The Nation Newspaper

Category: Grassroots

  • Trust fund solicits media partnership

    Trust fund solicits media partnership

    The management of Bayelsa State Educational Trust Fund (EDTF) has solicited media advocacy of its role on the board’s mandate to the public, as well as the promotion of its activities.

    Its Chairman, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki, said this when he led the Executive Secretary, Prof Ebimieowei Etebu and other members of the newly-inaugurated board on a familiarisation visit to the Federated Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bayelsa State Council.

    Agbiki, also the chairman of the Publicity and Sensitisation Committee, said as critical stakeholders, it became imperative upon their inauguration last October to introduce the new board to the media, which he described as a partner of the board since its inception.

    He said: “We are here to introduce the new board, which is the third since the inception of EDTF and thank the media for your support and solicit continued partnership and cooperation, understanding and cooperation. We have come here to introduce ourselves to you. That the relationship we have built over time should be sustained. When you are a friend of the press, you are a friend of the community.”

    The Executive Secretary of EDTF, Prof Ebimieowei Etebu, pleaded with the media to project the activities of the board in a way and manner that will engender unity, development and growth.

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    He said: “We are new, but not new to the educational sub sector. I have always had a passion to see how I can develop the youth and younger generation. I took this position over 30 years ago that whatever role I can play to better the lots of youths in our society, I will do it, because once you have vibrant youths, the society has a future. When that group of people in the society are educated, the society has a bright future. But when that section is derailing, then we have a time bomb. So this has been my driving force.

    “So when I was called upon to be the executive secretary of this board, this is one thing that inspired me. We want to plead with you that have people that have the ears of the public; please I am calling on you to project the activities of the board in a way and manner that will engender unity, development and growth.”

    The Chairman of Federated Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Bayelsa State Council, Tife Owolabi, commended the EDTF for the visit and for holding the media in high esteem, urging them to always make their doors open to journalists to confirm, verify and cross checks facts.

  • Enugu reconstitutes neighbourhood watch

    Enugu reconstitutes neighbourhood watch

    Enugu State Government has reconstituted a 20-member neighbourhood watch squad for Nomeh Unateze community, as part of the renewed efforts to strengthen grassroots security, in line with  leadership thrust, which places security at the centre of governance.

    The reconstitution took place at Community Primary School, Nomeh, in Nkanu East Local Government where the Commissioner for Human Development and Poverty Eradication, Prof. Benedett Okoli, urged the newly-constituted team to serve with courage, integrity, vigour and respect for human rights and rule of law.

    Represented by Enugu State Director of Neighbourhood Watch in the ministry, Chief Uchenna Ozomgbachi, Okoli, who described the assignment as a sacred responsibility, reminded them that much of the $30 billion economy Governor Mbah envisioned would come from rural communities through investment in agriculture such as 260 modern farm estates to be built in the 250 wards of the state.

    But she said this could only happen with security in all nooks and crannies of the state.

    “This is a light being placed in your hands to safeguard the lives and property of the people of Nomeh-Unateze. You must not disgrace yourselves. Serve with diligence, avoid extortion and never torture the people you are meant to protect,” she said.

    The commissioner assured the operatives that the government would ensure regular payment of their stipends and provision of the necessary logistics that would enable them function effectively, noting that the presence of Neighbourhood Watch would help to nip crime in the bud.

    Okoli hailed the 20-man squad for accepting the responsibility of strengthening peace and security at Nomeh Unateze, while also calling on the traditional ruler and other stakeholders to support the outfit materially and otherwise.

    “Our constitution provides for a security levy. Every household in Nomeh must contribute to the maintenance of this security outfit. Anyone, who refuses to pay is working against the community and should be seen as such,” she said.

    She advised the community to open a dedicated bank account for the security levy, adding that other financial stakeholders should ensure transparency and accountability.

    The traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Israel Mbah, thanked Governor Mbah and the ministry for reconstituting and strengthening the community’s Neighbourhood Watch.

