NEWS
Emir names Kwara Gov Sardaunan Ilorin, lauds AbdulRazaq’s leadership qualities
•Gov commends Emir for promoting peace
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has been named the Sardaunan Ilorin, a prestigious title that the Emir of Ilorin Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari said compensates for the Governor’s love for and investment in the culture and tradition of Nigeria’s southernmost Emirate.
That makes the Governor the second Sardauna of the ancient town. His predecessor — and the first person to hold the title in Ilorin — was the multibillionaire philanthropist Alhaji Umar Saro who died a few years ago.
Sir Ahmadu Bello, arguably the most venerated politician in the old northern Nigeria in living memory, was mostly known for his Sardauna of Sokoto title.
At a brief event announcing the traditional title, the Emir commended Governor Abdulrazaq for his leadership qualities and his efforts to promote the interest of the community, including his unmatched support for the Durbar.
Reputed for his humility,
hands-on approach to governance, and commitment to people’s welfare, the Governor had earlier been given different traditional titles across the state, such as Soludero of Offa Kingdom; Sadaukin Lafiagi; Kauran Kaiama; and Akorede of Oro Kingdom, among others.
The Emir commended the Governor for his excellent leadership role in the state and at the national level as NGF chairman.
“I am convinced that Governor AbdulRazaq is not only popular, but he also believes in and promotes our tradition and custom. He made sure he participated actively in the annual Ilorin Grand Durbar. So he deserves the honour of a Chieftaincy title to do more. For this reason and by my prerogative power, I confer on you the Sardauna of Ilorin from today,” the Emir declared.
“In our long-standing practices, one of the prominent qualities we always consider before conferring chieftaincy titles is popularity. We usually consider whether or not such a person is famous within his immediate community and beyond.
“From all indications, Governor AbdulRazaq is popular both at home and abroad, and widely celebrated, to the extent of being chosen as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.”
The Emir described AbdulRazaq as a lover and promoter of peace, an attribute he noted is responsible for the Governor’s continued progress.
“Let us be thankful to God that we are gifted this kind of Governor. Despite all forms of security challenges across the country, Kwara has been relatively peaceful. We must give credit to the God Almighty who accepts our prayers, and to the Governor for encouraging peace. That is why he has been progressive and he will continue to progress,” he added.
The Governor thanked the Emir for the traditional title, which he said is an encouragement to do more for the community and the people.
“On the conferment of the Sardauna of Ilorin title, it is said that it is not an ordinary title, going by the antecedents of those who have occupied the position across Nigeria. We are truly grateful and this encourages us to do more for our communities. Thank you very much indeed, Your Royal Highness,” Governor Abdulrazaq said.
The Governor commended the Emir and other traditional rulers for maintaining peace and stability in their domains, saying the Northern Nigeria Governors’ Forum believes that constitutional roles be given to the traditional rulers in the country.
“Today’s visit was to thank the traditional council personalified by his Royal Highness, the Emir of Ilorin, and to also thank him for the peace we enjoy during the protest across Nigeria”, the Governor said.
On the Governor’s entourage to the Emir’s Palace were the Majority Leader Kwara House of Assembly Hon. Oba AbdulKadir Magaji; cabinet members and other top officials of government, including Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development Abubakar Abdullahi Bata; Commissioner for Communications Bola Olukoju; Special Adviser and Counsellor to the Governor Alhaji Sa’adu Salau; Special Adviser on Special Duties Alhaji Abdulrazhaq Jiddah; Non Executive Director NNPCL Dr Ghali Alaya; and party chieftains.
The Governor, meanwhile, has expressed his condolences to the Emir over the death of the mother of Sarkin Gobir, Alhaji Muhammadu Issa Bawa, which happened recently.
Zamfara State Executive Governor, Dr Dauda Lawal has commended the troops for their efforts and commitment to the fight against banditry in the state.On Saturday, the Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU) of the Zamfara Police Command successfully recovered 329 cattle and 175 sheep from bandits in the Gambanda forest in Gummi Local Government.Governor Lawal, while appreciating the troops, described the Zamfara State Police’s renewed efforts as encouraging and promising in the fight against banditry.He said, “I commend the effort of all the security operatives in Zamfara State, especially the Zamfara State Police Command, for its resilience, bravery and commitment in recovering 329 cattle, 175 sheep, weapons and ammunition from bandits.”The police engaged and overpowered the bandits in Gambanda forest in Gummi local government area, which led to the recovery.”This commendable action reflects their tireless work in the face of challenges posed by criminal elements and underscores the police’s role in protecting the livelihoods of the people of Zamfara State.”The remarkable display of bravery and the successful recovery of livestock and weapons highlight the strong leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Muhammad Bello. His guidance has been instrumental in improving public safety and combating banditry.”My administration remains committed to providing support to all security agencies in their efforts to ensure safety and security for our people.”
The Zamfara State Government is pleased to announce that His Excellency, Governor Dauda Lawal, has approved the payment of allowances/stipends to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in the state. The approval reflects the administration’s unwavering commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of corps members who are contributing to the development of various sectors across Zamfara State.
