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Kaduna youth hawk ‘sand’ to help parents, sponsor education

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Some youths in Kaduna have resorted to hawking water-filtered sand to meet the financial needs of their parents and foot the bills of their education.

Our correspondent reports that while some of them hawk sand in their wheelbarrows, others package same by the side of culverts or sloppy areas where such fine sand accumulate as a result of running rain water.

One of them, Isaac Khaza, aged 20, said he took to this trade to support his parents by sponsoring the education of his younger brother.

Khaza told our correspondent that he hoped to save money to return to school to fulfill his dream of becoming a lawyer.

He said he was saving money to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) , to enable him secure admission to a university.

“I completed my secondary school education three years ago, but had only two credits in both Government and Religious Studies, but I still want to save money and register for NECO next year.

“For now, I’m helping my parents meet family demands and also sponsor my kid brother, who is still in secondary school,” Khaza said.

He further disclosed that he usually made between N2,000 to N5,000 weekly, depending on volume of sand collected from drains and road sides whenever it rained.

“The amount of sand usually depends on the volume of rainfall, so, the more the rain, the more the sand that accumulate in the gutters and road sides.

“In fact, those who sell sand in dumper vehicles buy from us because to them, it is cost effective, but we are still happy when they buy and even ask for more.

“The price of sand sometimes depends on quantity and bargaining power of the parties involved, but a wheelbarrow filled with sand is sold for N300, and sometimes, I sell at least two to three sand-full of wheelbarrows daily.

“From the money I make, I help augment my younger brother’s school fees, meet personal needs and save part of it ahead of my plans to further my education,” he explained.

Mrs Jemimah Khaza, a trader and mother of Isaac , described her son as strong and determined person, with great aspirations.

She admitted that her son supported the family, saying he would always call to give money needed for one item or the other in the house, besides supporting his younger brother, who is in JSS 1.

“We pray for them always and also admonish them to avoid any form of unwholesome activity,” she said.

She advised other youths staying idle without engaging in any venture, to take a cue by engaging in meaningful activities capable of changing their lives for better .

Another Sand vendor, Francis David, said the business was fulfilling as people were often busy renovating or constructing houses during the rainy season.

“In Narayi for instance, we sell a wheel barrow filled with sand for between N250 to N300, as such, one makes good turnover if lucky enough to collect a reasonable quantity of sand,” he said.

Another youth, Usman Babale, narrated same experience, saying that it was better getting involved in menial jobs, instead of sitting idle and relying on friend and well-wishers.

However, all those engaged in the trade lamented that some road users and pedestrians were never considerate as they (motorists and pedestrians) often drove their vehicles or walk over heap of sand kept for sale, thereby scattering same.

Mr Sa’idu Anga, a builder, said he patronised the youth because of their passion for the menial job.

“It is usually difficult for petty sand vendors to meet the demand of any builder undertaking a construction.

“But sometimes, depending on the project, whether it is a new or renovation work, we still patronise petty sand vendors because they always come handy and save us from incurring high cost,” he explained.

Samaila Dogo, a contractor noted that quality of sand collected by petty vendors was sometimes better than those sold in larger quantity.

“The boys take their time to filter the sharp sand from unwanted material, which is not always the case when you buy in large quantity.

“Another advantage with the vendors is that one can easily buy sand in small quantity, in the event of carrying out minor renovation or construction work,” Dogo added.

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Defence/Security

Banditry: Rep member condemns attack on Kwara community

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Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Member representing Ekiti/Isin/Irepodun/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Raheem Tunji Olawuyi Ajuloopin, has strongly condemned the recent attack in Idofin Odo-Ashe, Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State, describing it as a cowardly act that seeks to disrupt the peace and stability of the community.

