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Abba Yusuf and His Misadventure in Kano* By Aliyu Maina

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12 months ago

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*Abba Yusuf and His Misadventure in Kano*

By Aliyu Maina

Oh, our majestic Kano! A land renowned for its rich history, resilient hustle, and unwavering hope. Alas, a dark and foreboding shadow has descended upon our beloved city, casting a pall of despair over its inhabitants. This ominous shadow is the result of a man’s broken promises and misguided leadership, a man who pledged to usher in an era of prosperity but instead unleashed unmitigated chaos upon us.

This individual, Abba Yusuf, our governor, a stranger in our midst, callously disregards the plight of our city as it burns, his actions a stark betrayal of the trust placed in him. For the sons and daughters of Kano, the past few years have been an interminable ordeal of suffering and shattered dreams, a direct consequence of Abba Yusuf’s governance. Our once-thriving metropolis, teeming with life and commerce, has been reduced to a desolate ghost town, a mere shadow of its former vibrant self.

Abba Yusuf, a man who professed to bring prosperity, has instead inflicted upon us a reign of unrelenting hardship. He dons the guise of a leader, but beneath this façade lies a puppet manipulated by invisible forces, ensnared in a sinister political game of power and control. His actions have brought our city to its knees, leaving its people to suffer the consequences of his misguided leadership.

As a Kano indigene, I am compelled to express my deep disappointment and anguish at the actions of Governor Abba Yusuf, who has utterly failed to prioritize the welfare of the poor masses in our beloved state. His tenure has been marked by a series of misguided decisions that have inflicted immense suffering on the very people he swore to protect.

You see, I have lived in Kano for over 50 years. I’ve seen governors come and go, each with their own vision for our beloved city. But Abba Yusuf? He’s a different breed altogether. He came in with a broom, they said, sweeping away corruption. But instead of sweeping away the dirt, he ended up uprooting the very foundations of our lives.

The first blow came barely a week into his tenure as Governor when he revoked the certificate of occupancy of several properties, claiming they had been acquired illegally from the previous administration. With nary a thought for the countless families who called these properties home, he ordered their demolition. The dust had barely settled when he delivered yet another blow – the suspension of thousands of civil servants employed by his predecessor, Gadunje, on the shaky premise of false recruitment allegations. Which has left countless families without a breadwinner. Thousands of families left jobless overnight. How do you explain that to a man who just put his children through school, hoping for a brighter future, only to see it snatched away by the stroke of a vindictive pen? This callous move has exacerbated poverty and hardship, pushing many to the brink of despair.

The actions of Abba Yusuf have not gone unnoticed. The Federal High Court, first in Abuja and then in Kano, ordered the Kano State Government to pay hefty sums in compensation for the unlawful demolition of properties, further proving the government’s egregious violation of fundamental rights. But has he paid? Not a kobo. Court orders? Pah! Yusuf cared little for the law.

However, these court orders represent a hollow victory for the victims. They are but a small salve on the deep wound inflicted by a ruler who has lost touch with the people he promised to serve. Rather than uplift our city to the heights of prosperity he promised, Abba Yusuf has left Kano in ruins. The rubble of demolished buildings is a stark reminder of the homes and livelihoods that have been lost. People who’d saved for years, invested their life savings – their dreams turned to dust. The man who promised to clean up Kano has become the biggest stain on our city’s reputation. Thousands have been directly and indirectly affected by his actions, their lives upturned without warning or justice. Tears flow in the streets of Kano, a once proud city brought to its knees by a man lost in the labyrinth of political games. The cries of the poor and disenfranchised echo through the city, a haunting reminder of the promise of prosperity that was but a fleeting illusion.

It is a bitter pill to swallow, realizing that the man at the helm of our city’s destiny is far removed from the realities on ground. Instead of using the opportunity God has given him to guide Kano towards a brighter future, Abba Yusuf seems set on a course that only deepens our despair. In the face of this adversity, the spirit of Kano remains unbroken. Instead of using the state’s resources for the good of the people, Abba Yusuf has been busy gallivanting around, using the state’s funds to hunt down political oppositions and past administration leaders.

This, my friends, is not the Kano we know. The Kano we know, is the city that embraced all, and gave opportunities to those who strived. Yusuf has turned it into a place of fear, a place where the powerful prey on the weak. We, the ordinary people, the ones who make Kano tick – we are the ones suffering. Yusuf, blinded by his vendetta, has forgotten his duty. He’s become a puppet in a political play, more interested in settling scores than serving the people. He promised prosperity, but delivered misery. Promised hope, but brought despair.

