Atiku, X user clash over Almajiri crisis, street begging

Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has clashed with an X user, Oluwa Bunmi, over the persistent Almajiri crisis and the continued presence of children involved in street begging in northern Nigeria.

The exchange followed a post by Bunmi on Friday in which the X user questioned Atiku’s record on the issue, particularly during his eight-year tenure as Vice President of Nigeria between 1999 and 2007.

Bunmi tagged Atiku in a post featuring children carrying begging bowls and asked whether the former vice president had ever taken steps to address the situation.

“Have you ever addressed this, sir? You were VP for 8 years, these innocent children are in your region and you couldn’t do anything to stop this calamity,” Bunmi wrote.

Responding, Atiku acknowledged the seriousness of the problem but defended his record on education and interventions for vulnerable children, pointing to initiatives associated with the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola, Adamawa State.

“I understand your concern, @Oluwabunmi63697. The sight of children begging on our streets should trouble every Nigerian,” Atiku said.

The former vice president explained that he established AUN in Yola as part of his effort to contribute to education and development in the North-East.

According to Atiku, the decision to locate the institution in Yola was deliberate because he wanted to expand access to quality education in a region he believed required greater investment.

“If profit had been my primary motivation, I could easily have located the university in Abuja or Lagos, where the commercial advantages would have been greater,” he said.

“I chose Yola because I wanted to invest in my people, create opportunities, and bring world-class education closer to a region that had long needed greater access and development.”

Atiku also rejected suggestions that AUN was established as a personal or family asset.

He said he had signed a deed of gift transferring ownership of the institution to the community.

“And as I have publicly stated before, this university is not my personal property or that of my family,” he said.

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“I have already signed a deed of gift transferring it to the community. AUN belongs to the community it was established to serve.”

Atiku further cited AUN’s Feed and Read programme, which he said was created to provide vulnerable Almajiri children with food while helping them acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills.

“Beyond its classrooms, AUN created the Feed and Read programme, providing vulnerable Almajiri children with daily meals while teaching them literacy and numeracy,” he said.

The programme has been documented by AUN as an initiative aimed at supporting children who are outside the formal education system.

The university has previously reported graduating cohorts of children from the programme, with the initiative designed to provide basic education and help beneficiaries transition into formal schooling.

Atiku also highlighted AUN’s Technology-Enhanced Learning for All (TELA) initiative, saying it provided educational support to more than 20,000 internally displaced children through educational radio programmes.

The programme was developed to reach children affected by displacement and insecurity, particularly those who had been unable to access conventional classrooms.

Atiku said AUN’s interventions were part of his broader belief that education should be used to create opportunities for children facing difficult circumstances.

He also referred to the university’s response to the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, saying AUN awarded scholarships to some of the young women who escaped captivity.

“Following the Chibok tragedy in 2014, seven years after I left office, AUN awarded scholarships to young women who had escaped Boko Haram, giving them an opportunity to rebuild their lives through education,” Atiku said.

The former vice president stressed that his commitment to education extended beyond his time in public office.

“My conviction remains simple: every child belongs in a classroom, not on the street with a begging bowl,” he said.

“Whether in government or outside it, I have always sought to turn that conviction into practical action.”

The exchange has renewed public attention on the Almajiri system, a traditional Islamic education arrangement in northern Nigeria under which children may leave their homes to study Islamic teachings under Mallams.

The Almajiri system itself is not synonymous with street begging. However, concerns have persisted over the welfare and educational conditions of some children enrolled in the system, particularly those who lack adequate food, shelter, healthcare or access to formal education.

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Some children involved in the system are seen begging on streets and in public places, making the issue a major component of Nigeria’s wider out-of-school children crisis.

The problem has remained particularly pronounced in parts of northern Nigeria, where poverty, insecurity, limited access to schools and other socioeconomic challenges have contributed to difficulties in ensuring that children remain in education.

The Federal Government has attempted to address the challenge through the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education (NCAOOSCE).

The commission is responsible for coordinating policies and programmes aimed at improving access to education for Almajiri and other out-of-school children, including efforts to integrate Qur’anic education with basic and formal education.

The commission has also reported establishing learning centres and undertaking community mobilisation efforts aimed at encouraging vulnerable children to return to education.

However, the scale of Nigeria’s out-of-school children problem means that government interventions continue to face significant challenges.

The issue has also increasingly become part of political debates ahead of elections, with politicians from northern Nigeria regularly facing questions about what their administrations have done to reduce child begging and improve access to education.

Atiku’s latest response did not provide a detailed breakdown of specific federal government policies implemented during his tenure as vice president to eliminate street begging among Almajiri children.

Instead, he pointed to education initiatives associated with AUN and interventions he has supported outside government.

That distinction has become central to the debate triggered by Bunmi’s post, with the X user focusing on Atiku’s record while in government and Atiku responding by highlighting his broader educational contributions.

The exchange also reflects the difficulty of separating the responsibilities of individual political leaders from the wider structural causes of the Almajiri and street-begging crisis.

