The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Reports

  • Kwara delegation visits Shonga, probes rice plantation flooding

    Kwara delegation visits Shonga, probes rice plantation flooding

    Kwara State Government delegation on Sunday visited Shonga in Edu Local Government Area to establish the causes of the unusual flooding that has submerged rice farmlands stretching thousands of hectares.

    Led by the Deputy Chief of Staff Princess Bukola Babalola, the delegation also delivered relief materials worth millions of naira for the farmers in the affected community, Tada.

    The delegation visited the Emir of Shonga Dr. Haliru Yahya Ndanusa and the victims at Tada. 

    Babalola assured the victims that the government would offer assistance to the farmers to cushion the effect of the flooding on their farms. 

    “We are here to see the damage done to the farms, especially the rice farms in Tada community. We have seen what happened and we are taking the message back to His Excellency Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to see what can be done to remedy the situation —  immediate and future remedies — and avert loss of lives and farmlands,” she told reporters on the sideline of the visit.

    “Also, a lot of farmers are crying here that they need a lot of support. We have heard their complaints, and help is on the way.”

    Babalola thanked residents of the community for their cooperation and understanding, saying the government cares for their well-being and would support them, including establishing the causes of the flooding. 

    Emir of Shonga Dr Halidu Yahya Ndanusa expressed sadness over the incident, saying the flooding could affect food security in the state. 

    Read Also: Kwara South leaders hail AbdulRazaq

    He urged the State Government to carry out thorough investigation to get the cause of the “unusual” flooding at this time. 

    “From here up to Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, Niger Republic, and Mali, there was no rain. The Sahel is dry. How can there be a flood here? The source of this flood must be local,” he said.

    “We have asked from Kainji Dam, and they said it wasn’t from them. But Jebba Dam could not deny it. In fact, they said they would soon close it. We spent several years attracting people to this place. We hope this will not happen again next year to avert food insecurity. 

    “His Excellency has spoken to me, and he took it very seriously. I didn’t expect this delegation again, given his interventions already. We are very grateful to him for his concern and for sending this powerful delegation. 

    “It is very important that we get to the roots of the matter. If it is true that Jebba Dam released water, what was the reason, and who authorised it?”

    Muhammad Abdulkadir, a Tada community leader, disclosed that several farmlands were submerged due to the flooding. 

    “Our farmers here came from different states in the north. We have farmers from Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, and Niger State, and they have lost millions of naira worth of rice farms to this flooding,” he said. 

    “We definitely need government’s assistance. When there was no flooding, we realised over 3m metric tonnes of rice here annually. 

    “We thank the government for coming to our aid immediately. This should not end here. We want the government to find the permanent solution to perennial flooding in this axis. The permanent solution is to dredge the River Niger.”

  • NUJ FCT Council commends Minister on infrastructural development

    NUJ FCT Council commends Minister on infrastructural development

    The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has commended the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, for his visible efforts in improving infrastructural development within the nation’s capital.

    While acknowledging the Minister’s developmental strides, the union urged for more economic reforms to improve the well-being of citizens in the FCT.

    This was stated in a communiqué released after the Council’s historic first Congress, held on Saturday at the Council’s Secretariat in Utako, Abuja.

    During the Congress, members discussed the state of the union and the nation, urging relevant government authorities to enhance economic and social development for the benefit of citizens.

    Other pressing concerns raised included the rising cost of living, poor power supply, and insecurity across the country.

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    The event, presided over by Comrade Grace Ike, Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, marked a significant milestone, bringing together over 400 members, including former Chairmen of the Council and past leaders of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ).

    In her opening address, Comrade Ike emphasized the executive’s commitment to fostering unity and progress within the Council. 

    She said, “It is a privilege to welcome you all to this momentous first Congress of the NUJ FCT Council under our leadership. Today represents more than a formal gathering; it is an opportunity to reaffirm our shared commitment to unity, progress, and the collective good of our profession.”

    Members deliberated on critical national issues, highlighting the rising cost of living as a major challenge. 

    The Council described the escalating prices of basic goods and services as a heavy burden on Nigerians and called on the Federal Government to take immediate action to address these hardships.

    The Congress also expressed concern about the erratic power supply in the Federal Capital Territory, noting its detrimental impact on businesses and residents’ daily lives.

    “The frequent disruptions in electricity and water supply are increasing operational costs and reducing profit margins for businesses, placing additional strain on the average Nigerian,” the communiqué stated.

    It called on relevant agencies to prioritize the restoration of essential services to improve the quality of life in the region.

    The NUJ FCT Council also voiced grave concerns over rising insecurity, including alarming reports of ritual killings and other heinous acts. 