The approval covers corps members from Batch A Stream I and II up to Batch C Stream I and II. Through this gesture, the government recognizes and appreciates the patriotism, dedication, and selfless service being rendered by the young graduates in education, healthcare, agriculture, and other areas critical to the growth and progress of the state.
Governor Dauda Lawal has directed the Office of the Accountant General to put in place all necessary arrangements to facilitate the implementation of the approval. The government is committed to ensuring that the process is carried out smoothly and in accordance with established procedures.
The Zamfara State Government remains grateful to the NYSC members for choosing to serve in the state and for their invaluable contributions to community development.
The administration will continue to prioritize initiatives aimed at supporting corps members and creating an enabling environment that will allow them to discharge their national responsibilities effectively.
Aviation
From Doha to the World: Qatar Airways Takes Off to Over 160 Global Destinations This Summer
• The World’s Best Airline, as voted by Skytrax in 2025 for the ninth time, is adding 26 destinations to its network
• With its return to iconic gateways in Asia and Europe and the launch of new routes in the Americas, the airline is restoring connectivity to key global markets • Qatar Airways’ award-winning travel experience includes secure and seamless transfers through its Hamad International Airport hub, and inflight connectivity with Starlink – the fastest Wi-Fi in the sky DOHA, Qatar – Qatar Airways continues to deliver on its commitment to network restoration, and is steadily expanding its reach to more than 160 gateways for the ease and convenience of international travellers. The airline is returning to 26 destinations in key global markets. The World’s Best Airline, as voted by Skytrax in 2025 for the ninth time, resumed safe and secure operations from March 2026 to over 60 destinations. It gradually began rebuilding its network to facilitate connectivity across the globe, and will now serve more than 160 destinations this summer. Qatar Airways’ award-winning passenger experience is delivered on the tenets of operational reliability and safety. The airline delivered 84.42% on-time performance in 2025, which has been recognised by Cirium – the leading aviation analytics organisation, with the prestigious Platinum Award for Operational Excellence. Travellers also benefit from seamless transfers through Qatar Airways’ hub, Hamad International Airport. A destination in its own right, Hamad International Airport is home to Qatar Duty Free’s extensive portfolio of diverse lifestyle and dining outlets for travellers from every walk of life. The travel experience is made more rewarding through the airline’s loyalty programme, Privilege Club. Members can earn and spend Avios during their journey to unlock future benefits. The airline’s onboard experience is supported by Starlink, the fastest Wi-Fi in the sky. More than 140 Qatar Airways aircraft are equipped with Starlink, making it the world’s first and largest Starlink-equipped widebody fleet. Passengers in both Premium and Economy cabins enjoy Wi-Fi speeds of up to 500 Mbps per aircraft. Qatar Airways’ Summer 2026 Global Network: Along with the previously announced Port Sudan (PZU) route to be launched on 2 July, the airline is returning to the following African destinations: • Kigali (KGL), Rwanda, with two weekly flights • Seychelles (SEZ), Seychelles, with four weekly flights • Marrakesh (RAK), Morocco, with seven weekly flights With service to Caracas (CCS) and Bogotá (BOG) starting from 22 July, its return to Philadelphia (PHL) from 1 August, Qatar Airways is reinstating its network in the Americas with four weekly flights to Boston (BOS). As the Official Airline Partner of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Qatar Airways is increasing its service to Boston from four to seven weekly flights to support fan travel during football’s biggest tournament. Additional FIFA host cities supported by Qatar Airways’ increased flights include: • Los Angeles (LAX), USA: increased from four to seven weekly flights • Miami (MIA), USA: increased from seven to 10 weekly flights • San Francisco (SFO), USA: increased from four to seven weekly flights In Asia and Asia Pacific, the airline is returning to the following destinations: • Adelaide (ADL), Australia, with seven weekly flights • Almaty (ALA), Kazakhstan, with seven weekly flights • Auckland (AKL), New Zealand, with seven weekly flights • Baku (GYD), Azerbaijan, with seven weekly flights • Osaka (KIX), Japan, with five weekly flights • Tashkent (TAS), Uzbekistan, with four weekly flights • Tbilisi (TBS), Georgia, with seven weekly flights • Tokyo Haneda (HND), Japan, with four weekly flights (increased to seven weekly flights from 1 August) • Yerevan (EVN), Armenia, with four weekly flights Qatar Airways’ expanded service in Europe includes the following destinations: • Belgrade (BEG), Serbia, with four weekly flights • Brussels (BRU), Belgium, with seven weekly flights • Budapest (BUD), Hungary, with four weekly flights • Düsseldorf (DUS), Germany, with seven weekly flights • Helsinki (HEL), Finland, with four weekly flights (increased to seven weekly flights from 1 August) • Lisbon (LIS), Portugal, with seven weekly flights • Oslo (OSL), Norway, with seven weekly flights • Prague (PRG), Czech Republic, with seven weekly flights • Zagreb (ZAG), Croatia, with four weekly flights
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