    “The first Neighbourhood Watch in Nomeh-Unateze was formed in 2015. This community has been committed to security for decades. For the governor to remember us and reconstitute this outfit is a great achievement in the right direction,” the monarch said, pledging the full support of the community to the outfit.

    He thanked community stakeholders, who had committed their time and money to the cause and urged for more support to the Neighborhood Watch outfit.

    The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Amagunze Police Division, CSP Obasuyi Wilson, described Nomeh axis as a security challenge in the past, but expressed optimism that the reconstituted team would work with the police to build on the successes recorded by the police and other security agencies through the support of the Mbah administration.

    “I am here to congratulate the selected Neighbourhood Watch members. There are many challenges on ground, and I believe this crop of men chosen by stakeholders will work hand-in-hand with the police to keep the community in order,” he said.

    CSP Wilson warned the operatives against abuse of power, stressing that arrests must be based on genuine offences and not trivial matters.

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    “You do not have the power to torture suspects. Once you arrest someone, hand them over to the police immediately. There is no approved detention facility outside the police station,” he stressed.

    He advised the team to operate in groups and remain security-conscious at all times for their own safety.

    He further urged them to report security threats promptly and always appear in uniform for proper identification.

    The Chairman, Nomeh Unateze Town Union Caretaker Committee, Dr. Chukwudi Anyianuka, impressed on the Neighborhood Watch team the need to protect completed, ongoing and future projects by the Mbah administration in Nomeh.

    “You must protect our Smart Green School, Type II Primary Healthcare Centre, and the equipment of contractors working on Nomeh-Mburubu-Narah Road, Nomeh-Oduma Road, among others,” he said.

    Speaking on behalf of the newly-inaugurated leadership, the Chairman of Nomeh-Unateze Neighbourhood Watch, Chief Ejike Ugwu, thanked the state government, traditional institutions and community stakeholders for finding them worthy in character and capacity for the onerous assignment, promising to justify the trust reposed in them.

    The reconstitution of Nomeh-Unateze Neighbourhood Watch is expected to deepen community-based security and complement ongoing efforts by Enugu State Government to build a safer and more secure society.

  • NEDC deploys N3b health equipment for treatment of citizens

    NEDC deploys N3b health equipment for treatment of citizens

    The Northeast Development Commission (NEDC) has started the implementation of a two-week medical health programme designed to uplift the health conditions of the people and change health delivery narratives in the region.

    Findings by our correspondent showed that the NEDC started the Ophthalmology Equipment Set-Up and Training Programme at the Maiduguri Eye Hospital, Borno State, with the deployment of advanced eye-care equipment valued at over N3 billion.

    The NEDC programme, which began on Monday, represented a major step in the Commission’s drive to strengthen specialist healthcare delivery services to the people and reduce preventable blindness in the Northeast region.

    Our correspondent gathered that activities on the deployed facility started with installation, calibration, and coupling of the cutting-edge equipment, while the hospital authorities also commenced hands-on technical and clinical training for workers to ensure optimal use of the equipment.

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    Prof. Abdull Mohammed Mahdi, who is the Chief Consultant in Ophthalmology is leading the team of other specialists with support from Dr. Abuh Sunday and other multi-disciplinary team of ophthalmology and biomedical engineering experts.

    Hospital authorities confirmed that participants drawn from the Maiduguri Eye Hospital and University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) included consultant ophthalmologists, resident doctors, ophthalmic nurses, optometrists, and biomedical engineers. They are undergoing intensive practicals on equipment operation, maintenance, and efficient clinical application.

    The authorities of the NEDC said the intervention would boost the hospital’s diagnostic and surgical capacity, particularly in the treatment of cataract and glaucoma, while supporting its long-term goal of transforming the Maiduguri Eye Hospital into a regional centre of excellence.

    In addition to the equipment deployment, the Commission is carrying out extensive renovations and infrastructure upgrades at the hospital to enhance modern clinical operations and patient experience.