We are a resilient people, forged in the crucible of hardship but never bowed. We continue to hope for a leader who will truly serve the interests of the masses, a leader who will lead us out of this darkness and into the light of a prosperous future. Until then, we bear witness to the misadventure of Abba Yusuf, a man clearly lost in the intricate web of politics, using his position to punish the very people he swore to serve. In the end, we, the people of Kano, are the true custodians of our city’s destiny. We will rise from these ruins, stronger and more united than ever, holding onto the hope that one day, justice will be served. Until then, we stand firm, refusing to be silenced, our voices echoing through the heart of Kano, a testament to our resilience in the face of adversity.

As a Kano person, I have witnessed firsthand the anguish and despair that Abba Yusuf’s actions have caused. His policies have punished the poor, rewarding only his political allies. We, the people of Kano, won’t stay silent. We will raise our voices, louder than the roar of the bulldozers. We will not let him turn our city into rubble. We will fight for the Kano we know and love, the Kano that gave us a future.

On behalf of the thousands of Kano people who have suffered this hardship, I say, “enough is enough”. We demand justice and an end to this misadventure, lest our beloved Kano be reduced to nothing but rubble and tears. This is our story. The story of a city betrayed. The story of a people yearning for a leader, not a destroyer. The story of Kano, waiting to rise from the ashes.

Maina, an anthropologist wrote this piece from Gidan Kofar, Kano.

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Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact [email protected]

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Is It Safe to Invest in Lagos Real Estate? Here’s What You Must Know by Dennis Isong

