Fire over the weekend gutted four houses at the Senior Staff Quarters of Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU), Gadau, in Bauchi state, destroying property worth millions of naira.

The incident, which occurred around 2 p.m. on Saturday, affected the residences of Dr. Hamma Mohammed of the Faculty of Education, Malam Bello Adamu Yakubu of the Physiology Department, and Malam Mukhtar Mansur of the Faculty of Arts.

Confirming the incident, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Auwal Hassan, said no lives were lost and no physical injuries were recorded.

Hassan conveyed the sympathy of the university management to the affected families and prayed for their strength and resilience in overcoming the loss. He further assured that the university is committed to providing necessary support and assistance to those impacted.

He also commended the swift response of security personnel and fire service team from Azare, whose efforts ensured that the situation was contained without casualties.

Authorities said an investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has initiated an investigation into the seizure of significant foreign currency amounts at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.

A sum of $86,500 (approximately 86,500 USD), 305,150 Saudi Riyals, and 200 Euros were intercepted by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Sunday, April 27, 2025 in an unaccompanied bag, which was suspected of being smuggled into the country.

In a statement on its official X handle, the EFCC commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its vigilance in intercepting the illegal funds, emphasizing the importance of inter-agency collaboration in safeguarding Nigeria’s economy.

“Upon physical inspection, Customs officers uncovered the foreign currencies concealed in bed spreads (duvets) and date packs tucked in the luggage.”

” Further investigation led to the arrest of Bala and a second suspect, Abdullahi Tahir, who was reportedly tasked with receiving the bag after clearance,” the statement said.

Following the discovery, further investigation led to the arrest of Bala and Abdullahi Tahir, a second suspect reportedly tasked with receiving the bag after it was cleared by customs.

The funds, which were handed over to the EFCC by Chief Superintendent of Customs, CSC Abdulahi Hashim, were officially received on behalf of the Commission by Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE11 Aminu Bashir.

The suspects, along with the seized funds, are currently in the custody of the EFCC, and both individuals will face charges in court upon completion of the investigation.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has said former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi lacks the moral justification to demarket Nigeria abroad.

Sanwo-Olu accused Obi of making comments that de-marketed Nigeria at the John Hopkins University in the United States, US.

He maintained that the former LP presidential candidate played a part in the poverty level in Anambra State as a governor.

Sanwo-Olu stressed that after Obi left of office, Willie Obiano took over the mantle of leadership in the state and reduced the poverty rate from almost 60 per cent to 14.8 per cent.

During an engagement at John Hopkins, Obi had painted a gloomy picture of Nigeria, saying the economy of the West African country has been backwards in the last 25 years.

Comparing Nigeria to China, Indonesia and Vietnam, Obi said in 1990, when the Human Development Index (HDI) measurement started, Nigeria, China, Vietnam and Indonesia were all classified under the medium category of the HDI measurement.

Condemning his remarks, Sanwo-Olu described Obi’s pattern of behaviour as disturbing.

The governor’s condemnation was contained in a statement titled, ‘Factually Addressing Mr. Peter Obi’s Criticism of Nigeria at Johns Hopkins University’.

Sanwo-Olu said: “He made unflattering remarks not just about the incumbent Nigerian government but also about Nigeria. I also find Mr Obi’s pattern of behaviour disturbing. When prominent Nigerians go overseas, they ought to project Nigeria positively.

“But after only two years in office, the poverty rate in Anambra jumped to 53.7 per cent. But the interesting thing is that five years after Peter Obi left office, his successor, Willie Obiano, reduced the poverty rate in Anambra from almost 60 per cent to 14.8 per cent.

“As such, I am not sure that Mr. Obi is morally well placed to make the alarming claims he made about Nigeria at Johns Hopkins. Mr Obi contributed to the increase in poverty in Nigeria.”

Sanwo-Olu pointed out that Obi failed to adequately fight poverty, improve education, and healthcare decay when he was governor of Anambra State.

He said it was ironic that the former governor of Anambra, who did not build a single school or a stand-alone hospital throughout his tenure, is criticising the Federal Government.

The Lagos governor added: “I find it somewhat ironic that a man like Mr Obi, who did not build a single school or a stand-alone hospital throughout his eight-year tenure as governor of Anambra or sustainably provide credit facilities, would criticise the government of Nigeria, which is actively doing that.”