    It was learnt that similar ophthalmic interventions are also underway across the Northeast, including the construction of an ultra-modern Eye Institute at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi, which began last year and slated for accelerated implementation this year.

    The Commission, through its Media Department, described the initiative as a strategic investment that combines advanced medical infrastructure with targeted human capacity development.

    The NEDC emphasised the intervention programme would have a lasting impact on access to quality eye-care services in the region, in addition to various ongoing infrastructures projects in the six states of the region.

  • Benue Assembly passes Bill for Establishment of Widows Commission

    Benue Assembly passes Bill for Establishment of Widows Commission

    The Benue House of Assembly has passed a bill to establish the Benue State Widows Commission, aimed at prohibiting harmful cultural practices against widows.

    The bill is also aimed at protecting widows from exploitative acts, as well as prescribing punishment for offenders.

    The bill, titled “A Law to Establish the Benue State Widows Commission and for Related Purposes, 2025,” was passed during plenary yesterday in Makurdi.

    Leading the debate, the Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Beckie Orpin (APC/Gboko), described the bill as highly significant.

    READ ALSO; Arewa, this has to stop

    She noted that it addressed the challenges faced by one of the most vulnerable groups in society.

    According to her, passage of the bill would place the house on a pedestal of fulfilling its constitutional responsibility of protecting the weak.

    The Majority Leader, Mr Thomas Dugeri (APC/Kwande West), moved that the findings, recommendations, and clauses of the bill be adopted.

    Subsequently, Speaker of the House, Mr Alfred Emberga, invited the Clerk, Dr Bem Mela, to read the bill for the third time, after which it was passed.

    In another development, the House considered the report of the House Standing Committee on Women Affairs and Social Welfare, following its visit to the Benue State Rehabilitation Board.

    The committee chairman, Mrs Beckie Orpin (APC/Gboko East), said the law establishing the board had become obsolete and should be repealed.

    She noted that the monthly contribution of N100,000 by councils, was grossly inadequate to meet the board’s needs.

    Orpin further revealed that the board lacked basic infrastructure such as a sick bay, instructional materials for effective teaching, and operational vehicles.

    Contributing to the debate, Majority Leader, Mr Thomas Dugeri (APC/Kwande West) described the condition of the board as pitiable, citing massive infrastructural decay and poor feeding of students due to inadequate funding, and urged redress.

    Also contributing, Mr McClinton Manger (APC/Tarka) said even the N100,000 monthly contribution was hardly released, and urged the government to do what was reasonable to secure the future and livelihood of the children.

    Ruling on the matter, Speaker Alfred Emberga, directed the Committees on Women Affairs, Business, and Rules, to draft a proposed bill to repeal the 1996 edict which established the board.

    He said the House had approved an upward review of the board’s monthly allocation from N100,000 to N1.5million.

    The Speaker also charged the Commissioner for Finance, to ensure timely release of funds to the board, and directed the state government to procure a Toyota bus for students and a Hilux vehicle for official use.

    He urged the provision of instructional materials, to enhance effective teaching and learning at the facility.

  • Contractor seeks Tinubu’s help on 22-year-old Kaduna Eastern bypass

    Contractor seeks Tinubu’s help on 22-year-old Kaduna Eastern bypass

    The  contractor handling the Kaduna Eastern Bypass, Eksiogullari Construction Company Nigeria Limited, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, to release funds for the completion of the long-delayed project, describing it as critical to unlocking Kaduna and the entire North-West corridor.

    The appeal was made on Monday during a Federal Ministry of Works inspection and tour of emergency and special intervention road projects across Kaduna State.

    Project Manager of Eksiogullari, Yunus Salihu, made the call while briefing reporters at the Chikaji Bridge Section of the Eastern Bypass, which he identified as the major bottleneck preventing the road from functioning optimally.

    Salihu said the Eastern Bypass, awarded in 2002, is a virgin road project that has suffered persistent funding and security challenges for over two decades, slowing down its completion despite significant progress.

    He explained that the Chikaji Bridge, which spans about 324 metres, is a critical structure on the corridor, adding that all pillars for the bridge have already been cast.

