Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, who is also President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, has declared that anyone who kills innocent people while shouting “Allahu Akbar” is destined for hell, stressing that no religion supports violence against humanity. Speaking during the 2026 First Triennial Meeting of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council, held in Abuja on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, the Sultan rejected the notion that religion could be used to justify bloodshed in the pursuit of divine reward. The Sultan said those who commit violent acts in the name of Islam are acting contrary to the teachings of the…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
An international peacebuilding organisation, Search for Common Ground, has intensified efforts to tackle the root causes of conflict and violent extremism in Nigeria’s Northwest through a youth-focused initiative, The Hustle (Buge-Buge) reality TV project. The project coordinator for Sokoto state, Lantana Oderinde stated this at media coordination meeting with a select journalists in Sokoto on Friday. She explained that the initiative, which is funded by the European Union (EU), will be implemented across Sokoto, Katsina and Zamfara states, and designed to strengthen peace, social cohesion, entrepreneurship and youth empowerment in communities affected by insecurity and social divisions. “The persistent conflict…
Tony Hansberry II was only 14 when he came up with a surgical technique that would draw attention far beyond his Florida school and internship program. During a summer placement at the University of Florida’s Center for Simulation Education and Safety Research in Jacksonville, he developed a new way to close the vaginal cuff after a hysterectomy, later called the “Hansberry Stitch”. His idea came from rethinking how an Endo Stitch laparoscopic suturing device could be used. Instead of the traditional horizontal stitching pattern, Hansberry tested a vertical suturing method that he believed could make the procedure safer and more…
Thousands of children in Sokoto State whose education has been disrupted by conflict and displacement are set to benefit from a new partnership between the European Union’s humanitarian arm and UNICEF, aimed at restoring access to safe and inclusive learning. The European Union, through its humanitarian aid department (ECHO), has committed €1 million to support over 20,000 children aged 5 to 17 in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and host communities across the state. The initiative seeks to expand access to quality education and life skills while strengthening the resilience of the education system against future shocks. It will provide…
Nigeria’s aquaculture sector is facing mounting pressure as an eight-year export ban by the United States continues to stifle growth, restrict market access, and deter investment in the fish farming industry. The restriction, imposed in March 2018, followed Nigeria’s failure to submit required safety documentation—specifically the Self-Reporting Tool (SRT)—to U.S. authorities. Since then, exports of smoked catfish and other fish products to the U.S. have remained suspended, cutting off one of the most lucrative international markets for local producers. Industry stakeholders say the prolonged ban has significantly shrunk export opportunities, weakened investor confidence, and slowed expansion across the aquaculture value…
Nigeria’s state oil firm, NNPC Limited, has recorded a major milestone in its gas infrastructure drive with the successful completion of the River Niger crossing on the 130-kilometre Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) Gas Pipeline. The project, executed by the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company, marks a critical breakthrough in the expansion of Nigeria’s national gas transmission network, effectively unlocking the full capacity of the OB3 pipeline to transport up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day. The technically complex crossing—drilled approximately two kilometres beneath the River Niger riverbed—was delivered using advanced horizontal directional drilling (HDD) technology by the NNPC project…
A Professor of Machine and Process Design and Applied Ergonomics at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Sesan Peter Ayodeji, has called for a decisive shift toward human-centred and process-driven innovation in Nigeria’s engineering sector, warning that technology alone cannot deliver sustainable development. Ayodeji made the call on Tuesday while delivering the institution’s 197th inaugural lecture titled “Human Factor, Manufacturing, and Technology: The Triple Helix Driving Our Journey into the Future.” He argued that effective engineering systems must integrate human factors, operational processes, and technology, stressing that innovation should be evaluated based on usability, adaptability, and relevance to local…
The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has called on Nigerian universities to take the lead in shaping national policy on artificial intelligence (AI) as part of efforts to strengthen governance and drive development. Sanusi made the appeal on Tuesday in Kano during the 8th Biennial Conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities (CoPSUN), which focused on leveraging AI for improved university governance, internationalisation and global rankings. He stressed that universities occupy a strategic position in fostering democratic accountability, warning that weak academic engagement in policymaking could undermine civil society and slow national progress. According to him,…
The International Press Centre (IPC) has expressed concern over an April 17 directive issued by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to broadcasters, citing alleged breaches of the NBC Code in news, current affairs, and political programming. In a statement by IPC, made available to ASHENEWS on Monday, the notice flagged issues relating to the professionalism of anchors and presenters, as well as the alleged misuse of broadcast platforms by political actors. It also placed stations on formal notice of stricter enforcement, warning of sanctions for violations. IPC cautioned that the directive could signal a renewed attempt to limit the constitutional…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has introduced a new Guide to Charges by Banks and Other Financial Institutions, set to take effect on May 1, 2026. The updated rules are aimed at reducing banking costs, improving transparency, and making financial services more accessible to customers. Reactivating or closing an accountBanks can no longer charge customers for reactivating a dormant account. This means if your account has been inactive for a while, you can bring it back to use without paying a fee. Monthly statement of accountCustomers will now receive their monthly statement of account free of charge. However, if…