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.

Nigeria’s ongoing fiscal reforms have drawn commendation from a coalition of civic and economic advocacy groups, which say recent revenue gains signal a turning point in the country’s long-troubled public finance system.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Dr Clarus Nnaemeka, national president of the Coalition for Fiscal Justice, Economic Renewal and Public Accountability (COFJERPA), praised the leadership of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) and its Executive Chairman, Zacch Adedeji, for the “bold and disciplined re-engineering of Nigeria’s revenue architecture”.

The coalition’s reaction follows the Federal Government’s disclosure that monthly revenue rose from N711 billion in May 2023 to N3.635 trillion by September 2025, alongside a broader increase in total collections from N6.41 trillion in 2021 to N28.79 trillion in 2025.

Nnaemeka said the figures, while ambitious, reflect the early fruits of structural reforms aligned with the economic vision of Bola Ahmed Tinubu under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“For decades, Nigeria grappled with a narrow revenue base, systemic leakages and weak tax compliance. What we are witnessing today is a deliberate shift towards a more transparent, technology-driven and accountability-focused system that is gradually restoring confidence in public finance management,” he said.

Nnaemeka noted that the expansion of the tax net to over 19 million taxpayers, including the addition of more than 800,000 corporate entities, represents a significant milestone in formalising the economy and reducing reliance on volatile oil revenues.

According to the coalition, the real test of any fiscal reform lies not only in headline revenue figures but in its tangible impact on citizens’ lives. Nnaemeka argued that improved revenue mobilisation creates the fiscal space necessary for government to invest in critical sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education and social protection.

“When revenue improves in a transparent and accountable manner, it strengthens the government’s capacity to fund public goods. This translates, over time, into better roads, more functional hospitals, improved schools and targeted interventions for vulnerable populations,” the statement reads.

He added that increased revenue also enhances macroeconomic stability by reducing fiscal deficits and borrowing pressures, thereby helping to stabilise the currency and curb inflationary risks that disproportionately affect low-income households.

The coalition further commended the emphasis on fairness and efficiency in the reformed tax system, noting that simplifying processes and reducing distortions could encourage compliance while fostering a more business-friendly environment.

“A tax system perceived as fair is more likely to command voluntary compliance. This is critical for building a sustainable revenue culture where citizens see taxation not as a burden, but as a civic responsibility tied to visible national development,” Nnaemeka said.

However, the group cautioned that sustaining these gains would require consistency in policy implementation, robust oversight mechanisms and a clear commitment to ensuring that increased revenues are judiciously utilised.

“It is not enough to collect more; government must also spend better. Transparency in revenue utilisation will ultimately determine whether these reforms translate into enduring public trust.”

The coalition urged the NRS to deepen its engagement with citizens and businesses, strengthen enforcement against evasion, and continue leveraging digital tools to block leakages.

It maintained that while challenges remain, the trajectory of Nigeria’s revenue reforms offers a credible pathway towards fiscal resilience and inclusive growth.

“What is emerging is the foundation of a new fiscal contract between the state and its citizens. If sustained, it holds the promise of aligning national prosperity with the everyday realities of Nigerians,”the statement added.