    According to him, completing the bridge would unlock the functionality of the Eastern Bypass, which already has about 34 kilometres executed and partially opened to traffic.

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    “The major challenge here is funding. Once this bridge is completed, the Eastern Bypass will function fully and Kaduna will have a permanent gateway,” Salihu said.

    He noted that the complexity of the project, which involves cutting through hills, waterways and difficult terrain, requires sustained funding to connect bridges seamlessly to the main carriageway.

    Salihu appealed to President Tinubu and the Minister of Works to intervene, stressing that timely release of funds would finally bring the 22-year-old project to completion.

    The inspection team had earlier assessed ongoing works on the Abuja–Kaduna Highway, where contractors were found mobilised, before moving through the Eastern Bypass via the Kachia Interchange and stopping at the Chikaji Bridge.

    Aside from the Eastern Bypass, the Ministry commissioned several emergency and special intervention projects, including the rehabilitated 4.3-kilometre Taban Sani Road in Makarfi Local Government Area, the Mahuta NNPC Pipeline Road to the Nigerian Army Post Service Housing in Chikun LGA, and the Sabo Rail Bridge Road to Command Junction.

    At the Mahuta NNPC Pipeline Road, Chief Resident Engineer, Sadiq Maccido, explained that safety restrictions around the pipeline limited asphalt work in some sections, though 1.2 kilometres had been completed inward.

    The Sabo Rail Bridge Road to Command Junction was also inaugurated. Officials described it as a major relief to residents following years of traffic congestion and road failure.

    The delegation also inspected the Kaduna Western Bypass, where about 19.57 kilometres of carriageway have been completed, with other sections still under construction.

     Jonathan Obrusu, representing Dangote Group, said the company remained committed to delivering the project in line with federal standards, noting that the bypass would decongest Kaduna metropolis and improve regional traffic flow.

    The team further inspected the 77-kilometre Pambeguwa Road, completed with guardrails and safety installations, and scheduled for inauguration within one month.

    In Zaria, attention shifted to the Wusasa-Turunku-Maraban Jos Road, Phase One, which has reached about 68 per cent completion, while Phase Two, valued at about N30 billion, has been awarded to extend the road from Pambeguwa to Jos.

    Federal Controller of Works in Kaduna State, Ulagu Loveday, said the inspections covered critical corridors, including the Zaria-Funtua-Sokoto Road, where significant progress has been recorded on bridges, drainages and binder courses.

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, Northwest Zone, Abdullahi Yakasai, said the exercise was in line with President Tinubu’s directive to ensure value for money and quality delivery of federal infrastructure projects.

    Yakasai stressed that the Eastern and Western Bypass roads would permanently ease traffic congestion in Kaduna and boost economic activities across the Northwest.

    He assured that the Federal Government would continue to monitor contractors closely, but urged that funding challenges, particularly on the Eastern Bypass, be addressed urgently to end its 22-year delay.

  • Southern Kaduna APC group backs Tinubu, Sani

    Southern Kaduna APC group backs Tinubu, Sani

    The Southern Kaduna All Progressives Congress (APC) Unity Forum has passed a vote of confidence on the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani.

    The group also declared its support for the re-election of President Tinubu and Sani in appreciation of the administration’s commitment to the growth and development of Southern Kaduna.

    The forum, comprising long-standing and new APC members, reaffirmed its loyalty to President Tinubu and Sani, describing the party as united, focused and growing in influence across Southern Kaduna.

    Addressing reporters on Monday, the Chairman of the forum, Edward John Auta, said the APC remained united under the theme, “One people, one party, one agenda.”

    “We have come together to reaffirm our collective faith in the renewed direction of the APC under the focused and inclusive leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani,” Auta said.

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    According to him, the party has undergone a remarkable transformation, shed earlier perceptions of exclusion and attract unprecedented federal and state presence in Southern Kaduna.

    “Major roads and social infrastructure are now receiving renewed attention, while federal presence in our zone has expanded significantly,” he said.

