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Buhari inspects ruins of Maiduguri Monday Market
Buhari inspects ruins of Maiduguri Monday Market
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday inspected the ruins of Maiduguri Monday Market, destroyed by fire recently, commiserating with the government and people of Borno on the unfortunate incident.
The president was also at the palace of the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar El-Kanemi, to register his profound condolences to the victims who lost property and means of livelihood in the disaster.
Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s spokesman, who confirmed this in a statement, said the president also visited the market, still smouldering five days after.
The president was accompanied by Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno, Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima, members of the Federal Executive Council and some eminent citizens of the state.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, told the president that assessment on the level of damage is still ongoing.
She announced that the Federal Government had provided immediate relief materials to the victims of the fire incident, including 20,000 bags of rice, 20,000 bags of maize and condiments.
The minister pledged that the ministry, in collaboration with the Borno Government, would provide building materials to reconstruct the market.
“After the assessment, the Ministry will submit a full report to Mr President to seek special intervention,” she said.
Zulum said the market, which was built in the 1970s, with no fewer than 20,000 beneficiaries was completely destroyed by the fire.
He acknowledged the support by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
The governor revealed that the state government had provided an immediate support of N1 billion.
“Even the N1 billion, if the traders share N50,000 each, I do not think that will be enough for them,” he said.
The Chairman of the Market Association, Alhaji Awaji Bukar, expressed deep appreciation to the president for the visit, appealing for more support from the federal government.
Earlier at the palace of the Shehu of Borno, Buhari said he was also in the state to inaugurate projects executed by the Zulum-led administration.
“I am delighted to be here with the Shehu and the good people of Borno State, to commiserate with you on the unfortunate Monday Market fire incident.
“I’m pleased to be back to commission projects and be part of the unstoppable development drive of this great state.
“I’m equally happy that the state continues to strive for the normalisation of its affairs following the enormous successes achieved in tackling the problem of security that had reached worrying heights in the past.
“I like to put on record my deep and sincere appreciation of the love and support of the people of Borno State. I don’t take this for granted.
“May Allah increase His blessings upon the Shehu and his people. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’’ he wrote in the Visitor’s Notebook at the palace.
The Shehu of Borno thanked Buhari for overseeing the return of peace and normalcy to the state.
While lauding the improved security situation in the tate, the traditional ruler declared that “no single local government area in the state is under the control of Boko Haram terrorists”.
He said the president had successfully carried out his mission in office and that as far as Borno is concerned, he had done far more than anyone had expected.
He expressed their appreciation to the president for his sympathies following the devastating fire that consumed the entire Monday Market.
He enumerated the blessings of the Buhari administration in its eight years of office to the State:
“When you came in, we had more than two million Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs mostly women and children roaming the streets in Maiduguri.
”We had no power for two years; we had no GSM. We had no outgoing roads except that to Kano. Boko Haram had taken over the other roads.
“We had no Airport as the one here was damaged and therefore no commercial flights. Seventeen of the 27 local government councils were under Boko Haram.
”Today, no single local government area is under their control.
”You changed everything by transferring the Command-and-Control Centre of the anti-terrorism war to this place.
”We thank you for standing with us in our trying times. Together, we remain with you, in or out of office,” the Shehu, whom also the Chairman of the state council of chiefs, said.
Buhari inspects ruins of Maiduguri Monday Market
Govt Namadi Awards Special Scholarship to 801 PWDs, Destitute Children
By: Aminu B Dutse
No fewer than 801 People Leaving With Disabilities (PWD), PWDs and other destitute children students studying in various tertiary institutions across the country got special scholarship in addition to general scholarships from Jigawa State governor Malam Umar Namadi.
Speaking while launching the programme, governor Malam Umar Namadi at Banquet Hall at government house, said the programme is under the “Danmodi Students Care” initiative where the beneficiaries drown from 27 local government areas of the state.
