The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Reports

  • Zamfara gov’t launches initiatives to enhance child nutrition, protect vulnerable children, women

    Zamfara gov’t launches initiatives to enhance child nutrition, protect vulnerable children, women

    The Zamfara State Government has launched key initiatives to improve the lives of children and vulnerable populations in Zamfara state.

    The initiatives include a 5-year Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) on child nutrition (2025-2030) strategy, and a strategy for implementing the state’s alternative childcare guidelines.

    These efforts aim to enhance child nutrition and ensure effective implementation of the standardized care and protection for children across Zamfara state.

    The Deputy Governor, Mani Malam Mummuni, on behalf of Governor Dauda Lawal unveiled the strategies in Gusau on Tuesday, alongside UNICEF country representative, Mrs Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef who led her team on a courtesy visit to the Governor.

    The strategic documents were developed with UNICEF’s support, demonstrating the commitment of Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration to exploring partnerships toward improving the welfare of children and vulnerable populations in Zamfara state.

    While unveiling the documents, the Deputy Governor appreciated UNICEF for being a good partner, reassuring the state government’s commitment to providing the enabling environment and institutional support required to ensure meaningful impacts of all joint programmes.

    “We really value UNICEF’s long-standing partnership and commitment to improving the lives of children and vulnerable populations across our state.

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    “Your support has continued to complement our administration’s rescue and development agenda, especially in addressing the needs of displaced children, increasing school enrollment, expanding immunization coverage, and improving service delivery in rural areas,” the Deputy Governor said.

    In additional remarks, the Secretary to the Zamfara State Government (SSG), Malam Abubakar Mohammad Nakwada advocated for deeper collaboration with UNICEF on three priority areas to accelerate outcomes for children and women across Zamfara state.

    “First, is the construction of child-friendly model classrooms built to UNICEF’s standard, similar to successful models in countries like Bangladesh.

    “Secondly, we seek partnership in establishing child-friendly healthcare facilities in each of the three senatorial districts in the state.

    “Thirdly, we look forward to strengthening evidence-based data generation to improve planning, budgeting and geographical investments in children and women.

    “One key proposal is the conduct of a state general households survey in the 2026 fiscal year, to generate reliable data that will directly guide public-sector responses and resource allocation,” the SSG highlighted.

    Earlier, UNICEF’s country representative, Mrs Wafaa Saeed commended Governor Lawal’s administration for the prompt payment of N500 million counter funding to the nutrition program and for its commitment to providing human resources in the health and education sectors, adding that the fund will continue to support the efforts of the state government.

    “We are here to listen to your priorities and support your efforts.

    “In Zamfara, the leadership has always paid attention to get the human resources for health and education.

    “I really want to commend your leadership commitment. This is really great,” she applauded.

    Additionally, the Zamfara State Government commissioned Sexual Assault Refferal Centre in King Fahad General Hospital Gusau.

    The centre named after the state’s First Lady, Her Excellency Hajiya Huriyya Dauda Lawal will provide medical, psycho-social, legal and livelihoods support to the survivors of sexual assault.

    The commissioning of the centre demonstrates the commitment of Governor Lawal’s administration to enhance its response against gender-based violence and support survivors in accessing essential services.

    Suleman Ahmad Tudu

    Senior Special Assistant (Media)

    Office of the Secretary to the Zamfara State Government.

  • Governor Lawal to join Tinubu’s team to G20 meeting in South Africa

    Governor Lawal to join Tinubu’s team to G20 meeting in South Africa

    Governor Dauda Lawal has been selected to accompany President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the 20th Heads of State and Government Summit of the Group of 20 (G20) in South Africa.

    The summit, scheduled for November 22nd and 23rd, will include six Nigerian Governors as part of the President’s delegation.

    A statement by the Zamfara Governor’s Spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, revealed that all G20 member states will be represented at the summit.