    Auta cited the establishment of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, and the Federal Medical Centre, Kafanchan, as concrete evidence of the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to the area.

    “These are landmark institutions that reflect long-awaited federal attention to Southern Kaduna,” he added.

    The forum also praised what it described as inclusive governance, noting that sons and daughters of Southern Kaduna now occupy strategic positions at state and federal levels.

    “Our people have been appointed into influential positions, including the Minister of Defence, the Head of Service of Kaduna State and the Chairman of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service.This clearly shows that Southern Kaduna is no longer excluded,” Auta said.

    He said these developments had made the APC attractive, leading to the defection of prominent politicians and political structures from opposition parties.

    “Distinguished leaders, including Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly and other political heavyweights, have joined the APC with their supporters and structures,” he said.

    According to him, the defections have significantly altered the political landscape of Southern Kaduna.

    “The APC has emerged as the party of choice in the zone, effectively ending the decades-long dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party,” he stated.

    Reacting to rumours of an impending implosion within the APC, Auta described such claims as baseless.

    “These rumours are unfounded and amount to deliberate mischief or a misunderstanding of Governor Uba Sani’s unifying leadership philosophy,” he said.

    He stressed that all APC members, both old and new, understood that personal ambition must remain secondary to collective interest and party stability.

    Auta also defended Senator Katung’s loyalty to the party, noting that the lawmaker enjoys a cordial relationship with President Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani.

    “It is well known that Senator Katung holds the President and the Governor in the highest esteem and has consistently called for unity and collective effort within the party,” he said.

    The forum cautioned against attempts to overheat the polity with issues that could be resolved internally, urging APC members to remain disciplined and focused.

    The Unity Forum called on party stakeholders to work towards the re-election of President Tinubu, Sani and APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.

    “United in purpose and guided by a shared vision, we are confident that the APC will emerge victorious at all levels,” Auta added.

  • NAHCON chair ends pre-Hajj visit to Saudi Arabia

    NAHCON chair ends pre-Hajj visit to Saudi Arabia

    The Chairman/CEO, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof Abdullahi Saleh Usman, has concluded his second pre-Hajj visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, marking a major step in preparations for the Hajj.

    The visit, which took place between January 4 and 19, focused on consolidating operational arrangements, strengthening coordination with Saudi authorities, and aligning Nigerian service providers and stakeholders with the timelines and standards of the Saudi authorities ahead of the Hajj.

    During the visit, the NAHCON delegation held high-level engagements with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, General Authority of Civil Aviation GACA, Saudi Ministry of Health, Masha’ir, feeding and accommodation service providers, airlines, and Nigerian stakeholders in the Kingdom. These engagements resulted in progress on airlift coordination, accommodation and feeding arrangements, Mashāir services, medical preparedness, and media coordination frameworks, NAHCON said.

    In a statement, the Technical Assistant (Media) to the Chairman, Ahmad Muazu, said key achievements of the visit include the signing and initiation of service agreements, uploads of contracts and flight schedule on the Nusuk Masar platform, inspection and identification of clinics and medical facilities in Makkah and Madinah, confirmation of unified medical screening requirements, alignment on digital health and operational platforms, and diplomatic engagement.

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    He said the commission also concluded coordination meetings with state pilgrims’ welfare boards and licensed tour operators to reinforce compliance with agreed timelines, guidelines, service standards, and regulatory requirements ahead of the Hajj exercise.

    “With the conclusion of the visit, NAHCON will transition to the next phase of preparations, including finalisation of contracts, pilgrims’ data uploads, medical screening, and continued engagement with relevant authorities to ensure smooth and well-coordinated Hajj exercise,” he added.

  • Military Pensions Board visits Murtala Mohammed’s Orderly

    Military Pensions Board visits Murtala Mohammed’s Orderly

    The Orderly to the late Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed, Master Warrant Officer Michael Etuwe, was honoured at his Nasarawa State home by a delegation led by the Chairman of the Military Pensions Board (MPB), Air Vice Marshal Mikail Abdulraheem.