Issues such as poverty, parental displacement, limited school infrastructure, insecurity and inadequate social protection have all contributed to the persistence of vulnerable children outside formal education.

As the country moves towards the 2027 general election, education and child welfare are expected to remain important issues in political campaigns, particularly in northern states.

Atiku, who is seeking the presidency under the ADC, is likely to face further scrutiny over his record in public office and his proposals for addressing poverty, education and youth development.

For now, his response to the X user has shifted the conversation from a direct question about his eight years as vice president to his wider record and continuing involvement in education and support for vulnerable children.

The debate has also placed the plight of children seen begging on Nigerian streets back in the public spotlight, highlighting the need for sustained policies that address both access to education and the underlying socioeconomic conditions driving children into vulnerable situations.

Atiku, X user clash over Almajiri crisis, street begging

Gombe 2027: Pantami dominates online poll with 83.91% of 58,358 votes

Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has recorded a commanding lead in two separate online polls ahead of the 2027 Gombe State governorship election, attracting more than three-quarters of the votes in both exercises.

The latest poll, conducted by Gombawa, a platform focused on developments in Gombe State, showed Pantami securing 48,968 votes out of 58,358 votes cast, representing 83.91 per cent of the total.

The result, recorded as of 6:32 a.m. on Monday, August 31, 2026, placed the former minister far ahead of former Deputy Governor Jamilu Isiyaku Gwamna, who polled 7,213 votes, representing 12.36 per cent.

Bala Bello Tinka received 2,177 votes, representing 3.73 per cent of the total votes recorded in the poll.

Pantami’s 48,968 votes were more than four times the combined 9,390 votes received by Gwamna and Tinka.

The Gombawa result came days after another online poll on the Gombe 2027 governorship race conducted by journalist Mustapha Musa Kaita of TRT Afrika.

In the August 24 poll, Pantami received 521 of the 676 responses, representing 77.07 per cent.

Gwamna polled 92 votes, representing 13.61 per cent, while 63 responses, or 9.32 per cent, were recorded as invalid.

The results of the two online exercises have generated renewed attention around Pantami’s 2027 Gombe governorship ambition, particularly as political parties and candidates intensify preparations for the election.

However, the poll results should not be interpreted as a scientific prediction of the outcome of the election.

Both exercises were conducted online, meaning participation was voluntary and largely limited to people who had access to the platforms and chose to participate. The results therefore reflect the preferences of participants in the respective polls rather than the voting intentions of all registered voters in Gombe State.

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Despite the limitation, Pantami’s strong performance in the two exercises provides his supporters with a notable indication of his popularity among the online audiences reached by the polls.

The development also comes against the backdrop of major political realignments in Gombe State ahead of the 2027 election.

Pantami, who previously belonged to the All Progressives Congress (APC), is now the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 election.

He emerged as the PDP candidate after securing the party’s ticket in May 2026.

His emergence followed a political dispute within the APC over the process for selecting its governorship candidate in the state.

Pantami had rejected the APC consensus arrangement that produced former Deputy Governor Jamilu Gwamna as the party’s preferred candidate, arguing that the process did not meet the requirements for a valid consensus.

He subsequently left the APC and joined the PDP, where he secured the opposition party’s governorship ticket.

The former minister later received the PDP’s Certificate of Return, formally confirming him as the party’s candidate for the 2027 Gombe governorship election.

Pantami’s political profile has been strengthened by his previous experience in federal government, having served as Minister of Communications and Digital Economy under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

His supporters have repeatedly highlighted his record in public service, particularly his role in Nigeria’s digital economy drive, as one of the factors behind his growing political profile in Gombe.

Pantami has also said concerns about poverty and the need for more inclusive development influenced his decision to seek the governorship of the state.

His campaign will, however, have to translate his national profile and reported online popularity into a strong grassroots political structure across Gombe.

The eventual election is expected to be influenced by several factors, including party structures, grassroots mobilisation, campaign organisation, political alliances, voter registration, geographical spread of support and voter turnout.

The strength of each candidate’s organisation across Gombe’s three senatorial districts is also expected to play a significant role as the election approaches.

For Pantami, one of the major tests will be whether the support reflected in online polls can be converted into sustained support among voters who may not participate in social-media or internet-based surveys.

The size of an online poll should also not automatically be confused with representativeness. Although the Gombawa exercise attracted more than 58,000 votes, the figure does not by itself establish that the participants accurately represent the wider Gombe electorate.

A scientific opinion poll normally uses a defined sampling methodology designed to reflect the characteristics of the population being studied.

The latest online results should therefore be regarded as a measure of online voter sentiment rather than an authoritative forecast of the 2027 election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the Gombe State governorship election for March 6, 2027, leaving several months for political developments, alliances and voter preferences to change before election day.

The period leading to the election is therefore expected to witness increased campaign activities, political defections, grassroots mobilisation and debates over the records and programmes of the various candidates.

