Category: Northern Reports

At least 17 million Nigerian children are malnourished, the Federal Government and the global nutrition organisation, Nutrition International (NI) have said.

According to them, the challenge is making Nigeria the country with the highest burden of malnutrition in Africa and the second highest globally.

The Director, Health and Nutrition, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Binyerem Ukaire said malnutrition has remained a significant public health problem despite huge investments.

Ukaire spoke during a meeting to disseminate the findings of the home fortification implementation research using Small Quantity Lipid-based Nutrient Supplements (SQLNS) and Multiple Micronutrient Powders (MNP) administered to eligible target populations in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria on Wednesday.

Ukaire said the major underlying causes of malnutrition in Nigeria included poor infant and young child feeding practices, poor access to and consumption of safe nutritious diet rich in both macro and micronutrients, inadequate access to healthcare, water, and sanitation, and a high level of poverty.

He said: “The Federal Government of Nigeria has made concerted effort in collaboration with development partners to reduce the burden of malnutrition in the country.”

The Country Director, NI Nigeria, Dr Osita Okonkwo, said malnutrition was not just a chronic problem but an urgent problem which the federal government must find solutions for.

Presenting the summary of findings, Okonkwo said the implementation fidelity of the project was high with appropriate targeting of poor households with under-five children as beneficiaries and appropriateness of the intervention context.

He said caregivers’ perception is improving with increasing duration of the intervention and acceptability of the MNPs by the children and caregivers is generally high.

Okonkwo said key drivers of adherence included perceived improvements in health, appetite, strength, and physical growth of index children benefits

The Yobe State Attorney-General and the Commissioner for Justice, Saleh Samanja said the State Government is unaware of any mass abortion programme carried out by the military in any of government’s hospitals throughout the insurgency period in the Northeast.

Samanja while testifying before the Special Independent Investigative Panel of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Damaturu, said that such information, if any occurred, never got to his office or to the knowledge of the state government.

The Commissioner said both the state government and the Federal government were on the same page in fighting a common enemy, Boko Haram, stressing that both Borno State and Yobe States fully cooperated with the Federal Government and gave Nigerian Army maximum support during the period of the State of Emergency to flush-out Boko Haram.

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“During that period of emergency rule, all the state government officials had no right to decide what the military should do or not. Despite that, no case of abortion being done by the military in any of the government hospitals was brought up as a report to the Ministry of Justice as alleged by some media organizations and claimed by the NHRC,” the commissioner said.

The Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs of the NHRC, Fatima Muhammad while fielding questions from journalists, explained that the panel, inaugurated in February 2023 is on a fact finding mission in the state over allegations raised by Reuters News Agency that about 10,000 abortions were conducted by the military on young girls and women in the Northeast.

She noted that the panel will consult every stakeholder as well as people of the community to get first-hand information on the alleged cases.

Nigeria witnessed primary school attendance increase from 61 per cent in 2016 to 68 per cent in 2021, the Federal Government has said.

The government also said the gender parity index in primary school increased from 0.95 in 2016 to 0.99 in 2021.

Minister of State for Education, GoodLuck Opiah stated this in Abuja yesterday during a national dialogue on Educational Issues, organised by the Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (KIX) Africa 19 Hub.

He emphasised the importance of gender equality in the contemporary dynamic world where every male and female must receive quality education for a better and progressive society.

The minister said: “The government is unrelenting in providing the needed opportunity for education for all and to ensure inclusiveness. President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration remains dogged in overcoming the challenges that keep a lot of our girls out of school and Nigeria has made significant strides in getting children and in particular girls into school.

“Nigeria has, thus, witnessed primary school attendance increasing from 61 per cent in 2016 to 68 per cent in 2021 and the gender parity index in primary school has increased from 0.95 in 2016 to 0.99 in 2021, (NDS, 2016 and 2021).

“The government at all levels and with the collaboration of stakeholders, will continue to pursue investments to help in achieving positive outcomes for the issues that this dialogue was convened for.”