Malam Umar Namadi explained that the initiative complements the state’s annual local and foreign scholarship program, which benefits over 36,000 of students from the state.
He revealed that in 2024, his administration reviewed and increased the annual scholarship allowance by 150%, ensuring it covers at least 50% of undergraduates’ registration fees.
Governor Namadi emphasized his administration’s commitment to investing in human capital development, particularly in education and empowerment, which are fundamental to achieving sustainable growth and development.
According to him “Education is a key pillar in our 12-Point Agenda, and we will continue to invest in our students, who are the future assets of our dear state, he said.
At the event, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Student Affairs and President of “*Danmodi Students Care”, Comrade Salisu Muhammad Seeker, explained that the special scholarship targets students studying Medicine, Health Sciences, Engineering, Agriculture, and selected Arts and Social Science courses.
“Additionally, students under the ‘Women for Health’ program” , selected from rural areas, are among the beneficiaries,”* he said.. “The scholarship will support them from admission until graduation, subject to annual academic performance reviews based on the program’s criteria.” Comrade Salisu stated.
He noted that the initiative aligns with Governor Umar Namadi’s agenda to ensure access to education for every child in the state, regardless of their parents’ socioeconomic status.
Comrade Salisu further stated that, For the 2024/2025 academic session, Danmodi Student’s Care assisted over 1,000 students to gained admission into various universities and tertiary institutions, with 400 of them qualifying for this scholarship.
He revealed that “Danmodi Students Care” is an initiative designed to support rural and underprivileged students in securing tertiary education admission while providing comprehensive welfare and academic support to enhance their performance.
Govt Namadi Awards Special Scholarship to 801 PWDs, Destitute Children
Police Conduct Raids Across Abuja, Arrest 62 Suspects for Criminal Activities
By: Zagazola Makama
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested 62 suspects during a series of coordinated raids on black spots and uncompleted buildings across various areas in Abuja.
Police sources confirmed that the raids took place on the night of April 17 at around 11:40 p.m. Police operatives from multiple divisions, including Kubwa, Nyanya, Kabusa, Lokogoma, Utako, Gwarinpa, and Bwari, participated in the operation targeting criminal hotspots in their areas of responsibility.
The police recovered a quantity of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, as well as illicit drugs, from the locations raided.
“The arrested suspects are currently in custody and undergoing screening and interrogation at their respective divisional offices. Those found to be involved in criminal activities will be charged to court,” the sources stated.
Police Conduct Raids Across Abuja, Arrest 62 Suspects for Criminal Activities
Joint Nigeria–Niger Airstrikes Target Terrorist Enclave in Lake Chad Region
By: Zagazola Makama
The Nigerian Air Force, in a coordinated operation with its Nigerien counterpart, on Friday launched a series of precision airstrikes on suspected terrorist hideouts along the Nigeria–Niger border in the Lake Chad region.
The joint operation, which reportedly lasted for over four hours, was based on actionable intelligence gathered by Nigerien air surveillance units. The intelligence guided Nigerian fighter jets to specific locations believed to be used by terrorists for cross-border attacks.
According to initial field reports, the targeted area, described as a strategic terrorist enclave, was suspected of housing a mix of fighters, women, and children. The location had been under sustained observation for its alleged role in coordinating operations across the tri-border region of Nigeria, Niger, and Chad.
Following the bombardment, over 50 individuals were reportedly seen fleeing towards Fefewa, a remote village within the Lake Chad basin. Some of the escapees, according to unverified accounts, may have been attempting to regroup with a larger armed faction said to be fortified in nearby forested zones.
Although the casualty figures remain unclear, sources monitoring the operation, including Phantom Eye Hub, confirmed that investigations are underway to ascertain the impact and full extent of the strikes.
The joint air campaign underscores the increasing regional collaboration between Nigeria and Niger in countering insurgency threats.
Joint Nigeria–Niger Airstrikes Target Terrorist Enclave in Lake Chad Region
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