    It attributed these incidents partly to the ongoing economic downturn and emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to address economic and security challenges.

    The Congress concluded with a pledge of commitment to the unity and advancement of the union for the betterment of its members.

  • BudgIT condemns govt attacks on NGOs demanding budget transparency in Sokoto

    BudgIT condemns govt attacks on NGOs demanding budget transparency in Sokoto

    BudgIT, a civic-tech organisation that focuses on promoting transparency and accountability in public finance management, has condemned the Sokoto government’s attacks on non-governmental organizations that are seeking budget accountability. 

    It said the attacks by the state government were unwarranted and undermined the principles of transparency and accountability in governance.

    BudgIT’s Research Analyst, Temitope Odeyemi, said in a statement on Friday that governments exist to serve the public, and as such, they must be held accountable to their citizens. 

    He added that accountability in government was not optional, but a fundamental requirement of democracy. 

    The Nation recalled Sokoto State Governor, Dr. Ahmad Aliyu, on 29 November 2024. presented a N526.88bn budget proposal for the 2025 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly, which was subsequently passed on 17 December 2024. 

    Odeyemi emphasised that holding the government accountable in public finance management is an essential principle of democracy.

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    He said: “Civic responsibility is vital in a democracy, enabling citizens to hold leaders accountable and ensuring that government actions reflect the people’s interests. Accusing the Sokoto State Government of fiscal opacity is not overreach; it reflects citizens’ rights to know how public resources are managed. BudgIT and like minded CSOs are vehicles of citizen hope, aspiration and collectivity and translate the yearnings of citizens to action.

    “States are not private enterprises, and dismissing accountability by claiming NGOs have no constitutional mandate undermines democracy. Governments exist to serve the public, and as such,

    they must be held accountable to their citizens. This accountability is not optional; it is a fundamental requirement of democracy. Transparency goes beyond satisfying state assemblies; it includes active engagement with the public. Budget documents are public documents; everyone, including the citizens and Civil Society Organizations, should have access to them. 

    “Criticising NGOs for exposing gaps does not address those gaps; it perpetuates them. An accountable government should not become defensive; instead, it should reflect on its performance to understand why it has fallen short of expectations and best practices.”

    Odeyemi said that instead of attempting to suppress NGOs, the state government should embrace accountability and promote collaboration with civil society organisations (CSOs) to improve governance.

    He said: “This partnership benefits citizens with a more responsive government and allows administrations to stand out among peers by demonstrating their commitment to good governance. 

    “By viewing governance challenges as opportunities for collaboration, citizens, CSOs, and the government can achieve a mutually beneficial outcome.”

  • UNICEF: Schools in Kano, Jigawa, Katsina failing to provide quality education for children

    UNICEF: Schools in Kano, Jigawa, Katsina failing to provide quality education for children

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised concerns about the poor quality of education for children in northern Nigeria, in addition to the high number of Out of School Children (OOSC) in the region.

    Rahama Rihood Mohammed Farah, Chief of UNICEF Field Office Kano, made the statement at a press conference marking this year’s International Day of Education (IDE) at Bon Hotel in Kano on Friday.

    UNICEF pointed out that the northwest region has the second-highest rates of children out of school, and the situation is worsened in Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina states, where even children who are enrolled in school are facing poor learning outcomes.

    “There are currently about 10.2 million children at the primary level are out of school in Nigeria, 16 per cent of them are from Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states, according to MICS 2021.

    “Close to one million children are out of school in Kano state( 989,234); a total of 337,861 out of school children are in Jigawa, while Katsina state has 536,112 out of school children,” Farah said, adding that 32% of primary school going age children were out of school in Kano state.

    He said: “While the spectre of Out of School Children (OOSC) is a major concern, the challenge is that even those children who have the opportunity  to be enrolled in school are not having quality education.

    “Only 1 out of 4 children in Nigeria, aged 7-14 years can read and understand a simple sentence or solve basic arithmetic, according to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS 2021) report.

    “Across Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states, this challenge is staggering: Tests conducted by the Federal Ministry of Education in 2022 found that Foundational Learning rates stand at 11 per cent or lower in the three states of Kano, Jigawa and Katsina.

    Read Also: Unsafe abortions fuel maternal deaths in Nigeria, says LIFE

    “For instance, only 2% of primary school learners in Jigawa state have foundational reading skills while less than 1% have numeracy skills.

    “Although Kano figures appear better at 9.6% for reading proficiency, and 11.2% for numeracy, these figures are way lower than the national averages of 26% per cent for Reading proficiency and 25% for Numeracy respectively.”

