Economy
Uba Sani: North Has Enough Human Resources To Solve Its Problems
Uba Sani: North Has Enough Human Resources To Solve Its Problems
Uba Sani, the governor of Kaduna, says the northern region has sufficient human capital to address its developmental challenges if its elites unite and provide coordinated leadership.
The governor spoke when the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), led by Bashir Dalhatu, Wazirin Dutse, paid him a courtesy visit.
He noted that the ACF’s current leadership has renewed its sense of direction.
“For years, we have repeatedly spoken about our challenges — poverty, education gaps, healthcare deficits, and other development issues,” he said.
“I believe we have reached a point where we must stop complaining and start acting.” The governor stressed that the north has accomplished professionals and entrepreneurs whose expertise can be mobilised for regional development.
“We have many successful northern professionals across different fields — business, academia, entrepreneurship, medicine, and others; the missing link is bringing everyone together,” he explained.
“The ACF can help bridge that gap, by enabling us to benefit from their collective experience, achievements and resources, to benefit our people.”
Sani praised ACF’s plan to create a central endowment fund and urged that skills acquisition be a core priority to “make our people self-reliant.”
He expressed concern that a large number of northerners remain financially excluded because they lack bank accounts, limiting their access to government support programmes.
Sani recalled that one of his first actions in office was signing the first executive order on financial inclusion, which he said helped onboard more than 2.1 million vulnerable residents into the financial system within a year.
He also encouraged northern investors to channel funds into the financial sector to support small and medium-sized enterprises across the region.
He revealed that over 60 percent of local governments in the north do not have a single bank branch.
“Today, as we are speaking, there are over 4,000 branches of national banks in Nigeria,” he noted.
“But only Kaduna and Kano states have about 100 branches.
“But if you go to some states in the south that are not even up to 20% of the population of Kano state, they have more bank branches than Kano state, which has 44 local governments.”
The governor said ACF remains a credible platform for addressing the region’s challenges because it is a neutral, non-partisan organisation.
He added that the absence of collaboration between ACF, northern state governments, and political leaders had weakened the forum’s efforts in the past, but noted that the new leadership is steering a fresh approach.
He commended ACF for reaching out to groups such as Afenifere and Ohaneze Ndigbo to strengthen inter-regional understanding.
Earlier, Dalhatu, chairman of the ACF board of trustees, said the delegation visited Sir Kashim Ibrahim House to formally inform the governor about the forum’s upcoming 25th anniversary celebration scheduled to be held in Kaduna from November 20 to 22. He thanked Sani for the support he has provided to the ACF since assuming office.
“Since its establishment, the ACF operated from offices belonging to the Kaduna state government,” the chairman stated. “When you assumed office, you graciously allocated the property to us permanently.
“We sincerely appreciate this generosity; for the first time, we are operating from premises we can call our own.”
Dalhatu announced that Vice-President Kashim Shettima will be the special guest at the event and added that ministers from the northern region are expected to attend.
“As chief host, your excellency, we also seek your support in inviting your colleagues to give the celebration greater weight, productivity, and opportunities for meaningful exchange of ideas,” he told the governor.
He said the ACF had “reached out to socio-cultural groups in both the north and the south” and invited respected independent figures to foster broader dialogue and cohesion.”

Uba Sani
“We want to begin sustained dialogue with our brothers and sisters in the South, to share experiences and learn from each other, all in the spirit of promoting a strong, united Nigeria,” he said.
Dalhatu said the forum had met with Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, who pledged to mobilise traditional rulers across northern states.
“We have engaged the leadership of Jumma’at mosques, the Deputy President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and other officials,” he added.
“We have circulated notices to state chapters across the region.”
Economy
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.
The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.
Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.
He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.
“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly
“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”
Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.
Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.
He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.
Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.
Crime
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.
Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC
Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.
The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026
Economy
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.
Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.
Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.
Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.
She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.
“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”
Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.
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