    The statement also noted that the gathering will feature 16 guest countries and six countries representing regional economic communities from Africa, the Caribbean, and East Asia.

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    The statement said: “Governor Dauda Lawal has been selected as a member of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s delegation for the G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.

    Other governors in the delegation include those from Osun State, Plateau State, Gombe State, Katsina State, Niger State, Enugu State, and Nasarawa State.

    “The leaders’ summit is the culmination of the G20 process, reflecting all the work done throughout the year through Ministerial Meetings, Working Groups, and Engagement Groups.

    “Furthermore, the G20 meeting in South Africa will have three sessions during the two-day summit.

    “Discussions will cover a wide range of issues, including trade, development finance, the global debt challenge, climate change, food systems, the just transition, critical minerals, decent work, and artificial intelligence contributions.”

  • Governor offers full scholarships to students at Zaria aviation college

    Governor offers full scholarships to students at Zaria aviation college

    Governor Dauda Lawal has approved full scholarships for students from Zamfara State to study at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria.

    This was announced in a statement by the Executive Secretary Zamfara State Scholarship Board, Professor Rasheedah Liman, recently.

    She said the initiative aligns with the administration’s Six-Point Agenda and its Rescue Mission, with particular emphasis on strengthening the educational sector and building a highly skilled workforce for the future.

    “The beneficiaries were selected strictly on merit, following a series of rigorous examinations and interviews conducted by the institution,” the statement said.

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    She said, “under this programme, the sponsored students will undergo specialized training as Standard Pilots and Aircraft Maintenance Engineers.”

    The statement said the Zamfara government has committed to providing all necessary academic, financial, and welfare support to ensure they excel throughout their training.

    “This strategic investment is aimed at addressing the growing manpower needs of Zamfara State, especially as the aviation sector continues to expand. Upon completion of their studies, the trained Pilots and Aviation Engineers will play critical roles in advancing aviation-related development within the state and contributing to national growth,” Professor Rasheeda said.

    The Zamfara State Government remains committed to empowering its youth, promoting excellence, and enhancing access to quality education—especially in specialized and highly technical fields, she said.

  • Zamfara gov’t begins massive rehabilitation of rural water facilities

    Zamfara gov’t begins massive rehabilitation of rural water facilities

    A total of 30 motorized and 248 hand pump boreholes will be repaired across rural areas of  Zamfara state.

    This was revealed by the Programme Manager of the Zamfara State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Dr Galadima Abubakar Nasiru, in an interview with journalists in Gusau.

    He said the rehabilitation of rural water supply facilities across the state is part of efforts to improve access to safe drinking water for rural dwellers.

    He said the rehabilitation exercise, expected to commence soon, is a key component of Governor Dauda Lawal’s Rescue Mission Agenda designed to raise the living standards of rural dwellers and address persistent water scarcity in many communities.

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    Dr Galadima commended Governor Lawal for his steady commitment and support towards the development of rural areas in all 14 local government areas of the state.

    The project will cover the rehabilitation of 30 solar motorised boreholes and 248 hand pump boreholes across the state.” he said.

    He said the initiative will restore nonfunctional water systems, strengthen sanitation services, improve public health and enhance the overall quality of life for rural communities in Zamfara.

  • Zamfara residents sensitized on fire safety measures 

    Zamfara residents sensitized on fire safety measures 

    Residents and other relevant stakeholders in Zamfara State have been sensitized on the fire safety measures ahead of the winter season.

    Harmattan seasons are usually characterised by fire incidences especially in the Northern region of the country.

    The Federal Fire Service in Zamfara state inaugurated the comprehensive campaign to educate residents on safety measures to minimise fire disasters and incidences as the harmattan season sets in.

    The campaign, with the theme: “Towards a Better Zamfara Fire Week” was organised in collaboration with the NYSC Disaster Management Community Development Service (CDS) group.

