A new television series, MAFARKI (Dream), produced by Uzee Usman in collaboration with ROK Studios Nigeria, is set to premiere tonight, April 16.
The series will air on ROK 2 on DSTV channel 169 and GOTV channel 10, showing Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm.

According to the producers, MAFARKI is one of the biggest series to emerge from Northern Nigeria, reflecting ongoing efforts to expand the region’s presence in Nollywood.

The project is a partnership between Usman and Mary Njoku, whose studio is behind the production.

The series features a cast including to veterans in the game of movie Ali Nuhu, Uzee Usman, Tope Olowoniyan, Chelsea Eze, Rabiu Rikadawa, Eve Esin and Abdul Zada.

It also introduces a new face, Blossom Okpaleke.

Speaking on the storyline to journalists on Abuja, Uzee said the series centres on a young girl whose dream of becoming a medical doctor is hindered by socio-cultural and economic challenges in Northern Nigeria.

“MAFARKI tells the story of resilience, how a young girl in Northern Nigeria fights against all odds to achieve her dream, despite the realities surrounding her,” Uzee Usman explained.

He noted that the production highlights the everyday struggles faced by the Northern girl-child in pursuing education and personal ambitions.

The producers added that the performance of debutant Okpaleke stands out, describing it as a compelling interpretation of the lead role.

MAFARKI, they said, delivers a fresh narrative aimed at sparking conversations around gender, opportunity and resilience in the region.

A civil society group, the Concerned Citizens Network, has called for the immediate dismissal of Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), over allegations of gross incompetence and abuse of office.

The group made the demand on Thursday while addressing journalists at the Federal Ministry of Health in Abuja.

Speaking on behalf of the group, its President, Ndubuisi Nwogu, criticised NAFDAC’s enforcement of a ban on sachet alcohol and alcoholic beverages packaged in small PET bottles, describing the policy as “arbitrary, unlawful, and economically damaging.”

Nwogu argued that the enforcement contradicts the National Alcohol Policy approved by the Federal Ministry of Health and violates a presidential directive restraining NAFDAC from disrupting affected businesses pending the outcome of a joint committee review.

He further stated that the agency’s actions disregard resolutions of the House of Representatives, which had, after a public hearing with stakeholders, directed NAFDAC to suspend implementation of the ban, describing it as anti-people.

“The decision is not only ill-timed but capable of triggering widespread economic and social consequences,” Nwogu said. “It undermines the economic reform agenda of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and threatens the survival of legitimate businesses operating within the law.”

The group warned that the ban could result in job losses across the alcohol production value chain and encourage the proliferation of illicit and unregulated products in the market.

According to Nwogu, this could reduce government revenue and expose consumers to unsafe alternatives.

He also dismissed claims that sachet alcohol significantly contributes to abuse, arguing that smaller packaging can help moderate consumption.

Nwogu added that industry stakeholders have invested heavily in campaigns promoting responsible drinking and restricting access to underage consumers.

While acknowledging the need for effective regulation of harmful products, the group insisted that such policies must be driven by credible data and broad stakeholder engagement rather than “unverified claims and emotional considerations.”

The Concerned Citizens Network, therefore, urged President Tinubu to act decisively by removing Adeyeye from office, stating that her continued leadership of NAFDAC is no longer in the public interest.

“The country cannot afford regulatory inconsistency and policy contradictions at a time when economic stability is paramount,” Nwogu said.

The Former Parliamentarians Forum has dismissed recent calls for the removal of Bello Matawalle as “misinformed and dangerously reductive,” warning against the growing trend of external actors drawing sweeping conclusions about Nigeria’s security architecture without sufficient context or engagement with local realities.

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its chairman, Hon Gabriel Idoko, the Forum said attempts to single out the Minister of State for Defence based on “selective interpretations of complex security challenges” risk undermining ongoing efforts to stabilise volatile regions across the country.

The group was reacting to recent remarks by Kimberly Daniels, a US lower house lawmaker, who had called for Matawalle’s removal following the release of a security assessment report examining violence in parts of northern Nigeria.

However, the Forum cautioned against elevating such positions into policy prescriptions, stressing that Nigeria’s security issues are deeply rooted, multifaceted, and cannot be reduced to individual blame narratives.

“It is both simplistic and counterproductive to suggest that the removal or redeployment of one public official would resolve challenges that have evolved over decades,” Moses said.

“Nigeria’s security landscape requires continuity, institutional memory, and coordinated leadership, not abrupt disruptions driven by external commentary.”

The Forum noted that since his appointment, Matawalle has operated within a broader defence framework under the administration of Pressure Bola Tinubu, contributing to joint military operations, intelligence coordination, and strategic engagements aimed at curbing banditry and insurgency.

According to the statement, while security challenges persist in parts of the North-Central and north-west regions, there have also been measurable gains in degrading armed groups, improving inter-agency collaboration, and restoring a degree of normalcy in previously inaccessible communities.

“These efforts are neither accidental nor attributable to a single office, They are the product of sustained coordination among the armed forces, intelligence services, and political leadership. Disrupting that synergy on the basis of unverified allegations would be a disservice to national security,” he said.

The Forum also raised concerns about what it described as the “internationalisation of domestic security debates without due diligence,” warning that such interventions, if not carefully handled, could inflame tensions and embolden non-state actors.

While acknowledging the pain and urgency surrounding recent attacks in some communities, the group emphasised that accountability must be pursued through established institutional mechanisms rather than public pressure campaigns.

“It is important to separate advocacy from accuracy. Allegations of complicity, especially at high levels of government, must be substantiated through credible investigations by competent authorities within Nigeria’s legal and security framework,” Kuta said.

The Forum further argued that Matawalle’s experience as a former governor of Zamfara State provides valuable insight into the dynamics of rural insecurity, community engagement, and conflict resolution in some of the country’s most affected areas.

“Experience in governance, particularly in conflict-prone environments, is an asset—not a liability. It enables informed decision-making and strengthens the capacity to respond to evolving threats,” the statement noted.

On the broader issue of protecting vulnerable communities, the Forum reiterated the need for sustained investment in intelligence gathering, community policing, and socio-economic interventions to address the root causes of violence.

Kuta also called for greater support for security agencies, urging stakeholders to avoid rhetoric that could undermine morale or public confidence in ongoing operations.

“Constructive engagement, not sensational demands, is what Nigeria needs at this critical juncture. We must resist the temptation to politicise or personalise national security challenges,” he noted.

The Former Parliamentarians Forum concluded by reaffirming its confidence in the current defence leadership, urging Nigerians and international observers alike to adopt a more measured, evidence-based approach in assessing the country’s security situation.