Hon. Ajuloopin, in a statement personally signed by him, expressed deep concern over the unfortunate incident and sympathised with the victims, their families, and the entire community affected by the dastardly attack, emphasising that acts of violence have no place in a civilised society, and therefore urged security agencies to intensify efforts in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

While commending the swift response of both the federal and Kwara State governments, as well as the security agencies and local vigilante groups, the lawmaker reiterated that the fight against insecurity requires collective responsibility, calling on traditional rulers, community leaders, and residents to remain vigilant and cooperate fully with security operatives by providing timely and credible information.

“Security is everyone’s business. We cannot afford to leave the safety of our communities solely to government agencies. Every citizen must be actively involved in safeguarding our environment and ensuring that peace prevails,” Hon. Ajuloopin admonished.

He reaffirmed his commitment to continued collaboration with relevant authorities to ensure that lasting peace in all parts of Kwara South and beyond.

Hon. Ajuloopin also appealed for calm, assuring that both the federal and state governments are working tirelessly to address the root causes of insecurity and prevent future occurrences.

End

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Governor Namadi Attends High profile Ministerial Meeting On Self-Sufficiency In Cairo

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From Hassan Taiye

Governor Umar Namadi is currently in Cairo,Arab Republic of Egypt, attending the Third High-Level Ministerial Meeting on Rice Self-Sufficiency, holding from October 7th to 9th, 2025, in Cairo and Sakha.

The meeting, themed “Towards Rice-Based Agri-Food Systems Transformation and Delivering on Rice Self-Sufficiency through Peer-to-Peer Learning: The Case of the Arab Republic of Egypt,” is jointly organized by the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, AfricaRice, the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD), and other key continental partners.

This high-level gathering brings together African Ministers of Agriculture, State Governors, and agricultural leaders to share practical experiences on achieving rice self-sufficiency and agricultural transformation.

The event will showcase Egypt’s remarkable progress in achieving rice self-sufficiency despite its limited water and land resources, offering valuable lessons adaptable to other African contexts.
Namadi is participating alongside top policymakers, agricultural experts, and private sector players from across Africa to discuss innovations, policy reforms, and strategic investments aimed at strengthening food security and transforming the agricultural sector on the continent.

Over the three-day programme, delegates will engage in high-level ministerial sessions, technical discussions, and a field visit to Egypt’s renowned Rice Research and Training Centre (RRTC) in Sakha.

During the visit, participants will interact directly with Egyptian scientists and farmers to learn about the country’s advancements in high-yield rice varieties, efficient irrigation systems, and modern post-harvest technologies.

Jigawa State’s participation in this important forum underscores the state’s commitment to agricultural transformation, food self-sufficiency, and consolidating Jigawa’s position as one of Nigeria’s leading hubs for rice production and agribusiness development.

The meeting is expected to conclude with a Ministerial Declaration setting a continental roadmap for achieving rice self-sufficiency through collaborative research, policy coordination, and targeted investment across the rice value chain.

Governor Namadi is accompanied by senior officials from the Jigawa State Ministry of Agriculture and related agencies.

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There’s Political Genocide Against Christians in Northern Nigeria – Aisha Yesufu

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By: Fabian Apechihin

Sociopolitical activist Aisha Yesufu has accused Nigerian political leaders of perpetuating what she described as a “political genocide” against Christians in Northern Nigeria.

Yesufu made the remark on Tuesday in response to American comedian and TV host Bill Maher, who recently alleged that Nigerian Christians are facing coordinated attacks.

Maher, speaking on his HBO show, said, “I’m not a Christian, but they are systematically killing Christians in Nigeria. They’ve killed over 100,000 since 2009 and burned 18,000 churches. These are the Islamists, Boko Haram.”

Reacting via her X handle, Yesufu criticized what she called hypocrisy among Nigerian politicians who express concern over Christian persecution yet supported the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket during the 2023 elections.

“You are shouting that Northern Christians are being persecuted, but you championed a Muslim-Muslim ticket! Their Christianity was not Christian enough for you during the 2023 election,” she wrote.

She concluded by calling for greater attention to what she termed the “political genocide” against Northern Christians, urging consistency in both words and actions when addressing religious and political marginalization in Nigeria.

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