The Kwankwasiyya Movement has dismissed reports linking its leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to alleged religious freedom violations referenced in a proposed United States congressional bill, describing the claims as unfounded and misleading. In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Habibu Sale Mohammed, the movement expressed “grave concern” over the reported mention of Kwankwaso in the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act 2026 (HR 7457), which is currently before the US Congress. The group insisted that Kwankwaso’s more than three decades of public service — spanning roles as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, two-term Governor of Kano State,…
Author: Editor
I write this with deep concern—not anger, but concern—over what increasingly appears to be a troubling pattern in the posture of the United States under President Donald Trump toward Nigeria, particularly its Muslim communities and northern leadership. Since Trump’s return to office, a narrative has steadily gathered momentum in Washington: that Nigeria is a theatre of “Christian genocide,” orchestrated or tolerated by Muslim political actors. It is a grave allegation. It is also one that many credible Nigerian authorities, religious leaders, security experts, and independent analysts have consistently challenged as simplistic, selective, and dangerously misleading. Nigeria’s security crisis is real.…
Nature and Empower Her Initiative (NEHI), a girl-centered civil society organization, has launched its Bleed with Pride project to promote menstrual health education in public junior secondary schools across Bauchi State. The initiative was unveiled during a stakeholders’ inception and alignment meeting in Bauchi, with a focus on integrating menstrual health education into school curricula. Speaking at the event, NEHI Executive Director Florence Uzoanya described Bleed with Pride as a school-based programme aimed at equipping girls with knowledge, confidence, hygiene, and dignity. “Menstrual health is not just about understanding menstrual flow. It is about building confidence, knowledge, and dignity so…
I was initially surprised, shocked even, that of all northern Nigerian Muslim politicians, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso was the one Republican congressmen singled out for a possible visa ban and asset freeze in their “Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026” bill. Daily Trust’s explainer, which I will return to shortly, clarified the logic for me. Anyone with even the faintest familiarity with Kwankwaso’s trajectory and disposition knows that he is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a religious fanatic. As Kano’s governor, he was famously (and for Sharia advocates, infamously) unenthusiastic about the introduction of Sharia in 2000.…
Five United States lawmakers have introduced a bill in Congress seeking sanctions against former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, and alleged Fulani militia groups over claims of religious freedom violations. The proposed legislation — titled the “Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026” — was sponsored by Representatives Chris Smith, Riley Moore, Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Bill Huizenga. Details of the bill, published on the US Congress website, allege that Kwankwaso is among individuals contributing to the systemic religious persecution of Christians in Nigeria.…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has released an adjusted schedule for its 2026 nationwide ward, local government, state and zonal congresses, culminating in the party’s national convention slated for late March. In a timetable issued by its National Secretariat in Abuja and signed by the National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Muhammad Argungu, the party said the activities were in line with provisions of its constitution guiding the election of party officials across all tiers. According to the schedule, membership e-registration began on January 31 and ended on February 8, while notices of congresses were dispatched to state and Federal Capital Territory…
The Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO) has dismissed claims circulating in parts of South-West Nigeria that Muslims in the region should observe Ramadan differently from their counterparts in the North, describing such insinuations as mischief and baseless talk. Speaking at the organisation’s Pre-Ramadan Lecture held on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at the Beleke Smith Mosque, Surulere, Lagos, the Grand Mufti of the CIO, Zikrullah Shaffi, reaffirmed that Muslims across the South-West would follow the Ramadan moon sighting as announced by Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar. “There will be no commencement of fasting except with the sighting of the new moon of…
Growing research suggests the shingles vaccine may offer broader health benefits beyond preventing herpes zoster, including a potential role in reducing dementia risk. A new study published in The Lancet indicates that vaccination against shingles may reduce or delay dementia diagnoses among older adults, adding to emerging findings connecting the vaccine with improved cardiovascular outcomes and slower biological ageing. The study analysed health records of nearly 230,000 adults in Ontario, Canada, born between 1930 and 1960 and registered with primary care providers. Researchers leveraged the province’s 2016 immunisation programme, which offered the single-dose live-attenuated herpes zoster vaccine, Zostavax, free to…
Many people ask why bank loans in Nigeria are expensive, difficult to access or short-term. One of the major reasons is loan repayment. When loans are not repaid, banks become more cautious, interest rates rise, and fewer people get access to credit. This is not just a banking issue. It affects traders, workers, small business owners and the wider economy. What does loan repayment mean? Loan repayment simply means paying back borrowed money as agreed, usually in monthly installments. When borrowers repay on time, banks are able to lend again to other people. When many borrowers do not repay, banks…
The naira strengthened against the United States dollar at the official foreign exchange market, opening the week on a firmer note compared with levels recorded at the start of the previous week. Data published by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Monday showed the local currency closing at N1,354.9 per dollar, improving from N1,384.5 per dollar recorded on the corresponding Monday last week. The gain comes ahead of the apex bank’s 304th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting later in February — its first for 2026 — as policymakers continue efforts to stabilise the foreign exchange market and contain inflationary…