The contest between the major political parties could also become increasingly competitive as candidates seek to establish structures across the state.

For now, Pantami’s performance in the two online polls has given his campaign a significant talking point, particularly after recording 83.91 per cent of 58,358 votes in the latest exercise.

Whether that online momentum can translate into broader grassroots support and ultimately votes at the ballot box, however, will only become clearer as the Gombe 2027 governorship election draws closer.

Gombe 2027: Pantami dominates online poll with 83.91% of 58,358 votes

Amaechi: Atiku will restore electricity subsidy if elected in 2027

Former Rivers State governor and African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, has said the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, will restore electricity subsidy if elected president in the 2027 presidential election.

Amaechi made the declaration on Thursday during ward visits across Omuma Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he campaigned for the ADC and presented Atiku’s message to residents.

The former governor criticised the electricity tariff policies of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, arguing that changes in the power sector had increased the financial burden on electricity consumers.

Using his personal electricity bill as an example, Amaechi claimed that his monthly bill had risen from N500,000 to N4 million.

“My house electricity bill was N500,000; now I pay N4 million. Atiku said if he comes, I will go back to N500,000. No more Band A and B because government will subsidise it,” he said. (Vanguard News)

Amaechi said Atiku had promised to reintroduce government support for electricity costs if elected, arguing that such intervention would make power more affordable for households and businesses.

“Atiku said I should tell you people that he will bring back the subsidy. Tinubu removed subsidy for electricity bill. He said Band A, B and C,” Amaechi said.

His comments come amid an ongoing debate over the future of electricity subsidies in Nigeria, with the Federal Government seeking to reduce its financial burden on the power sector.

Nigeria operates a differentiated electricity tariff system in which consumers are placed in service bands according to the number of hours of supply they are expected to receive. Band A customers are expected to receive at least 20 hours of electricity supply per day, while Bands B, C, D and E have progressively lower minimum supply requirements.

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The tariff structure was designed to link the amount consumers pay more closely to the level of electricity service they receive.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) increased the tariff for Band A customers in April 2024, moving the rate from N66 to N225 per kilowatt-hour. The regulator said the review was intended to reduce the government’s subsidy burden while supporting improvements in electricity supply.

Despite the tariff reforms, the Federal Government has continued to spend significant sums to subsidise electricity.

According to figures contained in the government’s Economic Reform Scorecard, the Federal Government spent N3.14 trillion on electricity subsidies between June 2023 and December 2025 to cushion consumers from the impact of higher electricity tariffs. The subsidy expenditure rose from N177 billion in 2023 to N1.48 trillion in 2024 and stood at N1.47 trillion in 2025. (TheCable)

The government has, however, announced plans to gradually phase out electricity subsidy payments from 2027.

Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe said in July that the government planned to end the subsidy regime from next year as part of efforts to address the financial challenges confronting the power sector.

Tegbe also said the planned phase-out should not be interpreted as an immediate increase in electricity tariffs, stressing that the government was focused on improving supply, expanding metering and making the sector more financially sustainable.

The policy position puts the Federal Government and the opposition ADC on different sides of an increasingly important issue ahead of the 2027 elections.

While the government argues that continued subsidies place a heavy financial burden on public finances and that the power sector needs a more sustainable funding model, Amaechi is campaigning on a promise that an Atiku administration would restore government support for electricity consumers.

Amaechi also attacked the Tinubu administration over the removal of petrol subsidy, blaming the policy for higher transportation costs and rising prices of food and other essential commodities.

“He (Tinubu) just held microphone and didn’t care. He just said remove subsidy. Since he removed subsidy, transportation increased, food prices increased — tomatoes, corn, everything,” he said.

The former governor further linked the country’s insecurity crisis to worsening economic conditions, particularly for farmers.

According to Amaechi, insecurity has made it increasingly difficult for farmers to access their farms, affecting food production and contributing to higher prices.

“Insecurity also increased. You no even fit go farm, and government doesn’t care,” he said.

He then reiterated Atiku’s proposed subsidy policy, saying: “Atiku said he will bring back subsidy. If Atiku brings back subsidy, everything will come down.”

Amaechi’s comments form part of the ADC’s campaign ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with the opposition party positioning economic hardship, electricity costs, fuel prices, food inflation and insecurity as key issues for voters.

The former governor’s claim that his electricity bill increased from N500,000 to N4 million was presented as a personal example of the financial impact he associates with the current tariff regime. The claim has not been independently verified in the reports reviewed.

The broader debate over electricity subsidy is expected to intensify as the government moves towards its planned 2027 phase-out and political parties develop competing proposals for reducing the cost of electricity while ensuring the financial sustainability of the power sector.

For the ADC, Amaechi’s promise that Atiku would restore electricity subsidy provides a direct political response to the Federal Government’s plan, placing electricity tariffs and subsidy policy among the issues likely to dominate the 2027 election campaign.

Amaechi: Atiku will restore electricity subsidy if elected in 2027