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Gunmen attacked Unguwar Rogo in Ugom community, Maro Ward of Kajuru Local Government Area, Kaduna State, on New Year’s Day, causing significant destruction and displacing residents.

Zamani Ishaku, a resident of Maro, confirmed the incident, lamenting the recurring assaults on the area by armed groups.

In a statement, the Chairman of the Ugom Progressive Union, Ishaya Onussim, detailed the attack’s impact, reporting vandalism, theft of farm produce, and arson. Six houses were set ablaze, and the ECWA Church in Unguwar Rogo was burned down after the attackers looted valuables from the church and its pastorium.

“All the residents fled into the bushes, abandoning their belongings in a bid to save their lives,” Onussim said.

He appealed for urgent government intervention and called for increased security presence to protect the community. Onussim also urged Nigerians to pray for the safety and recovery of the affected residents.

Efforts to obtain comments from the Police Public Relations Officer, Kaduna Command, ASP Mansir Hassan, were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages went unanswered.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, and their deputies, Barau Jibrin and Ben Kalu, have been allocated ₦10 billion for rent and furniture in the 2024 supplementary budget of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), an investigation by PREMIUM TIMES reveals.

The allocation, classified under the budget item “Renting and Furnishing of Presiding Officers of the National Assembly” with the code 23010309, was included in the ₦288 billion supplementary budget submitted by President Bola Tinubu in September. The budget was passed by lawmakers within five days.

Nigeria’s bicameral legislature comprises four presiding officers: the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Deputy Senate President, and the Deputy Speaker.

This development follows other high-profile housing allocations overseen by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, including ₦21 billion for a residential mansion for Vice President Kashim Shettima and ₦25 billion for constructing homes for 40 judges.

Observers note that the latest allocation highlights a pattern of substantial government spending on accommodation projects across the executive, judiciary, and legislative arms under Wike’s leadership.

These expenditures come amid widespread economic hardship in Nigeria, attributed to the deregulation of the petroleum downstream sector and the naira’s devaluation. In recent weeks, multiple stampedes have claimed lives as citizens scrambled for food aid.

Critics have accused the current administration of maintaining “lavish spending” despite its calls for austerity measures. Notable expenses include a $100 million presidential jet, the failed presidential yacht project, luxury vehicles for National Assembly members, and other high-cost initiatives.

Nigeria and three other African nations will host the Chinese Foreign Minister and member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Wang Yi, from January 5 to January 11, 2025.

The planned visits, which include stops in Namibia, the Republic of the Congo, and Chad, were announced in a statement by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Friday. According to Mao, the visits are being conducted at the invitation of the respective countries.

This marks the 35th consecutive year that the Chinese foreign minister’s first overseas trip of the year is dedicated to Africa, underscoring China’s commitment to its diplomatic ties with the continent.

Wang Yi’s visits are part of his annual tradition aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation between China and African nations.

“There is no magic that will make Tinubu lose the 2027 presidential election,” Zazzaga said. “This is not due to the incumbency factor but because Nigerians will appreciate the positive impact of his policies by 2027“

The Chairman of the North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, has expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu will secure reelection in the 2027 presidential race, citing his administration’s policies and achievements as key factors.

In a statement released on Friday, Zazzaga asserted that Tinubu’s bold economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira, have laid the foundation for Nigeria’s economic recovery and will earn him massive support from voters in the next election.

“There is no magic that will make Tinubu lose the 2027 presidential election,” Zazzaga said. “This is not due to the incumbency factor but because Nigerians will appreciate the positive impact of his policies by then.”

Zazzaga’s remarks were a response to statements by Kano State New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) Chairman, Hashimu Suleiman Dungurawa, who warned Tinubu to prepare for defeat in 2027 due to what he described as anti-people policies.

Dungurawa, addressing journalists in Kano on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, claimed that Tinubu’s administration has worsened the plight of Nigerians, predicting that NNPP’s national leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, would emerge victorious in 2027.

“With these harsh anti-masses policies, just prepare for defeat in the next general elections,” Dungurawa said. “We will ensure that Tinubu is out in 2027, and Kwankwaso, a true democrat, comes in.”

In his response, Zazzaga dismissed Dungurawa’s comments, emphasizing the necessity of Tinubu’s economic reforms.

“President Tinubu’s decisions, such as subsidy removal and floating the naira, are courageous steps that previous administrations avoided. These policies are already yielding results, including the strengthening of the naira, increased oil production, and a rise in foreign reserves,” Zazzaga stated.

He added that Tinubu’s administration has addressed long-standing issues in the petroleum sector, eliminating fuel scarcity and laying the groundwork for reduced inflation.

The APC chieftain also highlighted Tinubu’s proposed tax reforms, describing them as “pro-poor” and beneficial to small businesses.

Zazzaga noted that the North-Central APC Forum had endorsed Tinubu for a second term after assessing his administration’s performance in areas such as security, infrastructure, and economic development.

“Since the current democratic dispensation, no other president has provided as many opportunities or infrastructural projects to the North-Central region as President Tinubu,” he said.

According to Zazzaga, the administration’s efforts have significantly reduced insecurity in the North-Central region, allowing farmers to return to their fields and boosting agricultural activities.

The North-Central APC Forum, he added, is committed to mobilizing support for Tinubu’s reelection, just as it did in the 2023 election.