    The theme for the 2025 International Day of Education was given as: “AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation.”

    UNICEF said the 2025 IDE conference was organised to leverage the advocacy moment of the IDE to highlight the significance of education and its role in fostering a well-informed, inclusive, and peaceful society.

    Farah mentioned inadequate funding of the education sector, dissruptive impact of climate change on learning as other challenges confronting education in the country, particularly in the north.

    He said UNICEF was supporting basic education in Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states through cash transfers, tree planting campaigns, enrollment drives, supply of learning materials, building of schools and improvement of teachers’ capacities among other interventions. 

  • Northern caucus pledges support for Njoku’s leadership of NRM

    Northern caucus pledges support for Njoku’s leadership of NRM

    The Northern caucus of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) has pledged its support for the leadership of party under Chief Edozie Njoku.

    Members of the caucus, led by Comrade Iliyasu Adamu, expressed delight about Njoku’s emergence as the party’s new National Chairman and promised to do all within their power to ensure his success.

    At a press conference in Abuja, leaders of the caucus from the 19 northern states, including Chairmen, Secretaries, members of the National Working Committee (NWC) said they resolved to back Njoku. 

    The party members said they took the decision after reviewing “the unnecessary and avoidable dissentions arising from the just concluded national emergency convention of NRM held on January 17.

    A communique issued at the end of the Northern Cacus meeting, endorsed by 17 party officials, said the emergency national convention was properly convened in line with the Constitution of the Party.  

    Adamu, who read the communique, explained that “the emergency national convention became necessary to address the lopsidedness in the composition of the then National Management Committee (NMC), which has been amended to National Working Committee (NWC), in the new Constitution at the emergency national convention held on January 17, 2025”. 

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    “That we unanimously passed a vote of confidence on the person of the National Chairman of NRM, Chief Edozie Njoku, and the leadership of our great Party. 

    “The emergency national convention was also convened to address the stepping down of the then National Chairman of the Party, Ambassador Isaac C. Udeh. 

    “We wholeheartedly accept the outcome of the emergency national convention under the leadership of Chief Edozie Njoku, the National Chairman of NRM. 

    “That we urge all members of our great party to rally around the Party’s new leadership for greater exploits.

    “That we support the President of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in his administration’s efforts to reposition the Local Government system, which will enthrone developments at the grassroots” the Northern Caucus of NRM stated in the communique. 

  • Gen. Useni dedicated his life to helping widows, the poor – Former Plateau varsity VC

    Gen. Useni dedicated his life to helping widows, the poor – Former Plateau varsity VC

    Former Vice Chancellor of Plateau State University, Bokkos, Prof. Danjuma Sheni, has paid tribute to the late General Jeremiah Timbut Useni, describing him as a compassionate leader who dedicated his life to supporting widows and the less privileged.

    In a tribute made available to our correspondent in Lafia, Prof. Sheni highlighted the profound impact the former FCT minister had on the TAROK nation in Plateau State, emphasizing that his contributions to the development of his people, Plateau State, and Nigeria will not be forgotten.

    He described the late General, who also served as the military administrator of the old Bendel State, as a generous and caring leader who was deeply committed to the welfare of widows, underprivileged women, and the poor.

    Prof. Sheni further noted that General Useni played a key role as the pioneer founding chairman of the Board of Trustees of the North Central People’s Forum and worked tirelessly to facilitate the establishment of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).

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    “We hope mr president will sign the bill into law in his honour. General Useni’s contributions cannot all be listed” 

    “He was a humanitarian. He loved people and was compassionate. He took care of widows, poor women , the poor of the poor. He was a giver and identified with the TAROK Nation. 

    “He served as a vice chairman and later as chairman of TAROK elders forum. He was in the forefront of the fight to have Karl Kum University sited in TAROK land due to the history of how COCIN missionaries were accepted in Langtang before spreading to other communities in plateau. 

    “As a member of COCIN SARKIN MANGU, where he got married,  he contributed to the renovation of the church and that of COCIN Langtang. He was a major contributor to the funds to build Wase COCIN after it was destroyed by communal war. 

    “He was a developer and one who gave jobs to many people all over the nation.  He was a nationalist. He pioneered the establishment of Tim Tali  University which is still being pursued by those close to him. A man of the people.  It is difficult not to remember He lost his prayerful wife in a plane crush in Kano on her way to Lagos after she successfully hosted prayer crusade in langtang. 

