BudgIT has appointed Mr. Vahyala Kwaga as Country Director for Nigeria.

The appointment took effect on April 1, 2026.Kwaga was appointed following a leadership transition within the civic-tech organisation.

He brought with him a track record in governance, research, and institutional leadership.

Since joining BudgIT in 2021, Kwaga has held several leadership roles, including Senior Researcher, Head of the Open Government and Institutional Partnerships (OGIP) Unit, Group Head of Research and OGIP, and Deputy Country Director.

In these positions, he contributed to strengthening BudgIT’s research output, deepening its policy engagement, and improving coordination across programmes.

The Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Muhammad Usman Zuru, has died in an Egyptian hospital, where he had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness.

Zuru died on Monday night after a period of ill health. Sources close to the Kebbi State Government confirmed his death, though details about the nature of his illness remain limited.

The deceased Speaker, who represented Zuru Constituency, was widely regarded as a seasoned lawmaker and a key figure in the state’s legislative arm.

An aide to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, Idris Zuru, described the news as shocking.

“The death of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Muhammad Usman Zuru, came to us as a rude shock. It is a painful loss not only to Kebbi State but to the entire nation,” he said.

“We are still gathering full information surrounding his passing. The government will make an official statement and announce burial arrangements in consultation with the family,” Idris Zuru stated.

The Benue State Government has confirmed the successful evacuation of all students of Benue State origin studying at the University of Jos following the crisis currently affecting the area.

The evacuation was carried out in line with the directive of the Executive Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Reverend Father Hyacinth Iormem Alia.

The General Manager of Benue Links Nigeria Limited, Comrade Alexander Aondohemba Fanafa said the third and final batch of student evacuees arrived at the company’s headquarters and bus terminal in Makurdi, Benue State on Saturday the 4th of April.Comrade Fanafa explained that a total of seventy-seven (77) vehicles were deployed in three batches to convey the students safely from Jos, the Plateau State capital.

He attributed the success of the operation to the proactive leadership of Governor Hyacinth Alia and the effective collaboration among government agencies, including the Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management and the Bureau of Homeland Security.

The General Manager also expressed appreciation to the security operatives who escorted the students from Jos, commending their professionalism in ensuring the safety of the students throughout the journey.

He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to implementing all transport policies of the Governor Alia administration.Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Doctor. Margaret Adamu, described the exercise as a clear demonstration of the Governor’s commitment to the safety and welfare of Benue indigenes.

She noted that the evacuation directive was issued immediately upon receiving reports of the crisis, emphasizing that the administration places a high premium on education and the well-being of students.

Earlier, the Director General of the Bureau of Homeland Security, Air Commodore Jacob Gbamwuan (rtd.), stated that the success of the operation was made possible through swift coordination between security agencies and the State owned transport company, enabling the rapid deployment of buses and security escorts.

He reassured citizens that the administration remains vigilant and committed to protecting the lives and interests of Benue people both within and outside the state.

In their separate appreciation messages, the President of the University of Jos Chapter of the National Union of Benue State Students (NUBESS), Mchivga Iornder, and the National President of the Benue State Medical and Dental Students Association, Williams Kachira, commended Governor Alia for the prompt intervention and confirmed that all Benue students at the University of Jos have been successfully evacuated.

A statement its Information Officer Johnson Ehi Daniel revealed that Benue Links Nigeria Limited also provided additional vehicles to convey some of the students from Makurdi to their respective Local Government Areas across the state.