Published

1 day ago

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May 11, 2025

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Is It Safe to Invest in Lagos Real Estate? Here’s What You Must Know by Dennis Isong In 2018, Chinedu bought a plot of land in Ibeju-Lekki for ₦600,000. At the time, his friends laughed. "Na bush you go buy?" they teased. Even Chinedu had doubts, especially after struggling to locate the land twice. But he had a gut feeling and decided to take the risk. Fast forward to 2024, Chinedu got a call from a developer building around the Lekki Free Trade Zone. They were interested in acquiring his plot. The offer? ₦8.5 million. He thought it was a joke—until the cheque cleared. “I almost sold that land two years ago for ₦1.2 million because I was broke,” he told me, shaking his head with a smile. “But something told me to wait.” Today, that same bush has a tarred road, power poles, and new buildings sprouting like mushrooms. The value keeps rising, and Chinedu is already scouting for his next plot—this time in Epe. His only regret? “I wish I bought three plots instead of one.” That’s Lagos real estate for you. It looks like nothing at first—but if you play your cards right, it could be the best decision of your life. Let’s not beat around the bush—Lagos real estate is hot cake. Everyone seems to be talking about it, whispering about one land deal in Epe or a smart investment in Ibeju-Lekki. The conversations are endless, and so are the questions. But the one that keeps bouncing from one corner of the room to another is this: Is it really safe to invest in Lagos real estate? Well, short answer? Yes. But let’s not stop at “yes.” This is Lagos. Nothing is ever that simple. Before you pull out your wallet or empty your savings app, you need to know a few things that the billboards won’t tell you. First, Why Is Everyone Rushing to Invest in Lagos Real Estate? If Lagos were a person, it would be that loud, fast-talking cousin who always seems to have money flowing from one hustle or the other. Lagos is not just a city—it’s a mood, a movement, a madness that somehow makes financial sense. It’s the commercial heartbeat of Nigeria. And where the heart beats, money flows. From tech bros in Yaba to deep-pocket oil boys in Lekki, everyone is looking for where to park their money, and land is the new bank. Real estate in Lagos has become the golden goose for the smart investor. And why not? Land here doesn’t sleep—it appreciates, sometimes with the arrogance of a billionaire who knows he can't fail. But Wait—Is It Safe? Now, this is where it gets interesting. Lagos isn’t Disneyland. It’s not all shiny buildings and smiling agents. The truth is, there are landmines in the system—some figurative, some legal, and some spiritual (ask anyone who’s ever mistakenly bought “Omonile land”). Yet, thousands of people are making solid money from it. Some have even become landlords from buying land they never visited. How is this possible? It all comes down to how you invest, where you invest, and who you’re dealing with. The Shaky Past, The Bright Future Let’s be honest: Lagos has had its fair share of land drama. The tales are plenty—fake documents, family land disputes, sudden demolitions. These stories are scary, yes, but they’re not the full picture. Over the years, the Lagos real estate sector has matured, especially with government regulations, better documentation processes, and real estate firms who are finally doing things the right way. This is not 1997 when you could buy land and discover later that the “agent” was actually a carpenter with a borrowed suit. Today, with a bit of caution and proper due diligence, you can invest in Lagos real estate and sleep well at night—like a baby who just signed a deed of assignment. Lagos Is Expanding—And That’s a Clue One thing that gives Lagos real estate its strong appeal is urban sprawl. The Lagos of today is not the Lagos of 10 years ago. Places like Sangotedo, Epe, and Ibeju-Lekki used to be jokes in property circles. Now? They’re punchlines of profit. The Dangote Refinery, Lekki Deep Sea Port, and Lekki Free Trade Zone are not just projects—they're magnets. Land prices in these areas are not sitting still. They’re running marathons. If you blink, the same land you ignored in 2022 could be worth double in 2025. So yes, investing in Lagos real estate now may look like buying “bush,” but you know what they say—today's bush is tomorrow’s Banana Island. Let’s Talk About Risk (Because You Should Know) Is there risk? Of course. This is Nigeria. There's risk in crossing the road. But guess what? Risk is also where the money hides. The key to safe investment is not avoiding Lagos real estate—it’s knowing the game and playing it with sense. Don't go in blindly. Don’t let "cheap" deceive you. And please, don’t collect land documents on the back of a recharge card. Use registered surveyors. Work with legit companies. In fact, if the deal sounds like it fell from heaven, double-check that the land isn't under water. Lagos doesn’t forgive carelessness. So, Is It Worth It? If you’re still asking that question, you haven’t met someone who bought land in Ibeju-Lekki at ₦500k five years ago and just sold it for ₦7 million. You haven’t heard the story of the woman who bought three plots in Badagry when nobody was looking, and now developers are begging to buy just one for a small fortune. The truth is, Lagos real estate is like plantain. It may look green today, but give it time—it will ripen beautifully. Final Word (and A Small Nudge) If you're waiting for Lagos to be "perfect" before you invest, you might be waiting forever. Lagos is not perfect. It’s not even pretending to be. But guess what? Its imperfections are where the opportunities hide. While you're hesitating, others are buying. And while you're analyzing, someone else is acquiring. At some point, you’ll look around and realize that the same land you ignored is now behind a gate with a ₦1,000,000 price tag just to inspect it. So, is it safe to invest in Lagos real estate? Absolutely—if you do it wisely. Ask questions. Partner with people who know what they’re doing. Don’t rush, but don’t wait forever. And if you need a guide, someone to help you navigate this crazy but profitable world of Lagos property, you already know who to call. Yes, it’s me—Dennis Isong, your Lagos Realtor Extraordinaire. 👉 STOP LOSING MONEY IN LAGOS REAL ESTATE! Protect your investment with due diligence. Visit: LandProperty.ng/free

Is It Safe to Invest in Lagos Real Estate? Here’s What You Must Know by Dennis Isong

In 2018, Chinedu bought a plot of land in Ibeju-Lekki for ₦600,000. At the time, his friends laughed. “Na bush you go buy?” they teased. Even Chinedu had doubts, especially after struggling to locate the land twice. But he had a gut feeling and decided to take the risk.

Fast forward to 2024, Chinedu got a call from a developer building around the Lekki Free Trade Zone. They were interested in acquiring his plot. The offer? ₦8.5 million. He thought it was a joke—until the cheque cleared.

“I almost sold that land two years ago for ₦1.2 million because I was broke,” he told me, shaking his head with a smile. “But something told me to wait.”

Today, that same bush has a tarred road, power poles, and new buildings sprouting like mushrooms. The value keeps rising, and Chinedu is already scouting for his next plot—this time in Epe.

His only regret?
“I wish I bought three plots instead of one.”

That’s Lagos real estate for you. It looks like nothing at first—but if you play your cards right, it could be the best decision of your life.

Let’s not beat around the bush—Lagos real estate is hot cake. Everyone seems to be talking about it, whispering about one land deal in Epe or a smart investment in Ibeju-Lekki. The conversations are endless, and so are the questions. But the one that keeps bouncing from one corner of the room to another is this:

Is it really safe to invest in Lagos real estate?

Well, short answer? Yes.
But let’s not stop at “yes.” This is Lagos. Nothing is ever that simple. Before you pull out your wallet or empty your savings app, you need to know a few things that the billboards won’t tell you.