    “She like her husband were committed to the uplifting  of the people.  A family that lived to serve. May Almighty God give him eternal rest and comfort his family in Jesus name” he said 

  • Group backs 50% telecom tariff hike, calls for improved services

    Group backs 50% telecom tariff hike, calls for improved services

    The Arewa Youth Assembly has backed the recently approved 50 percent hike in telecommunication tariffs by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC).

    The group stated that it was also an opportunity for the sector’s regulator to insist on fairness, transparency, and accountability in the telecommunications sector.

    The group said the move will open up the sector for robust growth and investment.

    In a statement signed by the Speaker of the Arewa Youth Assembly, Mohammed Salihu Danlami, the group stated that the increase in telecommunication tariffs was long overdue and has become necessary.

    The group also called on telecommunication operators to use the proceeds of the adjusted tariff prices to immediately invest in improving services.

    According to the group, the support of most Nigerians for the tariff adjustment was on the condition that service quality would be improved.

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    It also called for calm and understanding from Nigerians, noting that they expect improved growth in the telecom sector, greater protection of customers, improved efficiency of telecom services and ultimately the sustainability of Nigeria’s telecommunication sector. 

    It said: “The telecommunication sector, which employs millions of Nigerians directly and is responsible for powering other sectors of the country, is the only sector that has maintained the status quo in terms of the price of its services despite the skyrocketing of the prices of basic requirements for its operations, such as diesel, power, and even manpower costs.

    “The industry was near the point of collapse. The global rise in inflation and rise in the cost of its operation, coupled with foreign exchange high costs plus increased network maintenance expenses, was rendering telecommunication companies ineffective in delivering services to Nigerians.

    “No serious regulator that understands the need for prices to be market reflective would have folded its arms to allow such a collapse.”

    The group explained that the tariff adjustment was a fundamental decision that had to be taken to preserve the industry and its impact on the wider economy, noting that “everything in Nigeria today depends on telecoms, whether it is healthcare, education, corporate businesses, and even the government.”

    It said tariffs needed to be increased to ensure that the industry was made stronger and that service could be improved.

    The statement added: “Furthermore, this tariff adjustment will help the operators to purchase new equipment to enhance the country’s telecommunication infrastructure. It would also re-energise the sector in a way that would lead to a surge in investments. This will ultimately translate to improved network quality, expanded access, and a better experience for consumers. We at the Arewa Youth Assembly are hopeful that the sector will grow beyond expectations, creating more opportunities for our people to get jobs in telecoms.

    “It is ironic that those complaining of tariff increase are the same ones who are complaining of poor service delivery. They are unaware that telecommunication companies cannot improve their infrastructure to meet growing demand without having cost-reflective prices. To address Quality of Service problems, they need a new injection of funds.”

  • Gov Radda reaffirms stance against negotiating with bandits

    Gov Radda reaffirms stance against negotiating with bandits

    The Katsina State Government has once again ruled out any negotiations with bandits responsible for repeated attacks and security threats in the state. 

    Governor Dikko Umar Radda made this declaration while receiving the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 8 Division and Commander of the Joint Task Force North West Operation during a courtesy visit to the Government House in Katsina. 

    “Our administration will not negotiate with criminals perpetrating evil acts in the state,” the governor stated. He emphasized that any peace deal with the bandits would only be considered under specific conditions to ensure lasting stability, adding that successful negotiations would require the full acceptance and involvement of affected communities. 

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    Governor Radda also revealed that a stakeholder engagement committee has been established to involve local communities in peace-building efforts while expressing the government’s willingness to support those who genuinely seek repentance and reintegration.

    The governor said: ”The bandits were our ”brothers, born within us, but chose to be criminals. Those who sincerely surrender and seek to rebuild their lives will find support from our administration,”

    “We are prepared to provide resources for their reintegration and livestock management, enabling them to become productive members of society”

    Governor Radda further reaffirmed Katsina State’s substantial investment in security infrastructure, surpassing many states in the federation.

    He pledged continued logistical support to address fuel supply challenges and maintain operational effectiveness while commending the exceptional leadership of the Division and Brigade Commanders, describing it as exemplary by personally leading operations and demonstrating unwavering dedication.

    The Governor also noted that the efforts of the Military combined with the collaborative operations of the Air Force, Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Civil Defence Corps, and Katsina Community Watch Corps, have yielded significant improvements in the state’s security.

    He said: ”Our farmers can now cultivate their lands and transport their produce to market,”

    “This tangible progress demonstrates the effectiveness of our joint security strategies,” 

    Earlier, Major General Ibikunle Ademola Ajose explained that he was in Katsina State as part of his first quarter operational visit to all states under the 8th Division which includes Katsina and to discuss with the State Government, the newly launched Operation Safe Northwest.

