By Joseph Ebi Kanjo 

As inflation continues to take a toll globally and Nigeria faces a significant population surge, the need for effective childbirth control—commonly known as family planning—has become more pressing than ever. Family planning is a cornerstone of reproductive health that empowers individuals and couples to make informed decisions about the number and spacing of their children. It is increasingly vital for Nigerians, especially in states like Edo, to adopt this practice to navigate current economic realities.

In Edo State, research shows that awareness of family planning is impressively high. In fact, some studies report that up to 98.5% of women are aware of contraceptive options. Despite this, there remains a significant disparity between awareness and actual usage, particularly among women. This gap highlights the urgent need for more targeted and effective interventions to boost contraceptive uptake.

Traditional media platforms such as radio, television, and print media have played essential roles in raising awareness. Additionally, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), in collaboration with the Edo State government, have contributed significantly to this progress. However, while these efforts have laid a solid foundation, the low adoption rate suggests that more innovative and culturally sensitive strategies are required.

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One promising approach is the use of local influencers. Social media influencers with large, engaged audiences can be powerful advocates for family planning. Their ability to communicate directly and credibly with young people and communities makes them ideal for spreading accurate information about the benefits of family planning. These benefits include improved reproductive health, lower maternal and infant mortality rates, and enhanced economic empowerment for families.

Beyond social media, engaging community leaders, traditional rulers, and other local opinion leaders can also be highly effective. These individuals often hold deep-rooted influence within their communities and can help dispel myths and misconceptions surrounding family planning. Their involvement adds a layer of trust and cultural relevance that is often lacking in conventional media campaigns.

Dr. Bright Oniovokukor, in a recent presentation, emphasized the importance of involving local influencers in family planning advocacy in Edo State. He argued that partnering with individuals who understand local customs and values can significantly enhance the reach and impact of advocacy efforts. He called on NGOs, community leaders, and policymakers to actively engage local influencers in driving family planning campaigns across the state.

In conclusion, while Edo State has made commendable progress in raising awareness about family planning, bridging the gap between awareness and usage requires fresh, community-focused approaches. Leveraging the influence of trusted local figures—both online and offline—could be the key to achieving meaningful change in reproductive health behaviors and outcomes.

By Isa Danbala

As the political landscape in Bauchi State begins to realign ahead of the 2027 governorship race, one name is commanding growing support across party lines, youth groups, and civil society is that of Rt. Hon. Dr. Abubakar Y. Suleiman, the seasoned Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly.

With increasing calls for him to declare his ambition, it is becoming evident that Suleiman represents the most credible, tested, and people-focused option to take over from Governor Bala Mohammed and lead Bauchi into a new era of inclusive development and political stability.

On June 18, 2025, the Bauchi State Coalition of Youth and Civil Society Groups, under the Dangaladiman Ningi Vanguard, formally urged Speaker Suleiman to step forward and contest the 2027 gubernatorial elections. Their message, delivered at a press conference in Bauchi, was clear and resonant: “This is not just a political endorsement,” they said, “it is a call to service.” And few public servants in Bauchi today better exemplify a life of service, humility, and performance than Abubakar Suleiman.

Suleiman’s credentials speak for themselves. A lawmaker with a deep understanding of governance, he has served three consecutive terms as Speaker an unprecedented achievement in Bauchi’s legislative history.

Under his leadership, the Assembly has emerged as a model of efficiency, discipline, and people-centered lawmaking. While others campaign with promises, Suleiman has a portfolio filled with results bills passed, institutions strengthened, and lives impacted. He has proved that leadership is not about noise but about steady, measurable progress.

Beyond the Assembly floor, Suleiman’s human development initiatives are widely acknowledged. In many rural communities, his presence is felt through classroom construction, educational materials for school children, medical outreach programs, food relief efforts, and vocational training for youths.

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These interventions have not only improved lives but shown the Speaker’s grasp of what governance means at the grassroots level. He is not just a politician he is a servant leader who understands the needs of the people and responds to them directly.

Another compelling reason why Suleiman is best positioned as the ideal successor to Governor Bala Mohammed is his unwavering loyalty and capacity for cooperation. As Speaker, he has built and sustained a productive relationship with the executive arm of government, ensuring that the state’s development agenda proceeds without needless friction.

His ability to mediate, harmonize and prioritize the public good over personal ambition has earned him wide respect, both within his party and across the broader political spectrum. This loyalty has never been about personal gain—it has been about continuity, stability, and ensuring that the wheels of progress keep turning.