He stressed the need for governments on the African continent to embrace the use of data in guiding their decision making processes.

Speaking on the theme: “Meeting the Data Challenge in Education; Achieving Gender Equality in and through Education and Leaving No One Behind,” the minister said timely and reliable data generation was required for qualitative planning and decision making.

He said: “As a continent, we need to embrace the use of data in guiding our decisions. It is often said that Data is to plan what oxygen is to living. If we can successfully abridge the data gaps in Nigeria, we would have provided the basic fundamentals for resolving some many issues.

“Credible, timely and reliable data generation is required for qualitative planning and decision making. Strategies to deal with this issue are on and the Ministry is collaborating with relevant stakeholders in dealing with data challenges in Nigeria.”

Kaduna State has at least 34,487 certified and qualified teachers in its primary and junior secondary schools.

They represent 90.5 per cent of the total number of 38,097 teachers in the state’s employ.

The figures are contained in the Kaduna State Baseline Assessment of Teacher Provision and Policies Report compiled by the Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE).

PLANE is a seven-year education programme funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to promote inclusive education and improved learning outcomes in primary schools.

Presenting the report at the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (Kaduna SUBEB) yesterday, PLANE’s consultant, Mr Sunny Kulutuye said the assessment was to identify priorities and policy gaps.

Kulutuye said the assessment was also to determine required programme interventions and provide a baseline to assess future progress.

He explained that the assessment was limited to public primary schools and junior secondary schools using data from the Annual School Census, 2015 to 2021 and key informant interviews.

He said findings conducted in 2022 showed that of the 33,419 teachers in public primary schools, 31,033 or 92.9 per cent were qualified, while out of the 4,678 teachers in Junior Secondary Schools, 73.8 per cent were qualified.

The consultant noted that while the policy on education recommended a 1:45 qualified teacher-pupil ratio in primary schools, Kaduna State’s primary schools had a 1:59 qualified teacher-pupil ratio.

“This shows a gap of 9,365 teachers, representing 30.2 per cent required to attain a ratio of a qualified teacher to 45 pupils per class in primary schools.

“The situation is disturbing in Junior Secondary Schools, where the ratio is 88 pupils to a qualified teacher, leaving a gap of 3,274 teachers representing 94.8 per cent.

“There is, therefore, the need to intensify efforts to improve qualified teacher recruitment in Junior Secondary Schools,’’ he said.

Kulutuye added that the state would require a minimum of 40,707 qualified teachers in primary schools and 8,507 teachers in Junior Secondary Schools by 2025, amounting to 49,214 teachers.

He said also that by 2030, the number of teachers needed in primary schools would increase to 44,638 and 9,456 in Junior Secondary Schools, amounting to 54,094 teachers.

The assessment also showed an improvement in pupils to qualified teacher ratio, gender parity in the teaching profession, removal of unqualified teachers, and improved recruitment procedures, he noted.

“One of the identified gaps is the weaknesses in teacher deployment with disparity across local government areas, showing the need to strengthen replacement policies.

“There are also inadequate measures to ensure safer recruitment and background checks, lack of data on special needs teaching and teachers with disabilities, lack of gender policy and implementation and data on auxiliary teachers.

“Another gap is that there are more teachers in urban schools when compared with the number in rural schools,’’ he said.

The Creative Enterprise Support Program (CESP) Art Showcase Grand Finale, hosted by The British Council and curated by TASCK Creative Agency, was a resounding success, attracting a diverse audience of art enthusiasts, fashion lovers, and creatives from throughout Lagos. The event, which was held on the 26th of March, was the final CESP event in the six month series of Creative showcases that featured over 30 exhibitors and panelists.

The CESP Art Showcase Grand Finale was a perfect reflection of the creativity and diversity of the Nigerian art scene, providing a platform for 15 talented exhibitors to showcase their art, including Ojekide Clement, Inara Ziha, Sarah Boulus, The Assembly, and more. The event featured a Fashion show, a pop-up fashion market, art exhibits, film viewings, an Adire workshop, an instructor-led sip and paint session, a digital fashion exhibit, jazz and dance performances, and live performances by Yinka Davies and Loye.

