The Federal Government, in collaboration with state governments, has initiated measures to strengthen mortgage and land systems to accelerate inclusive housing delivery in Nigeria. Nasiru Dantsoho, the Sokoto State Commissioner for Lands, Housing, Survey and Town Planning, said this at the opening of the 15th National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development meeting on Monday in Sokoto. Dantsoho advocated single-digit interest rates on mortgage loans, down from the current double-digit rates, and an extension of mortgage tenures from 25 to 35 years to make repayments more affordable. He also called for expanded access to mortgages beyond the formal public…
Author: John Asishana
The Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) has launched a strategic media engagement plan to strengthen domestic nutrition financing in Kaduna. At the event on Thursday in Kaduna, Mrs Celestina Ayim, CS-SUNN State Chapter Coordinator, said adequate domestic financing was fundamental to improving nutrition outcomes and achieving sustainable development. She noted that financing gaps continued to undermine interventions. Ayim said Nigeria remained among countries with the highest malnutrition burden globally, citing the 2023–2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. According to her, the survey showed that 40 per cent of Nigerian children under five were stunted, eight per cent…
The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has called for freedom for Muslims to practise their religion without compulsion. Abubakar made the call on Thursday in Abuja at the Special Prayer for the Nation and 2026 General Assembly organised by the NSCIA. The Sultan said Muslims had important roles to play in addressing challenges confronting the country and the world. He urged Muslims not to remain passive in the face of developments that could negatively affect their religion and society. According to him, Muslims should be allowed to…
Some agriculture stakeholders have called on the Federal Government to implement workable measures to reduce production costs in the sector. The stakeholders made the call in separate interviews with reporters on Thursday in Lagos. They were reacting to President Bola Tinubu’s 66th Independence Day celebration speech, in which he promised to reduce production costs across sectors. In his Independence Day Broadcast, President Tinubu said reducing production costs in agriculture and other sectors would help achieve shared prosperity for Nigerians. The Lagos State Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mr Sakin Agbayewa, commended the administration’s efforts but called…
The Sultan Foundation for Peace and Development (SFPD) has mobilised Community-Based Organisations (CBOs), religious and traditional leaders to reach 70,000 unimmunised children in seven Local Government Areas of Sokoto State. The foundation organised a one-day capacity-building workshop under the Sokoto Tracking and Accountability for Equitable Immunisation (S-TRACE) Project. It is collaborating with the Sokoto State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (SSPHDA), with the project funded by GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, and supported by Mannion Daniels. Speaking at the event on Wednesday, SFPD Director of Programmes Dr Aminu Inuwa said the CSO Fund Mechanism aimed to work with community structures and gatekeepers…
The Africa Hub for Innovation and Development (AFHID) has called for the development and adoption of trusted, homegrown and human-centred Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions to address healthcare challenges in Nigeria. The call was made on Thursday at a pre-summit webinar on AI in health, where experts examined the opportunities and challenges of deploying emerging technologies across the health sector. The Chief Executive Officer of Advantage Health Africa (Aha), Abimbola Adebakin, said trust was particularly important in deploying AI in healthcare because health is a “low-forgiveness sector”. She said Aha had built its ‘myMedicines’ platform around familiar channels such as WhatsApp,…
President Bola Tinubu has directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States. Mr Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja. The 81st UNGA General Debate will hold from September 22 to 28. The theme of the UNGA is “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.” Nkwocha explained that at the General Debate, Shettima would deliver Nigeria’s national statement. He said the statement would outline…
The Sokoto State Government has ordered a full investigation into the attack and killing at the Musa Lukuwa Jumu’at Mosque in Mabera, while directing the closure of the mosque until further notice. The government also dissociated itself from anyone who uses religion as a pretext to disrespect Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), his parents, household and companions. In a statement signed by the Director-General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Sokoto, Abubakar Bawa, on Tuesday, the government reaffirmed its respect and obedience to the personality of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), urging residents to continue to demonstrate love and compassion towards him. The government said…
The Sokoto State Government, in collaboration with Sightsavers, has administered the antibiotic azithromycin to 1.1 million children as part of efforts to reduce child mortality. State Health Educator Mr. Sabi’u Gandi announced this at a media roundtable organized by Sightsavers on Thursday in Sokoto, where stakeholders reviewed child health interventions. Gandi explained that the treatment was part of the Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance of Mass Administration of Azithromycin on Children in Nigeria (SARMAAN) project, aimed at improving child survival. He noted that children were treated during the fifth round of azithromycin administration from Dec. 15 to Dec. 21, 2025, across…
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed life jackets and other relief materials to families affected by the Gorau boat mishap in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State. The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of NEMA Sokoto Operations Office, Mr Dahiru Kure, made this known to reporters on Sunday in Sokoto. Kure said the agency conducted the direct distribution of humanitarian relief assistance to families affected by the recent boat mishap in Gorau village. He said the intervention was part of the Federal Government’s response to the incident, adding that life jackets were distributed to the people of Gorau…