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Tag: Northern Senators

  • Northern senators forum condemns Plateau killing of travellers, demands swift justice

    Northern senators forum condemns Plateau killing of travellers, demands swift justice

    The Northern Senators Forum (NSF) has condemned the brutal killing of innocent travellers in Plateau State, describing the attack as barbaric and unacceptable.

    Chairman of the Forum, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, expressed the Forum’s outrage in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday.

    According to the statement, the attack occurred on Friday, June 20, 2025, when an 18-seater bus carrying passengers from the Basawa community in Zaria, Kaduna State, to Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State was ambushed in Mangu Local Government Area.

    “The Northern Senators Forum (NSF) vehemently condemns the brutal killing of innocent travellers,” the statement read. “On behalf of the Forum, I extend our deepest condolences to the government and people of Kaduna State, particularly the bereaved families affected by this heinous attack.”

    Senator Yar’Adua described the incident as a cowardly act that has no place in a civilised society, stressing that swift and decisive justice must be served.

    He noted that such violence violates the constitutional right of every Nigerian to move freely and live in any part of the country, as guaranteed under Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution.

    “These senseless killings are a threat to the fabric of our national unity and must not be allowed to continue,” the Forum emphasised, calling on security agencies to intensify efforts to apprehend the perpetrators and restore peace in the affected areas.

    “We call on the Nigeria Police Force to enhance its strategic information gathering capabilities to prevent and effectively respond to such crimes, ensuring perpetrators are brought to justice.

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    “We appeal to the Federal Government to equip security agencies with modern communication gadgets to track and apprehend criminals planning attacks.

    “We urge communities to remain calm and law-abiding, avoiding reprisal attacks that could escalate the situation.

    “We also appeal to the Plateau State Government to intensify efforts towards promoting mutual coexistence among various ethnic and religious groups in the state to avoid future occurrences.

    “The NSF stands in solidarity with the victims’ families and the entire nation in condemning this atrocity. We pledge to work with relevant authorities to ensure justice is served and such incidents are prevented in the future. May Almighty Allah forgive them and grant them Jannah.”

  • Northern Senators seek special consideration on NELFUND

    Northern Senators seek special consideration on NELFUND

    The Northern Senators Forum (NSF) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to grant  special consideration to students in higher institutions in the region in the disbursement of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

    The Senators made the call in a letter dated October 28 to Tinubu signed by their Chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua

    The NSF noted that the national loans scheme was supposed to be evenly distributed to all students across the country but the exigency in North makes it necessary for students in the North to get special treatment.

    The letter reads in part: “On behalf of the Northern Senators, I wish to most respectfully express our profound gratitude to His Excellency President Bole Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, and the eminent Nigerians in the Board and Management of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), ted by Mr Jim Ovia, as Chairman and Mr Akintunde Sewyerr as MD’CEO.

    “Our expression of deep appreciation is in view of the enormity of the impact of the Student Loans Scheme, which has been initiated with instant impect across tertiary institutions in Nigerie.

    “The students from tertiary institutions in the North have shown belief in and responsiveness to the scheme, and it is heartwarming to find Bayero Universy Kano, University of Maiduguri and Federal University Dutsin-Ma, leading the charts of beneficiaries in the early days of the scheme, with over 16,000 combined number of beneficiaries, amongst other students from numerous other institutions.

    “We will not lose sight of the fact that this programme is a national scheme, and therefore should command a semblance of balance and spread across the country’s geo-political zones.

    “However. considering the tevel of youth restiveness and violent extremism that has plagued the North for over a decade-and-half, it will not be out of place for the government to deliberately target a geometric enhancement of access to tertiary education mainly for young northerners.

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    “This scheme bolsters the chances of these young citizens to return to school and achieve gainful employment.

    “As a forum of northern legislators, we acknowledge the impact of the historic Act setting up NELFUND and the propensity of the initiative to enable progress, especially in reducing insecurity and improving living standards across our communities.

    “Finally, we wish to encourage northern state governments to sustain the active participation of citizens by ensuring active collaboration with NELFUND in undertaking awareness campaigns across tertiary institutions within their states.”