Debbie Romeo, TASCK’s co-founder, Community Manager and CESP Project Lead, commented on the Program, saying, “TASCK is the ideal partner because of its mission to connect creatives to opportunities that support their success. Working with the British Council allows both organizations to positively impact Nigeria’s creative sector by bringing mentors, business leaders and creatives together for a unique blend of empowering and yet very entertaining experiences.”

The British Council opened up their doors to welcome and treat people to a vibrant atmosphere with stunning displays and an exciting lineup of activities. The event was an opportunity for talented creatives to connect with a wider audience and showcase their work. It was also a testament to the growing importance of the arts in Nigeria and the potential for the industry to drive economic growth.
Ndubuisi Kanu, Associate Consultant at the British Council says, “The event was exceptional, and we extend our gratitude to all the exhibitors, performers, and attendees who made it possible. We look forward to the next edition of the CESP Art Showcase and the opportunity to continue promoting and celebrating the arts in Nigeria.”

The CESP Art Showcase Grand Finale was a celebration of creativity, diversity and innovation in Nigerian art. It was an opportunity to explore new ideas and showcase the work of emerging and established artists. TASCK and the British council will continue to provide a safe space for emerging creatives to grow.

•Bello hailed for wading into rumoured suspension claim

Ahead of November 11 governorship election, a socio-political group, Kogi Elite Forum for Democracy has drummed up support for the candidacy of the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Yakubu Murtala Ajaka.
The group’s spokesperson, Dr Abdulazeez Nuhu Adeiza stated this in Abuja at the weekend. He was reacting to the rumoured suspension of Ajaka from the party.
Adeiza, expressing the group’s unflinching support and passing a vote of confidence in the candidacy and personality of the APC chieftain, described those behind the rumoured suspension plot as mischief makers who are out to destabilise the party.
He described Ajaka as a trailblazer and inspirational leader whose commitment to the development and overall progress of the ruling APC in Kogi cannot be dwarfed.
Dr Abdulazeez recalled that Yakubu Ajaka donated 46 cars to boost the party’s campaign activities in Kogi State.
He said Ajaka’s logistics support helped the party’s campaign coordinator to reach every community in the state, adding that the result was the overwhelming victory that the party’s Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other APC National/state assemblies’ candidates got in Kogi.
He also recalled the humanitarian gestures of the APC chieftain, who out of the milk of human kindness and concern for his people, donated N70 million to Kogi flood victims to provide succour for them during the 2022 devastating flood disaster.
Abdulazeez said the party hierarchy and indeed, the good people of the state would not forget such kind gestures in a hurry, adding that Ajaka will receive his reward of loyalty and dedication to service in due time.
The group has praised Governor Yahaya Bello and the APC for coming out to clear the air on the said rumoured suspension of the APC chieftain.
The party denied the reports making the rounds that it suspended the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Murtala Ajaka.
Ajaka’s Ward Chairman, Omale Danladi, denied authorising any letter.
In a sworn affidavit deposed to at the Kogi State High Court, Danladi said at the late hours of March 23, he was informed of a purported letter of suspension alongside a document containing names and signatures of party’s Ward Executive members purportedly at the meeting where the decision to suspend Ajaka was reached.
He said the entire content of the said letter was fake, urging the public to disregard it.
In the same vein, the governor, wading into the matter, warned against bickering that can undermine the peace and unity that the APC has been known for under his leadership.
The governor, in a statement by the Information Commissioner, Kingsley Fanwo, directed all aspirants in the forthcoming governorship primaries to focus on their strengths in wooing party members and refrain from divisive tendencies in the interest of the party.
“Our party will ensure a fair playing ground for the best candidate to emerge in the primary election and together we shall win the governorship election, with a wide margin, in November”, the governor said.