    Speaking at the event, the acting Comptroller of the Federal Fire Service in Zamfara, Mr Sagir Garba, urged residents to be vigilant and adhere to fire safety guidelines, especially during “this high-risk period.”

    Garba stressed the importance of switching off all electrical appliances when not in use, preventing children from playing with fire, and avoiding unattended cookings.

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    The acting comptroller emphasised the need for residents to keep cooking gas cylinders outside the kitchen and  regularly inspect electrical wirings, and promptly fix identified faults.

    Garba cautioned against the use of open fire inside homes, burning refuse without proper extinguishing, and refueling generators while “they are still running.”

    “Although the Fire Safety Week is officially a five-day event (Monday to Friday), the command extends the sensitisation to seven days, while maintaining continuous public engagement throughout the season.

    “We intensify our public sensitisation efforts during this season. Even outside harmattan, we send regular reports, but at this period, our activities double,” he said.

    Garba stated that, the command aims to significantly reduce fire incidents during the winter.

    “Our target is to maintain the same low level of fire incidents recorded during the rainy season.

    “Sometimes during the rains, we go for months without a single incident in Gusau metropolis,” he added.

    Responding to a question on the frequency of fire incidents, Garba disclosed that calls to the emergency line increased sharply during the harmattan.

    According to him, the agency has recorded 67 fire outbreaks in Zamfara from January to date.

    He appealed for greater public cooperation in tackling avoidable fire incidents.

    The official reaffirmed the service’s commitment to protecting lives and property through sensitisation and emergency responses.

    “Your safety and that of your family is our top priority,” he assured.

    A representative of the NYSC Disaster Management CDS Group, Mr  Gyum Hyacinth expressed appreciation to the federal fire service for enlightening participants on fire disaster, and emergency management and control.

    Hyacinth expressed satisfaction on how the training taught them practical steps for extinguishing fire and pledged to cascade the knowledge down to their communities.

    “We will educate others with what we have learned. It is an honour to be part of this training, and we do not take it for granted,” Hyacinth assured.

    The event was attended by representatives of various security agencies, traditional rulers, and other disaster as well as emergency management stakeholders.

  • House-to-House campaign to combat cholera begins in Zamfara — Official

    House-to-House campaign to combat cholera begins in Zamfara — Official

    Zamfara State Government has launched a house-to-house campaign to combat the recent cholera outbreak across the state.

    The Executive Secretary of the Zamfara State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Husaini Yakubu Anka, disclosed this during a meeting with Disease Notification and Surveillance Officers (DNSOs) held at the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) in Gusau.

    Dr. Anka said the house to house active case search aims to strengthen surveillance, ensure early detection, and provide prompt treatment of cholera cases in all local government areas of the state.

    He urged residents to cooperate with health workers and visit the nearest health facilities whenever they notice symptoms of cholera in their communities.

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    The Executive Secretary commended the DNSOs for their readiness and commitment to the fight against the outbreak, describing their role as critical in curbing the spread of the disease.

    Dr. Anka reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to safeguarding public health and eradicating cholera in all wards across Zamfara State.

    The Director public Health, Dr Yusuf Abubakar Haske, commended the efforts of government, partners donors, teams and other stake holders for their commitment.

  • Zamfara gov’t moves to address demographic challenges 

    Zamfara gov’t moves to address demographic challenges 

    The Zamfara Government, in collaboration with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has embarked on a stakeholders’ sensitisation exercise on demographic dividends for future development of the state.

    The sensitisation programme was organised by the State Ministry of Budget and Planning in collaboration with the UNFPA.

    The first category of the training had participants from the Media, CSOs,  Academia and government officials.

    The participants of the second and third batches of the training included Commissioners, traditional rulers, Directors, Heads of government agencies and parastatals, among others.

    The State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr Abdulmalik Gajam, while speaking at the training session in Gusau on T described Zamfara Government’s partnership with UNFPA as a welcome development.