First, Why Is Everyone Rushing to Invest in Lagos Real Estate?

If Lagos were a person, it would be that loud, fast-talking cousin who always seems to have money flowing from one hustle or the other. Lagos is not just a city—it’s a mood, a movement, a madness that somehow makes financial sense.

It’s the commercial heartbeat of Nigeria. And where the heart beats, money flows.

From tech bros in Yaba to deep-pocket oil boys in Lekki, everyone is looking for where to park their money, and land is the new bank. Real estate in Lagos has become the golden goose for the smart investor. And why not? Land here doesn’t sleep—it appreciates, sometimes with the arrogance of a billionaire who knows he can’t fail.

But Wait—Is It Safe?

Now, this is where it gets interesting. Lagos isn’t Disneyland. It’s not all shiny buildings and smiling agents. The truth is, there are landmines in the system—some figurative, some legal, and some spiritual (ask anyone who’s ever mistakenly bought “Omonile land”).

Yet, thousands of people are making solid money from it. Some have even become landlords from buying land they never visited. How is this possible?
It all comes down to how you invest, where you invest, and who you’re dealing with.

The Shaky Past, The Bright Future

Let’s be honest: Lagos has had its fair share of land drama. The tales are plenty—fake documents, family land disputes, sudden demolitions. These stories are scary, yes, but they’re not the full picture.

Over the years, the Lagos real estate sector has matured, especially with government regulations, better documentation processes, and real estate firms who are finally doing things the right way. This is not 1997 when you could buy land and discover later that the “agent” was actually a carpenter with a borrowed suit.

Today, with a bit of caution and proper due diligence, you can invest in Lagos real estate and sleep well at night—like a baby who just signed a deed of assignment.

Lagos Is Expanding—And That’s a Clue

One thing that gives Lagos real estate its strong appeal is urban sprawl. The Lagos of today is not the Lagos of 10 years ago. Places like Sangotedo, Epe, and Ibeju-Lekki used to be jokes in property circles. Now? They’re punchlines of profit.

The Dangote Refinery, Lekki Deep Sea Port, and Lekki Free Trade Zone are not just projects—they’re magnets. Land prices in these areas are not sitting still. They’re running marathons. If you blink, the same land you ignored in 2022 could be worth double in 2025.

So yes, investing in Lagos real estate now may look like buying “bush,” but you know what they say—today’s bush is tomorrow’s Banana Island.

Let’s Talk About Risk (Because You Should Know)

Is there risk? Of course. This is Nigeria. There’s risk in crossing the road. But guess what? Risk is also where the money hides.

The key to safe investment is not avoiding Lagos real estate—it’s knowing the game and playing it with sense. Don’t go in blindly. Don’t let “cheap” deceive you. And please, don’t collect land documents on the back of a recharge card.

Use registered surveyors. Work with legit companies. In fact, if the deal sounds like it fell from heaven, double-check that the land isn’t under water. Lagos doesn’t forgive carelessness.

So, Is It Worth It?

If you’re still asking that question, you haven’t met someone who bought land in Ibeju-Lekki at ₦500k five years ago and just sold it for ₦7 million.

You haven’t heard the story of the woman who bought three plots in Badagry when nobody was looking, and now developers are begging to buy just one for a small fortune.

The truth is, Lagos real estate is like plantain. It may look green today, but give it time—it will ripen beautifully.

Final Word (and A Small Nudge)

If you’re waiting for Lagos to be “perfect” before you invest, you might be waiting forever. Lagos is not perfect. It’s not even pretending to be. But guess what? Its imperfections are where the opportunities hide.

While you’re hesitating, others are buying. And while you’re analyzing, someone else is acquiring. At some point, you’ll look around and realize that the same land you ignored is now behind a gate with a ₦1,000,000 price tag just to inspect it.

So, is it safe to invest in Lagos real estate? Absolutely—if you do it wisely.
Ask questions. Partner with people who know what they’re doing. Don’t rush, but don’t wait forever.

And if you need a guide, someone to help you navigate this crazy but profitable world of Lagos property, you already know who to call.
Yes, it’s me—Dennis Isong, your Lagos Realtor Extraordinaire.

👉 STOP LOSING MONEY IN LAGOS REAL ESTATE!
 Protect your investment with due diligence.
Visit: LandProperty.ng/free

Continue Reading

Bank

Fidelity Bank grows PBT by 167.8% to N105.8 billion in Q1 2025

Published

3 days ago

on

May 9, 2025

By

Fidelity Bank grows PBT by 167.8% to N105.8 billion in Q1 2025

Lagos, Nigeria – May 1, 2025 – Fidelity Bank Plc, one of Nigeria’s leading Tier-1 financial institutions, has announced a remarkable financial performance for the first quarter of 2025, recording a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of N105.8 billion, representing an impressive growth of 167.8% compared to N39.5 billion in Q1 2024.