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of working hard to truncate the will of the people in Kano and Taraba states.

The party asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently correct this injustice done to the NNPP and its Governorship candidate to bring lasting peace and stability in Taraba State.

Addressing a news conference in Abuja, National Chairman of the party, Prof Rufai Ahmed Alkali said the party was working hard to control its supporters and ensure that peace would reign, stressing that while the supporters have not allowed themselves to be provoked, there is a limit to people’s endurance level.

Alkali said the briefing was meant to draw the attention of Nigerians and the international community to the shenanigans of some people who, in their desperation for power, believe they are above the law and can do just anything and get away with it.

He said while some people have done everything to subvert the will of the people, the NNPP has resisted every form of provocation in order not to heat up the polity and has gone to great extent to put its members and supporters under serious control, even in the face of unwarranted provocation, across the country, especially in Kano and Taraba states.

He said: “You were all living witnesses to how the elections, especially in Kano and Taraba states, were turned into a war. But glory be to God, the will of the people of Kano State prevailed. We appreciate our teeming supporters for not allowing themselves to be provoked. But there is a limit to people’s endurance level.

“Just like Kano State, Taraba State has been facing serious difficulties. It is very glaring that what happened in the March 18 Governorship and House of Assembly elections in Taraba State was a disgrace.

“The victory of our party in Taraba State in the March 18 election was brazenly stolen in broad daylight, using some compromised security agents.

“When it was apparent that NNPP was coasting home to victory, some forces of darkness went into action, and not minding the costs, they embarked on a mission to just destroy the whole process. At the end of day, they tried to achieve their evil plan at a very huge cost in terms of lives and properties they wasted in the process.

“We in the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) therefore totally reject that PDP won the governorship elections in Taraba State. This issue has already been taken up and details are available to INEC, and we urge the electoral umpire to urgently correct this injustice done to NNPP and our governorship candidate to bring lasting peace and stability in Taraba State”.

The Managing Director of Naebi Dynamic Concepts Limited, Mr. Stanley Chike has called on the Federal government to sanction and enforce a ‘no flight permit’ to operators owing landing levies despite being issued a notice.

Chike said this in Port Harcourt during a familiarisation visit to his office and the inauguration of the second batch of trainees of helicopter monitoring officers by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who was represented by the Director of Human Resources, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Norris Anozie.

The managing director noted that his firm was given the responsibility of tackling security challenges within the navigational airways as well as revenue loss within the subsector.

In tackling the challenges, he said, the federal government through the ministry of Aviation mandated Naebi Dynamic Concepts Limited to be in receivership of helicopter landing levies according to section 7(1) (b), (i), and (r) of the NAMA Act 1999, from all oil fields, terminals, platforms, Riggs, FPSO, helipad, Airstrips, and aerodromes.

Chike noted that some directives already issued by the Managing Director, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to its staff to synergies with his firm staff in enforcement will yield results.

He, however, expressed optimism that the minister will use this visit to attend to the peculiar request by directing relevant agencies to enforce a ‘no flight permit’ to operators who haven’t complied with the payments of landing levies.

Speaking at the inauguration, Chike said some of the officers inaugurated would be sent abroad for specialised training as part of measures to digitalise the sector.

He said the firm has trained 200 helicopter monitoring officers in the first batch with all necessary certifications, while 150 persons have already been deployed to various locations.

Chike added that another 300 are being trained in order to drive the President’s dream for the aviation sector so as to increase employment for the Nigerian youths.

He said: “The federal government is using this to create about 500 jobs and even more. Indigenous people of the different local communities are being trained and deployed.

“We hope to achieve our dream of digitalising the sub-sector by identifying special talents among them who will in turn be sent overseas for specialized training.”

He further hinted that the firm’s control room would be ready by June this year.

“We have put in place our call centre and have contracted the equipment of our control room to a British firm, and it will be completed by June. Upon completion, they will remain for another period of six months to further train our I.C.T experts for effective delivery”, Chike said.