    Gajam, represented by the Director, Administration of the ministry, Mr Bashir Mailafiya, urged the participants to open their minds and discuss extensively with a view to achieving the general objectives of the program.

    “I am particularly delighted to see the diverse stakeholders and policy makers, technical experts for a project of our state’s development through effective population management and investment of our people.

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    “The present administration under Gov. Dauda Lawal would continue to collaborate with stakeholders to translate faster economic growth, improved productivity, and enhanced social well-being.

    “This opportunity will not happen automatically it requires collaborative and sustained investments in key areas such as education, health, job creation, and good governance,” Gajam added.

    He noted that: “Our teeming youths must be healthy, well-educated, and meaningfully engaged to greve innovation, productivity and inclusive growth”.

    Gajam added, “Today’s engagement, therefore not just mother meeting, it is a call to action. It is also a platform to work for addressing our current demographic challenges.”

    Also speaking, the Special Adviser to Gov. Dauda Lawal on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Aliyu Adamu-Barmo, said the demographic dividends programme was in line with the state government’s policy on health, education, youths and women empowerment.

    “The SDGs office in the state was ever ready to collaborate with all stakeholders to enhance grassroots sensitisation for actualising the demographic devidend processes.

    “This is timely as the meeting would discuss the state’s demographic profile and trends, highlighting the implications for social and economic planning

    “This meeting would also identify policy and programmatic gaps that need to be addressed to create an enabling environment for harnessing the demographic,”  Adamu-Barmo said.

    The Assistant Representative of the UNFPA, Prof .Andat Dasogot, who facilitated the training, said engagement with the stakeholders was necessary considering their roles in the sensitisation process.

    “The demographic dividends aim to ensure that we reduce the dependants in our growing population.

    “This is to ensure that we invest more in education, skills, health and create more opportunities the teeming population and provides good governance for them.

    “Having extended all our presentations, we expect the participants to move further and extend the knowledge acquired at their various levels,” Dasogot said.

    Earlier, Mr Lawal Shehu, State UNFPA Coordinator, said the training aimed to sensitise stakeholders in the concept of demographic dividend.

    Shehu said that the overall objective of the sensitization meeting is to enhance stakeholders understanding of the demographic dividend and to promote coordinated actions toward harnessing it for sustainable development in Zamfara.

    “Specifically, this meeting aims to increase awareness among policymakers, development partners, and stakeholders on the concept of the demographic dividend and its relevance to Zamfara State’s development agenda,” he added.

  • NCDC chair urges North-Central states to unite against insecurity, prioritise development

    NCDC chair urges North-Central states to unite against insecurity, prioritise development

    The Chairman of the Governing Board of the North-Central Development Commission (NCDC), Cosmos Ternenge Akighir, has urged the seven states in the North-Central region to form a united front to tackle insecurity, strengthen infrastructure, and promote peaceful co-existence.

    Akighir, who made the call during an event hosted by the Jemgbagh Active and Retired Directors Association (JARDA) in Abuja, said the region—comprising the FCT, Benue, Plateau, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, and Niger—must speak with one voice and build an unbreakable bond to address its challenges.

    He explained that the commission was established to simplify and accelerate regional development by reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks and leveraging the expertise of technocrats.

    According to him, the North-Central region is blessed with abundant human and natural resources, and unity is essential to unlocking its full potential.

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    “We want to leave a legacy where, when other commissions are sitting, the North Central will be standing,” he said, stressing that the commission has a robust roadmap covering education, health, and infrastructure.

    On insecurity, Akighir noted that the commission would collaborate with state governors and local vigilante networks, while also engaging stakeholders across all affected states to chart lasting solutions.

    He added that the NCDC is targeting youth empowerment, road development, and full utilisation of the region’s vast mineral resources—estimated to account for about 40 percent of Nigeria’s mineral deposits—to drive transformation across the zone.