    General Ajose also recalled the Chief of Defense Staff had written to the four states within the Zone on the recent developments, particularly reports of some bandits expressing interest in negotiating peace.

    He said: “It is important to state categorically that the Nigerian Army does not engage in negotiations with criminals or bandits, we are committed to exploring holistic approaches to address this persistent and wicked challenge.”

  • Niger launches safe space initiative for adolescent girls in schools

    Niger launches safe space initiative for adolescent girls in schools

    In an effort to empower adolescent girls and address critical challenges affecting their education and well-being, the Niger state government, in collaboration with the World Bank, has launched the “Safe Space” initiative under the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project.

    This initiative targets girls in 522 schools across the state and aims to provide life skills education, mentorship, and support to improve their lives and foster self-reliance.

    Speaking at the Stakeholders Workshop for the Validation of the Safe Space Life Skills Manua in Minna, The AGILE Life Skills and Safe Space Team Lead, Dr Isah Adamu said that the reason for the project is to address the unique challenges faced by girls in Niger State, where school dropout rates among girls are significantly higher than boys.

    “In Niger state, generally, we have a low level of enrollment of our girls in the school system. You will agree with me that the number of girls out of school is much more than the number of boys out of school in this part of the country.

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    ‘Even those in the school system are exposed to risks such as gender-based violence and harassment. These safe spaces will provide them with a platform for confidence building, mentorship, and essential education not offered in conventional schools. There are things of confidentiality. When a girl is exposed to any gender-based violence or any kind of harassment, it is difficult for her to open up to everybody. So, hardly will a girl go to her parents and tell them that she has been violated wrongly and forcefully.

    “Therefore, to create this kind of environment is to give them further education, to expose them to a better learning environment. And most importantly, it is going to even help their learning in the school system. It is also going to awaken their skills, it is going to build them intellectually”, he said.

    The AGILE Life Skills and Safe Space Component Lead, Hajiya Fatima Mohammed, explained that the project will initially cover 165 schools across the state’s 25 local government areas, adding that it would be expanded to 522 schools in its second phase.

    “Our focus is to teach them about climate change, reproductive health, and entrepreneurship, ensuring they acquire skills that will make them self-reliant and contribute to their communities,” she said.

    Mohammed said that the program is set to directly benefit over 159,000 girls across Niger State, equipping them with critical life skills and fostering an environment where they can thrive academically and socially.

    “As the project rolls out, stakeholders are optimistic that it will reduce school dropouts, build resilience, and empower the next generation of female leaders in the state.”

    The Representative of the Commissioner of Women Affairs, Larai Ibrahim expressed the support of the ministry, emphasizing the program’s significance in bridging gender gaps and ensuring a safer, more inclusive environment for girls and women.

    “We are grateful to the organizers and stakeholders for prioritizing the empowerment of our girls and women. This manual will help integrate traditional and modern education to enhance their development,” she said.

    AGILE, an acronym for the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment, is a holistic program that combines classroom education with skills training and mentorship. The workshop also marked the validation of the Safe Space Life Skills Manual, which will serve as the curriculum for the initiative. 

  • Arewa Yoruba group begs Tinubu to pay registration fees for 2025 JAMB candidates 

    Arewa Yoruba group begs Tinubu to pay registration fees for 2025 JAMB candidates 

    The Association of Arewa Yoruba Youths (AAYY) has appealed to the federal government to pay the JAMB Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration fees for all eligible students in the country to cushion the economic challenges being faced by parents.

    The group noted that last year that about 1.8m students registered for JAMB, believing that this year would be around 2m in number that will register for the examination.

    A statement issued by the association’s national coordinator, Lawal Hussein Taiye, said that if JAMB registration costs about N7,000 per each applicant, the total amount for two million applicants will be about N14 billion in the whole country. 

    According  to Hussein, who is also the National Coordinator of Tinubu Mukeso group, “This will assist the parents and the less privileged students register for the examination in view of the present hardship many homes are going through in the country.” 

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    He noted that the alleged federal government conditional cash transfer of N75,000 to individual would not really get to the real people that needed the money but may end up in the pockets of wrong or selfish politicians.

    Hussein urged the federal government to come up with a more realistic and digital means of distributing the money so that those intended will benefit from the good intention of government to Nigerians.

    According to him, “Paying JAMB examination fees for students this year’s will go a long way to enable many homes that cannot afford to register their students the opportunity to do so.”

    The youths employ the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to come up with policies that would have direct bearings to many Nigerians that are finding it difficult to cope with present reality of life.