos Road by the State Commissioner for Works and Housing, Adam Bukar Bababe, who expressed dissatisfaction with the pace and quality of the work. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Works and Housing, the project was awarded with a completion period of six months, but after 10 months only about 35% of the work has been completed. The ministry said government records show that nearly 70% of the contract value had already been paid to the contractor to accelerate the project, describing the progress as unacceptable and a breach of the contractual agreement. Officials also identified deficiencies in several key aspects of the project, including the dr...

By Adamu Aliyu Ngulde  Nigerian authorities and peacebuilding experts have launched a five-day training programme aimed at reducing violent conflicts between farmers and herders in Borno State, as communities prepare for the peak of the farming season. The workshop, organised by the Borno State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), brings together farmers, pastoralists, traditional rulers, community leaders, security stakeholders and government officials to strengthen dialogue, promote peaceful coexistence and improve mechanisms for resolving disputes over land and grazing resources. Recurring clashes between farming and pastoral communities have disrupted livelihoods, displaced families and undermined agricultural production in several parts of Nigeria. Organisers said the training is intended to address the underlying causes of such conflicts by encouraging communication, mediation and collaborative resource management. Speaking at the ope...

By Adamu Aliyu Ngulde, Maiduguri  The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Borno State Chapter, has congratulated El-Kanemi Warriors Football Club following the team's victory in the 2026 President Federation Cup, describing the achievement as a testament to resilience, discipline and consistent performance. In a statement issued on Saturday, SWAN Chairman Ibrahim Tukur praised the Maiduguri-based club after it defeated Ikorodu City 1-0 in the final to secure its fourth title in Nigeria's oldest domestic football competition. The winning goal came in the 19th minute when Muktar Ismail converted a penalty, handing El-Kanemi Warriors another historic success and adding to the club's previous Federation Cup triumphs in 1991, 1992 and 2024. "The hard-fought victory demonstrates the team's resilience, commitment, technical brilliance and remarkable consistency," the association said. SWAN described the latest success as the reward for month...

Colleagues remember the veteran reporter as a dedicated journalist whose commitment to telling the stories of northeastern Nigeria earned him respect across the media community By Adamu Aliyu Ngulde, Maiduguri  The journalism community in Nigeria's northeastern Borno State is mourning the death of veteran reporter Ahmed Mari Miringa, whose years of dedicated reporting chronicled the challenges and resilience of communities affected by conflict and humanitarian crises. Miringa, a correspondent with Champions Newspapers , died on Tuesday after a prolonged illness, according to colleagues and family members. His passing has drawn tributes from journalists, media professionals and friends who described him as a committed reporter and respected colleague. For many who worked alongside him, Miringa was more than a journalist. He was remembered as a calm, humble and passionate professional who remained devoted to public-interest journalism despite the difficult condi...

By Adamu Aliyu Ngulde, Maiduguri  MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — In a bid to strengthen livelihoods and improve food security in northeastern Nigeria, the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), in partnership with the Borno State Government, has trained 100 livestock farmers in modern farming practices, business development, and financial management. The participants, drawn from Borno State's three senatorial districts, attended a capacity-building workshop designed to help livestock entrepreneurs improve productivity, expand their businesses, and build resilience against economic and environmental challenges. Livestock farming remains a critical source of income for thousands of households in Borno, a state recovering from years of conflict that disrupted agricultural activities and weakened rural economies. However, many farmers continue to face obstacles including limited access to finance, inadequate business management skills, poor mar...

كيف يمكن لأنظمة التذاكر والمدفوعات الرقمية أن تحوّل إصلاحات النقل إلى خدمة يومية أكثر كفاءة وموثوقية للمواطنين؟ يُعدّ النقل العمومي أحد الأعمدة الأساسية للحياة اليومية في الجزائر، حيث يعتمد عليه ملايين المواطنين للتنقل بين أماكن العمل والدراسة والخدمات المختلفة. ففي العاصمة الجزائر، تشغّل مؤسسة النقل الحضري وشبه الحضري (ETUSA) ما يقارب ألف حافلة عبر نحو 150 خطاً، بينما ينقل كل من الترامواي والمترو مئات الآلاف من الركاب يومياً. ورغم هذا الحجم الكبير من النشاط، لا تزال غالبية عمليات الدفع داخل منظومة النقل تعتمد على النقد التقليدي. ولا يقتصر أثر الاعتماد على النقد على تعقيد تجربة الركاب فحسب، بل يمتد ليشمل المشغلين والجهات التنظيمية. فالسائقون والمراقبون يتعاملون يومياً مع العملات الورقية والمعدنية، فيما لا تزال التذاكر الورقية منتشرة على نطاق واسع، الأمر الذي يحدّ من قدرة السلطات على الحصول على بيانات دقيقة حول حجم الطلب وأنماط التنقل. وقد ترسّخ الاعتماد على النقد عبر عقود طويلة من تشغيل خدمات النقل وفق نموذج مختلط يجمع بين القطاعين العام والخاص. ورغم أن هذا النموذج ساه...