The bank’s unaudited financial statements, released on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) on April 30, 2025, highlight a substantial increase in Gross Earnings, which rose to N315.4 billion, marking a year-on-year growth of 64.2% from N192.1 billion in the same period last year. Growth in interest income was primarily led by 38.6% yoy (7.4% ytd) expansion in earning assets base, while the increase in non -interest revenue came from FX-related income, trade and commission on banking services, etc., supported by increased customer transactions.

Commenting on the bank’s performance, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe,OON, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, stated, “We started the year with triple-digit growth in profit and sustained the momentum in our earning assets growth. This performance shows the resilience of our business model and reinforces our confidence in delivering a better result in the 2025 financial year.”

Other areas of the unaudited financial statements, equally show a marked improvement with Total Deposits growing by 11.1% ytd to N6.6tn from N5.9tn in December 2024, driven by 10.6% ytd growth in low-cost deposits to N6.1tn, which represents 92.2% of total customer deposits. Local currency deposits increased by 2.0% ytd while foreign currency deposits increased by 21.4% from $1.9bn in December 2024 to $2.3bn.

Net Loans and Advances increased by 5.0% ytd to N4.6tn. The growth in the bank’s Loan Book was skewed to LCY Loans as cost of risk declined to 0.6% from 1.5% in 2024FY.

“Beginning the year with such positive momentum reinforces our commitment to supporting the growth of individuals and businesses, while enhancing our financial sustainability. As we go into the rest of the year, we remain focused on building a resilient banking franchise with a diversified earnings base,” Onyeali-Ikpe added.

Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 9.1 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.

The Bank is the recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine. Additionally, the Bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.

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Business

GTCO vs. Very Dark Man: Why Nigerians Must Stop the Judgment of Emotions

Published

1 week ago

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May 4, 2025

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*GTCO vs. Very Dark Man: Why Nigerians Must Stop the Judgment of Emotions*

By Osho Oluwatosin

The internet has literally been on ‘fire’ since Friday following the arrest of self-acclaimed Nigerian activist, Martins Vincent, also known as Very Dark Man. He was reportedly picked up by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for reasons yet unknown.

While it’s not the first time VeryDarkMan or any prominent Nigerian would be arrested by the EFCC — a government agency not under the authority of any private organization — it seems some Nigerians are passionately trying to push a narrative that his arrest was orchestrated by one of Nigeria’s biggest financial institutions, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO).

Although this narrative isn’t far-fetched — VDM had criticized the bank due to ‘mysterious’ deductions from his mother’s bank account for unjustifiable reasons. He approached the bank’s branch in Abuja to make an official complaint and, afterwards, he was picked up by the EFCC. But what many Nigerians have failed to realize is GTCO may not even be involved in his arrest.

VeryDarkMan was seen in the bank, quite alright, but in a CCTV released by the bank, he was seen moving out of the bank when he finished. He even had a celebrity moment with some of his followers who took pictures with him before he was arrested. So I’m wondering, what has GTB got to do with his arrest? That someone got knocked down by a vehicle after leaving church, does it mean the church orchestrated the accident? That someone got attacked after leaving a lecture room, does it mean the lecturer orchestrated it? That someone even got attacked in a courtroom, does it mean the judge orchestrated it? Absolutely not.

Although it would have been better if the EFCC had come out to clear the air regarding the reason for VDM’s arrest, because in the absence of information, rumours are bound to thrive. In fact, the commission should have actually released a statement regarding these rumours, not to vindicate GTB, but to keep Nigerians informed.

Let’s even think about it logically: what can warrant GTCO to order VDM’s arrest by the EFCC? Did he defraud GTCO? Did he steal from a GTB customer? Did he launder money through a GTB account? These are questions that should be asked before passing judgments. But Nigerians are always emotional when it comes to issues like this, and that’s why people who are culpable in serious crimes get away with anything as long as they get involved in charity or activism.

GTCO has been a very friendly organization, and in 2024 alone, the bank paid a record dividend of N8 per share. The bank is happy, shareholders are happy, customers are happy — who is Very Dark Man?

Osho Oluwatosin is a Nigerian journalist and writes from Lagos.

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