  • Abdulrazaq condemns Eruku attack, seeks new layers of security deployment

    Abdulrazaq condemns Eruku attack, seeks new layers of security deployment

    Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has requested that more and urgent security deployment be made to Ekiti Local Government Area, especially Eruku axis, to immediately curtail the new wave of attacks in the area. 

    “The Governor has sought immediate deployment of more security operatives to support the existing security architecture in the area,” according to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Rafiu Ajakaye.

    “He requested that this new measure be activated immediately. The Governor wholly condemns the unconscionable attack, sympathises and identifies with the people of Eruku and environs, especially families and the CAC directly impacted by the condemnable attack of Tuesday. 

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    “The state government will continue to support the security agencies to tackle these challenges and ensure safety of lives and properties across the state,” he said..

    The Governor also commended President Bola Tinubu for the deployment of 900 additional troops in Kwara, saying this is expected to strengthen security in the state.

    “We have indeed seen appreciable calm in many areas previously affected. We sincerely thank the President for this. We are confident that the additional troops will provide further deterrence, overall safety for our people, and permanent calm,” the statement added.

  • Northern women demand rescue of abducted Maga school girls

    Northern women demand rescue of abducted Maga school girls

    Women under the umbrella of Voices for Inclusion and Equity for Women (VIEW) have condemned the abduction of schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, describing the incident as a direct challenge to Nigeria’s leadership and collective humanity.

    In a statement by Asmau Joda, Maryam Uwais, Mairo Mandara, Aisha Oyebode, Fatima Akilu, Kadaria Ahmed, Larai Ocheja Amusan and Ier Jonathan-Ichaver, the group expressed outrage over the weekend attack in which armed men stormed the school at dawn, killed the Vice Principal, and abducted 25 students.

    VIEW said the latest tragedy underscores the Nigerian State’s continuing failure to protect its most vulnerable citizens, insisting that the mass kidnapping “is not simply another security incident” but a brutal indictment of years of unfulfilled promises and weak implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative.

    The group noted that despite national grief and global attention following the mass abductions in Chibok, Dapchi, Jangebe, and numerous smaller attacks across the North, schools remain dangerously exposed.

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    Many of the women, who signed the statement have spent years working directly with communities traumatised by insecurity.

    “More than a decade after repeated tragedies, Northern Nigeria is still one of the most dangerous places in the world for a girl to pursue an education,” the statement reads.

    “Our daughters are once again missing. And we must ask, with pain, anger and clarity, where are our leaders?”

    VIEW accused political leaders, security agencies, and northern representatives of failing to defend girls who already face significant cultural and economic barriers.

    They warned that the growing pattern of abductions raises disturbing questions about whether neglect is contributing to the continued marginalisation of northern girls.

    The coalition demanded swift, intelligence-driven rescue operations and daily public updates, warning against the slow and poorly coordinated responses that have characterised previous tragedies.

    They called on the President, the First Lady, the Kebbi State Governor, the Northern Governors’ Forum, the Northern Senators’ Forum, the Arewa House of Representatives Caucus, the Arewa Consultative Forum, and all traditional, faith-based, and security leaders, including the National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff and Inspector-General of Police, to show visible leadership.

    “This is not a moment for silence or excuses. The abduction of the Maga girls must be treated as a national emergency—not a political talking point or a press release moment,” VIEW stated.

    “Every moment these girls spend in captivity deepens their trauma and increases the danger they face.”

    The group urged women to unite and demand accountability, declaring that northern women are tired of mourning and of leaders offering condolences instead of concrete solutions.

    “No nation can claim to value its future while abandoning its daughters to violence,” VIEW said.

    “The girls of Maga must be located, rescued, and reunited with their families without delay. Nothing is more urgent. Nothing is more important. Their return is a test of our leadership and our humanity.”

    Voices for Inclusion and Equity for Women (VIEW) is a coalition operating across North Central, North-East and North-West Nigeria, dedicated to promoting equitable, inclusive, and just societies for women.