ALGER, Algérie – Chaque jour, des centaines de milliers d’Algériens empruntent les transports publics pour se rendre au travail, à l’école ou à leurs activités quotidiennes. Dans la capitale, Alger, près de 1 000 bus desservent environ 150 lignes, tandis que le métro et le tramway assurent le déplacement d’un nombre considérable de voyageurs. Malgré cette importance stratégique dans la vie économique et sociale du pays, le système de transport reste largement dépendant des paiements en espèces, limitant ainsi son efficacité et sa modernisation. Pendant des décennies, l’utilisation du cash a constitué la norme dans les transports algériens. Les chauffeurs manipulent encore quotidiennement des billets et des pièces, tandis que les tickets papier demeurent omniprésents. Cette réalité complique non seulement la gestion des recettes, mais prive également les opérateurs de données précieuses sur les habitudes de déplacement des usagers. Dans un contexte où les autorités cherch...

Comment la billetterie et les paiements numériques peuvent transformer la réforme en fiabilité quotidienne pour les passagers algériens Par Tokhir Abdukadyrov, Senior Vice President, Head of Digital Social and Infrastructure Solutions, O-CITY Les transports publics occupent une place immense dans la vie quotidienne en Algérie. À Alger, l’ETUSA exploite près de 1 000 bus sur environ 150 lignes, tandis que le tramway et le métro transportent ensemble des centaines de milliers de passagers chaque jour, selon le rapport UITP MENA Transport Report 2025. Les gens dépendent de ces systèmes, pourtant les tarifs sont encore largement payés en espèces. Les chauffeurs et contrôleurs manipulent des pièces et des billets en papier, les tickets papier restent courants et les opérateurs ont rarement une vision complète de la demande. La dépendance au cash est profondément enracinée. Les services de bus ont longtemps fonctionné sur un modèle mixte, avec des opérateurs privés comblant l...

How digital ticketing and payments can turn reform into everyday reliability for Algerian passengers Public transport plays a huge role in daily life in Algeria. In Algiers, ETUSA operates nearly 1,000 buses across around 150 routes, while the tramway and metro together carry hundreds of thousands of passengers every day, according to the UITP MENA Transport Report 2025. People depend on these systems, yet fares are still largely paid in cash. Drivers and ticket inspectors handle coins and paper notes, paper tickets remain common, and operators rarely have a complete picture of passenger demand. The reliance on cash is deeply rooted. Bus services have long operated under a mixed model, with private operators filling gaps that the public network could not always cover. While this expanded access, it also left authorities managing a vast number of vehicles and operators with varying levels of maintenance and compliance, while responsibilities were spread across multiple insti...

By Adamu Aliyu Ngulde, Maiduguri A cholera outbreak in northeastern Borno State has killed 39 people and infected at least 4,204 others, health officials said Tuesday, as authorities intensified efforts to contain the disease. Officials recorded 274 new suspected cases in the past 24 hours across 36 wards in affected local government areas, according to Dr. Jacob Thlizer, Incident Manager of the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre. Speaking at a stakeholders' meeting in Maiduguri, Thlizer said the outbreak has spread across several communities, with the highest number of cases reported in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Jere local government areas. "New suspected cases in the last 24 hours are 274, while the total suspected cases recorded have reached 4,204," Thlizer said. He added that the outbreak has so far resulted in 39 deaths. Health authorities reported 2,404 cases in MMC and 1,214 in Jere, while additional infections were recorded i...

