By Adeko. Uukpa

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has cautioned judicial officers across the country against delivering judgments that could undermine Nigeria’s democratic process, warning that the international community is closely monitoring developments in the nation’s courts.

Frank, who spoke amid ongoing legal disputes involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its erstwhile deputy National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, expressed concern over what he described as attempts to deploy the judiciary against opposition political parties ahead of future elections.

He called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the National Judicial Council (NJC), judges of the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court to uphold the independence of the judiciary and resist pressure from politicians.

According to the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, judicial decisions in politically sensitive cases must be guided strictly by the law and not partisan considerations.

“The Chief Judge and all judges of the Federal High Court, as well as judges across the country, should be cautious in the way they handle political and other sensitive cases at this time. They should be careful because the international community is watching and paying attention,” Frank said.

The political activist specifically referenced legal battles involving ADC and ex-deputy national vice chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, alleging that efforts were being made to secure court orders capable of weakening the Senator David Mark led opposition ADC and restricting its participation in the democratic process.

He claimed that he is aware of subterranean moves by the presidency to blackmail and intimidate the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court with corruption allegations in order to ensure that the ongoing ADC suit is assigned to a pliant judge who will rule to stop the Presidential Candidate of the ADC, Atiku Abubakar and the party’s candidates for the position of Senate, House of Representatives, Governor and House of Assembly members in the forthcoming general elections.

He however warned that any such move would be resisted by well-meaning Nigerians towards sustaining and preserving democracy in the country.

He urged judges handling such matters to ensure justice is dispensed without fear or favour, warning that any judgment perceived as politically motivated could damage public confidence in the judiciary.

Frank who is a Senior Advisor, Global Friendship City Association (GFCA), USA, claimed that developments within Nigeria’s justice system were attracting growing international scrutiny.

“If they are not aware, I am reminding them that the international community is monitoring what is happening in Nigeria, including what many perceive as fraudulent judgments. There will be consequences and actions against those involved,” he stated.

He further alleged that judicial officers who aid attempts to derail democracy through questionable rulings could face sanctions from foreign governments and international institutions.

“From now on, if they do not know, I am telling them that there will be consequences from the international community, particularly from the American government, for judges who give judgments aimed at truncating democracy,” he said.

Frank also warned that such repercussions could extend beyond individual judicial officers.

“The consequences will affect not only them but also their families. There could be certain actions taken against them and their families. They should therefore be very careful,” he added.

Extending his appeal to all levels of the judiciary, Frank stressed that appellate courts were equally expected to protect democratic values and preserve the integrity of the electoral process.

“This warning is not only for the Federal High Court. It also applies to the entire judiciary, including judges of the Court of Appeal and Justices of the Supreme Court,” he said.

Describing the current political climate as critical, Frank urged judges not to allow themselves to be used as instruments for settling political disputes or excluding legitimate political actors from contesting elections.

“Everyone must understand that this election is very sensitive and very critical. If judges allow themselves to be used by the government or by politicians to undermine the process, there will be consequences,” he warned.

He maintained that democracy could only thrive where all qualified political parties and candidates are allowed to participate freely, insisting that the judiciary has a pivotal role in safeguarding the nation’s democratic institutions.

By Adeko Ukpa

The House of Representatives candidate for Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Hon. Prince Obaro Razak, has raised the alarm over growing security threats in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, calling for urgent intervention by both state and federal authorities to protect residents and schools from suspected bandit attacks.

Rasak’s appeal followed security reports indicating that bandits are targeting schools in parts of Edo State, particularly in Akoko-Edo, where Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration has reportedly shut down some schools as a precautionary measure.

Speaking on the development, the NDC candidate expressed concern over the safety of residents and students, describing the situation as one that requires immediate and coordinated action from security agencies and government at all levels.

“There is a security alert in my local government. The government has closed down schools in Akoko-Edo because of the threat,” Razak said.

He urged the Edo State Government and the Federal Government to deploy every available resource towards securing communities threatened by criminal elements.

“I am using this opportunity to call on the state and federal governments, which have greater responsibility in matters of security, to do something urgently to secure our people, secure our land, secure our schools and secure our citizens,” he stated.

Rasak also advocated the establishment and deployment of forest guards as part of efforts to strengthen security surveillance in forests and border communities often exploited by criminals.

According to him, authorities should give serious consideration to the proposal as a practical measure for preventing attacks and tracking the movement of armed groups.

“They should think positively about the invitation and deployment of forest guards to watch over our forests and the boundary areas within Edo State. What is important is to secure our people and ensure that criminal elements do not operate freely,” he said.

The NDC candidate stressed that the protection of schools must be treated as a priority, warning that any attack on educational institutions could have devastating consequences for children, parents and communities.

He called on security agencies to intensify intelligence gathering, surveillance and patrol operations across Akoko-Edo and other vulnerable areas of the state to forestall any security breach.

The call comes amid heightened anxiety among residents following reports of threats by armed groups in parts of Edo North Senatorial District. Community leaders and parents have continued to urge the government to take proactive measures to guarantee the safety of students and residents and prevent a repeat of attacks witnessed in other parts of the country.

Razak maintained that swift action by the authorities would reassure residents, restore confidence in public safety and ensure that educational activities are not further disrupted by insecurity.

​By Dr. Shamsuddeen Ahmad Aliyu (Haido)

​Agriculture remains the economic backbone of Sokoto State. According to recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the sector contributes roughly 42% of our state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with over 70% of our population actively engaged in farming. Yet, despite this massive demographic involvement, our agricultural potential remains largely uncommercialized. We remain primary producers of raw materials, while the immense wealth generated from processing and industrial optimization happens outside our borders.

