The two residents of Byazhin area in Kubwa, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), kidnapped by gunmen have regained their freedom after allegedly paying N2 million. On Wednesday, the two men, Mr Ayodele Somorin and Mr Oladimeji Josiah, a carpenter, were kidnapped in their homes on May 21. The armed men, who stormed the hilly area close to the Lottery Quarters and few metres away from Living Faith Church, Byazhin in Kubwa, shot sporadically before they were whisked away. They were however, released after spending about five days in kidnappers’ den. On a visit to the area Thursday…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on the federal and state governments to reinforce the protection mechanism of all children in the country. UNICEF’s Country Director, Peter Hawkins, made the call in a statement issued in Kaduna on Thursday to commemorate Nigerian Children’s Day. Hawkins said that this year’s celebration comes at a challenging moment for child rights in the country and the world, with COVID-19 pandemic threatening gains made for children’s development. He commended the efforts of the Nigerian government at all levels to protect education, health and other critical services in response to the impact of…
The World Bank has approved a $700 million credit for the Nigeria Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Programme (SURWASH). It made the announcement in a statement on its website in Washington D. C. on Thursday. According to the statement, the credit will provide six million people with basic drinking water services and 1.4 million people access to improved sanitation services. It would also deliver improved Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services to 2,000 schools and Health Care Facilities and assist 500 communities to achieve open defecation free status. These would be implemented as part of the…
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno has announced that the bill to domesticate the Child Rights Act is almost ready for his assent to become a law in the state. He made this known during an interaction with Ms Ulla Mueller, the Country Representative of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and Woo Chan Chang, the Country Director of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), who paid him a courtesy visit in Maiduguri on Wednesday. The governor said “the Child Rights bill is almost ready for my assent, and we are working on the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act. “We have…
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says fear, poor information and stigma related to COVID-19 pandemic has denied some pregnant women access to obstetric care in Kaduna State. The UNFPA Programme Coordinator and Head of Office, UNFPA Decentralised Officer Northern Nigeria, Ms Mariana Darbie made this assertions in Zaria on Wednesday. Darboe spoke at an event to commemorate the 2021 International Day to End Fistula. According to her, COVID-19 has taken a huge global toll on maternal and newborn health. Darboe said women and girls in many countries, including Nigeria, do not benefit from a universal human right to safe…
The federal government has begun construction of 37 “smart schools” across the country to boost Information Communication Technology (ICT). Dr Hamid Bobboyi, Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), made this known to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja. Bobboyi said that extensive work had been done in 20 of the 37 schools to be built, while work would begin fully on the remaining 17 soon. According to him, the initiative has become necessary to ensure that Nigeria competes favourably in the present world of technology. The executive secretary emphasized that one of the best ways to achieve the milestone was…
A 13 year-old boy, Joshua Aitan on Wednesday, won the second edition of the 3D Kids Talent Hunt for Secondary Schools in Ibadan, Oyo State. Aitan however got N250,000 and 50kg of Titan Farms, Nigeria made rice for six months, among other items. The maiden edition of the talent hunt was won by an 11-year-old Ayomide Olubowale. Valentina Oni, 16, of Atanda Neighborhood Private Secondary School, won the second position, with N150,000 and 25kg rice to be supplied for six months. Also, Zainab Oyetunji, 18, of Adifase High School, came third and got N50,000, among other gift items. The tournament…
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the capsizing of a boat in Ngaski local government area of Kebbi state, offering his heartfelt condolences to the families of those affected by this tragedy. The president made his feelings known in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Wednesday. Media reports had indicated that the boat was overloaded and there is no official confirmation on the number of casualties. While efforts are ongoing to recover more survivors, the president extended his gratitude to all those involved in the rescue efforts. He…
The Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi says the establishment of the West African Police Information System (WAPIS) will address security threats, transnational crimes and terrorism in ECOWAS member states and Mauritania. The force spokesperson, Mr Frank Mba, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja explained that the minister said this at inauguration of WAPIS Centre in Abuja. Dingyadi said the centre would provide an integrated platform for national, regional and global police data exchange. The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Usman Baba said the establishment of WAPIS Data Collection and Recording (DACORE) Centre in Nigeria was part of…
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) has called for increase in the role of private sector for better outcomes in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. Mrs Ngone Diop, Director, UNECA Sub-Regional Office, West Africa said this at a virtual regional forum on Wednesday. The two-day forum is a West Africa Regional Forum of Intergovernmental and private sector organisations on the Implementation of the AfCFTA. Diop said increasing the role of the private sector would impact on the initiatives of the AfCFTA. The director noted that the sector’s role would harness demographic dividend, grow the middle…