By Adamu Aliyu Ngulde, Maiduguri Teachers under the umbrella of the Nigerian Union of Teachers in Borno State have staged a protest over the abduction of 42 pupils from Mussa Central Primary School in Askira/Uba, calling for immediate government action to secure their release and improve school safety. The demonstration, led by the union’s Secretary Bako Monguno and National Publicity Secretary Yusuf Tom, took place amid growing concern over repeated attacks on schools in the region. Speaking during the protest, Tom said the union was compelled to act because of what it described as escalating threats to education. “Education is a basic right. We are calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the abducted pupils and stronger protection for schools,” he said. He urged authorities to intensify rescue efforts, adding that “children deserve to learn in safety and without fear.” Education stakeholders across the state have also continued...

By Kabiru Danladi Lawanti  The closest I came to knowing Jamilu Isiyaku Gwamna was sometime in 2020 or 2021, when my friend, Alhaji Dahiru Hassan Kera invited me to Kaduna to facilitate a training for social media influencers from Gombe. The initiative, I believe, was part of the early preparations for his 2023 governorship ambition. As it turned out, the odds were not in his favour then. Gwamna, however, is no stranger to politics. He is a seasoned administrator who has long nursed the ambition of becoming governor, perhaps since 2003. Whether this is his moment is something only time will tell. If personal familiarity were the deciding factor, my choice would have been Usman Bello Kumo, the only aspirant I know closely, and who knows me as well. But our history is not without its tensions. In 2006, as a young graduate and journalist, I wrote a critical piece on his tenure as Chairman of Akko Local Government. It did not go down well with him or with the governor at th...

BY ADAMU ALIYU NGULDE, ISSA BOUBACAR, SENEGAL   Un groupe de plaidoyer politique dans l’État de Borno, connu sous le nom de Ƴan Dangwale, a apporté son soutien au Dr Mohammed Tumala en tant que candidat privilégié pour l’investiture au poste de gouverneur du Congrès Démocratique Africain (ADC) en vue des élections générales de 2027. Cette initiative marque une tentative précoce d’influencer l’orientation du parti dans un État où les alliances politiques commencent à se dessiner. Ce soutien reflète une intensification des activités politiques à l’approche de 2027, alors que groupes et parties prenantes commencent à se positionner au sein des structures partisanes. Des observateurs estiment que de telles déclarations anticipées pourraient influencer les dynamiques internes du parti ainsi que le processus de sélection. Les membres de Ƴan Dangwale ont décrit le Dr Tumala comme un administrateur chevronné, doté de l’expérience et de la vision nécessai...

BY ADAMU ALIYU NGULDE, ISSA BOUBACAR SENEGAL  A political advocacy group in Borno State, known as Ƴan Dangwale, has endorsed Dr. Mohammed Tumala as its preferred candidate for the governorship ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general elections. The move signals an early effort to influence the party’s direction in a state where political alignments are beginning to take shape. The endorsement reflects growing political activity in the lead-up to 2027, as groups and stakeholders begin to position themselves within party structures. Observers say such early declarations could shape internal party dynamics and influence the selection process. Members of Ƴan Dangwale described Dr. Tumala as a seasoned administrator with the experience and vision needed to address pressing challenges, including security concerns, economic recovery, and infrastructure development. They argued that his leadership qualities distinguish him among pote...

Borno, Nigeria-The Borno State Government has begun a large-scale livestock vaccination campaign aimed at preventing the spread of transboundary animal diseases, a persistent threat in Nigeria’s northeast where porous borders and regional trade routes heighten the risk of infection. The exercise, launched at the Maiduguri Main Cattle Market, is being implemented through the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development in partnership with the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project, known as L–PRES. The initiative forms part of a nationwide distribution of vaccines designed to protect herds and strengthen livestock productivity across vulnerable regions. Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the State Project Coordinator of L–PRES, Dr. Makinta Alhaji Ali, described Borno as a strategic gateway linking Nigeria with three neighboring countries. He said the state’s geographic position makes disease surveillance and vaccination critical to preventing cr...

‎ ‎Police in Nigeria’s northeastern city of Maiduguri said on Monday that they had recovered and safely defused an unexploded ordnance discovered beneath a telecommunications mast, averting what authorities described as a potentially devastating blast in a densely populated neighborhood. ‎ ‎The device was found in the Federal Low Cost area of the city after residents reported a suspicious object at about 11:06 a.m., according to a statement issued by the Borno State Police Command. Officers immediately deployed an Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) unit, which secured the area and rendered the device safe. ‎ ‎In the statement, released on December 15 by the police spokesman, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Naziru Abdulmajid, authorities said preliminary examinations showed that the device had protruding wires and was “strategically placed to cause severe damage.” ‎ ‎Police said it...