In contrast, many of the other aspirants lining up for the 2027 race are either disconnected from the realities on the ground or lack the political temperament to sustain harmony in governance.

While some may have impressive federal titles, they lack Suleiman’s deep local roots and first-hand understanding of the challenges facing Bauchi communities. Others have spent more time in Abuja than in Bauchi, speaking more to elite concerns than to the daily struggles of farmers, artisans, and students. Speaker Suleiman, on the other hand, has never left the side of his people.

Even within the APC, a party blessed with high-profile aspirants like Dr. Ali Pate, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, and Senator Shehu Buba, Suleiman’s profile is not just competitive it is superior in many key areas. He brings to the table not only legislative experience but also political tact, grassroots acceptability, and a proven ability to unite divergent interests. He does not divide—he builds bridges. And in a state as politically dynamic as Bauchi, that quality is indispensable.

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The same can’t be said of the PDP field, where names like Senator Abdul Ningi, the current Commissioner of Finance, and other technocrats have been mentioned. While many of them have solid records, none possess Suleiman’s unique combination of experience, humility, and direct impact. None have his unmatched tenure as Speaker, or his widespread support among the youth and civil society.

Moreover, Suleiman’s political strength lies not just in the number of supporters he has but in the nature of that support. The call for him to contest is coming not from political jobbers or godfathers, but from ordinary people: community leaders, young professionals, market women, and non-governmental actors who see in him a leader they can trust. They believe that the same man who stood with them in quiet seasons of need can be trusted to govern them with fairness, vision, and courage.

The argument about zoning is another issue that Suleiman’s candidacy intelligently addresses. Coming from Ningi in Bauchi Central, he stands in a strategic position to bridge the recurring agitation between Bauchi North and Bauchi South. He is acceptable across the zones and has no history of divisive politics. In a state where unity is the foundation for progress, Suleiman is that neutral voice that all sides can rally around.

As 2027 approaches, the decision before the people of Bauchi is not merely about electing a new governor it is about choosing the direction of the state’s future. Will Bauchi continue on the path of meaningful development, stability, and inclusive governance, or will it retreat into the uncertainties of experimental leadership? With Speaker Abubakar Suleiman, the path is clear. His experience is deep, his temperament calm, his record solid, and his compassion genuine.

The call has been made. The people are ready. The moment is now. All that remains is for the man himself Rt. Hon. Dr. Abubakar Y. Suleiman to answer the call.

If he does, Bauchi may be set for a smooth, impactful, and people-focused transition that will deepen development and restore confidence in leadership. And history, as always, will remember those who stood up when the people called.

Isa Danbala, write from Abuja

Hundreds of Ghanaian investors and community members on Wednesday besieged the Nigerian High Commission in Abuja, demanding redress over what they described as “systematic harassment, intimidation, and violation of our fundamental rights” by the Nigeria Police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

“Our businesses are being hounded at every turn,” one of the lead developers of the River Park Estate project in Abuja, Kojo Mensah, said.

The investors claimed that their fundamental rights were being violated, alleging arbitrary arrests, repeated police invitations, and intimidation by both the police and the EFCC.

“We’ve been arrested arbitrarily, summoned without cause, and subjected to endless interrogations, yet the very complaints we cooperated to resolve back in 2012 remain buried in some dusty file,” he said.

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Carrying banners that read, “Hands Off Ghanaian Investors!” and “Tinubu, Mahama: Intervene Now!”, the demonstrators called for the immediate removal of Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, whom they accused of targeted attacks on Ghanaian businesses operating in Nigeria.

“We demand that President Bola Tinubu and President John Mahama use every diplomatic channel to stop this injustice,” the investors said.

The protest follows the filing of a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, in which Jonah Capital and its co-plaintiffs named IGP Egbetokun, the Nigeria Police, and the EFCC as defendants.

They are seeking a perpetual injunction restraining both agencies “from any further interference in the River Park Estate matter,” immediate disclosure of the long-delayed Special Investigation Panel report, and the sum of N200m in damages for alleged breaches of their constitutional rights.

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The suit, according to the plaintiffs, is not only to seek redress but also to safeguard the integrity of foreign investments in Nigeria and discourage what they describe as state-sponsored intimidation of legitimate investors.

In their amended writ, the plaintiffs alleged that although the SIP concluded its probe and reported to the IG, those findings had never been furnished to the investors despite repeated formal requests.

“Instead,” the suit contends, “a senior officer in the IG’s Monitoring Unit has unilaterally reopened the investigation, purportedly to undermine the SIP’s clear exoneration of our companies.”