​To shift this paradigm, we must look closely at our existing, underutilized industrial assets. The most prominent symbol of this untapped potential sits right in our backyard: The 250,000 Metric Tonne (MT) per annum Dangote Rice Mill in Kware.

​The Feedstock Dilemma: Why the Mill Sits Idle

​When the Dangote Group constructed its ultra-modern rice processing facility on a 27-hectare site in Runji Village, Kware Local Government Area, it was a data-driven investment. Designed to process 32 metric tonnes of paddy per hour, the mill possesses the capacity to process a quarter of a million metric tonnes of rice annually, making it one of the largest industrial food assets in West Africa.

​Yet, despite its completed infrastructure, the mill has faced challenges operating at full commercial capacity. The reason is not a lack of market demand for rice, but a structural fragmentation in the upstream supply chain.

​Industrial processing plants are capital-intensive and risk-averse; they require a continuous, predictable, and uniform pipeline of clean paddy. The current localized production model—characterized by fragmented smallholders, lack of access to certified seeds (like Faro 44/52), high post-harvest losses, and the absence of a structured corporate aggregator—means the mill faces a structural feedstock deficit.

​Resolving this deficit requires moving away from traditional, ad-hoc administrative interventions and implementing a sophisticated, business-to-government (B2G) structural framework.

​The Macroeconomic Impact: Keeping Wealth Inside Sokoto

​Activating a major asset like the Kware mill changes the economic landscape of the entire state. At current market rates, a metric tonne of high-quality industrial rice paddy sits at roughly ₦350,000 to ₦400,000. Delivering an initial baseline of 100,000 MT of paddy per year to the mill represents a direct capital injection of ₦35 Billion to ₦40 Billion moving into our state’s agricultural ecosystem annually.

​Because this model prioritizes direct institutional off-take from local farming clusters, this capital skips exploitative middlemen and flows straight into our rural economies. This injection accelerates the velocity of cash in our local markets, stimulating the retail, construction, and service sectors, and organically expanding the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) base without increasing the tax burden on citizens.

​Furthermore, industrial processing introduces a high-value secondary economy. The Kware mill generates thousands of tonnes of rice husks and rice bran as by-products. Rice husks serve as a valuable biomass fuel source for energy and manufacturing plants, while rice bran provides the primary raw materials needed to establish a commercial livestock and poultry feed-mill industry within the state.

What Full Operation Means for the Citizens of Sokoto

​At the microeconomic level, turning on the machinery at Kware creates immediate, sustainable livelihoods:

​Lifting 20,000+ Farming Households: To generate 100,000 MT of paddy systematically, we must organize and support at least 20,000 hectares of farmland. Under a structured, high-yield input framework, a local farmer cultivating two hectares can achieve a yield of 4 to 5 tonnes per hectare. This translates to an estimated ₦3.5 Million in gross seasonal revenue per household, structurally elevating thousands of rural families into commercial sustainability.

​The Logistics and Service Boom: Transporting 100 million kilograms of grain from field to factory requires an extensive logistical network. This translates into roughly 10,000 heavy-duty truck trips per year along our internal transport corridors. The ripple effect means immediate, year-round business for local transport unions, haulage companies, mechanics, fuel stations, and youth-led loading crews.

​The Blueprint for Immediate Takeoff

​To get the Dangote Rice Mill up and running, we must position our agricultural sector as an active, de-risked commercial partner. Look at recent sub-national agricultural playbooks in Nigeria, where major corporate off-take frameworks succeeded because the state acted as a credible institutional guarantor via a structured corporate vehicle.

​To achieve this in Sokoto, a precise four-part strategy must be deployed:

​

The Strategic Framework for Agricultural Takeoff

Establishment of a State-Backed Agribusiness Vehicle

Step 1

The state must incorporate Sokoto Foods Limited (SFL) as a public limited liability company under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework. By holding a minority 25% equity stake and transferring controlling 51% operational ownership to a reputable private agribusiness managing partner, we eliminate civil-service bureaucracy. SFL will serve as the single corporate buffer to execute a long-term Paddy Supply Agreement directly with the Dangote Group.

Biometric Cooperative Mapping and Input Credit Loops

Step 2

SFL will biometric-map and cluster thousands of smallholder rice farmers into highly disciplined cooperatives. Instead of distributing open-ended subsidies, SFL will operate a closed-loop input provision system—supplying premium certified seeds, calibrated fertilizers, and mechanized ploughing services directly to farmers, with costs recovered strictly via paddy write-offs at the scale house during harvest.

Infrastructure Maximization and Dry-Season Irrigation

Step 3

Sokoto’s distinct edge lies in dry-season cultivation, which yields higher-grade paddy with lower moisture content. We must focus state capital on de-silting and expanding secondary canals at the Goronyo, Shagari, and Kware irrigation networks, paired with the mass deployment of solar-powered tubewells to farming clusters along our riverbanks.

Fiscal Incentives and Industrial Zone Declaration

Step 4

To completely lower the operational overhead of the facility, the 27-hectare Kware mill corridor should be designated as the Sokoto Agric-Industrial Revitalization Zone (SAREZ), granting a 5-year holiday on state-levied commercial taxes, accompanied by a dedicated, uninterrupted power evacuation corridor from the nearest electrical substation.

Conclusion

​Economic self-reliance is not achieved through seasonal government handouts; it is achieved by building the institutional scaffolding that allows our people to generate wealth through their own productivity. By transforming our state from a passive observer into a sophisticated commercial facilitator, we can turn a quiet industrial giant into the heartbeat of Nigeria’s rice production. The infrastructure is ready, our land is fertile, and our farmers are determined. With the right business acumen and structured policies, Sokoto is fully capable of driving an industrial takeoff that will rewrite our economic history.

​….Dr. Shamsuddeen Ahmad Aliyu (Haido) is the

NDC Gubernatorial candidate for Sokoto State