     According to a statement by the Board’s Public Relations Officer, Squadron Leader Aliyu Mohammed, the delegation included members of the Ministerial Committee on Veterans’ Welfare and representatives of various veterans’ associations.

    He said the visit was undertaken in the spirit of the commitment of the Board, as well as in commemoration of the Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day.

    Air Vice Marshal Abdulraheem said the visit served as a “symbolic recognition” of distinguished military service.

    He said: “It also serves as a tribute to veterans whose dedication and sacrifices contributed significantly to the defence and stability of the nation.”

    Etuwe served with the late Muhammed during a defining era in Nigeria’s history. He was on duty as an orderly to Muhammed and was in the official vehicle on February 13, 1976, when the Head of State was assassinated in Lagos.

    READ ALSO; Arewa, this has to stop

    According to AVM Abdukareem, Master Warrant Officer Etuwe service placed him among the living witnesses to one of the most significant and defining moments in Nigeria’s national history.

    He reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to the welfare, dignity, and continued engagement of military veterans, stressing that their sacrifices remain an enduring pillar of Nigeria’s peace and national development.

     Etuwe welcomed the visit, describing it as a “rare and meaningful honour.”

    He thanked the chairman of the Military Pensions Board and members of the veterans’ community for the recognition and show of solidarity.

  • Nasarawa gets Fed Govt’s Renewed Hope rice palliatives

    Nasarawa gets Fed Govt’s Renewed Hope rice palliatives

    The Nasarawa State Coordinator of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Dr Labaran Magaji, has confirmed receipt of 1,200 bags of rice palliatives.

    Magaji, also Secretary to the Nasarawa State Government, made this known to reporters yesterday in Lafia.

    He said the palliatives were a token of appreciation to ‘Renewed Hope’ supporters and ambassadors across the state.

    According to him, the items would be distributed across communities and wards in the spirit of unity and inclusiveness.

    “The rice palliatives are not about the number of bags, but the spirit behind the gesture.

    “We thank Mr President for remembering Nasarawa State and appreciating the commitment of Renewed Hope ambassadors,” he said.

    Magaji urged residents to sustain support for the APC-led government of President Tinubu and Gov. Abdullahi Sule.

    READ ALSO; Arewa, this has to stop

    He called for continued backing beyond 2027, saying the President meant well for Nigeria and Nasarawa State in particular.

    Magaji highlighted projects including the Lafia flyover, Akwanga underpass, Keffi flyover, Mararaba flyovers, and the State Secretariat.

    “We have seen the dividends of democracy under this administration,” he said.

    He cited the award of the Nasarawa-Toto-Abaji Road as further evidence of federal commitment to the state.

    Magaji said the state’s achievements were driven by President Tinubu’s economic reforms and Governor Sule’s prudent resource management.

    “We are fortunate to have a God-fearing governor who leads by example and manages resources wisely,” he said.

  • Awka South Local Govt Council engages 210 street sweepers

    Awka South Local Govt Council engages 210 street sweepers

    10 tricycle evaluators procured

    In line with Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s ‘Operation keep Anambra clean’, Awka South Local Government has engaged no fewer than 210 sweepers for a clean environment.

    Speaking with reporters in his office at Amawbia, the Chairman, Prince Chinedu Okafor, said the sweepers were 110 before additional 100 persons were engaged late last year.

    He said it was part of employment strategy in the state, adding that those engaged would have to put food on the tables of their families.

    “All the people engaged are from their villages or communities. We did not make it difficult for them to be moving from one area to another.

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    “Already, we have procured over 10 special tricycles for waste disposal in rural areas where the loaders will not be able to move into. It is called ‘disposal made easy ‘

    Okafor said the sweepers were instructed to pack the wastes at the periphery of the roads, to allow the waste bin trucks easy access.

    “As the chairman of this local government, I must make sure I get it right for our people. Those major challenges of cult clashes, kidnappings and armed robberies are no longer here,” he said.