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Aisha Kwaya-Bura on a mission to take nawoj to the next level
Aisha Kwaya-Bura on a mission to take nawoj to the next level
By: Bodunrin Kayode
The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) is a liberal organization for professional journalists. It has also given maximum room for women to breath. Also in spite of the fact that the union regards every member as gentlemen of the press, the body has found a way to permit the women among us to enjoy equal status like men in the country as they associate in the name of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (nawoj) . That equilibrium was struck over 30 years ago and it’s been a win win situation all the way for our Comrade women. The Nigerian Association of women journalists (Nawoj) is equally about the growth of women and it is an association that basically caters for our women colleagues and their children who feel the brunt of the hardship they encounter in the trenches like their male colleagues. It is for this reason that delegates should vote for Comrade Aisha Ibrahim Kwaya-Bura for President of the association. Any attempt not to vote for anyone with like minds like this result oriented Comrade would be a futile exercise for the return to the politics of false hope, lack of transparency, emotion and mediocrity.
Who is Aisha Kwaya Bura?
Aisha Bura is a journalist per excellence who has seen it all in the profession. Even if you can’t claim to know all about her, the little we know while watching her in Borno has to do with her ability to lead from the front when it comes to the welfare of her gender. During the times I have seen her attend congress, she had always been a servant leader who watches the back of others before crossing the road concerning the NUJ. She has shown quite alright that she is not a push over in the politics of the NUJ and has paid her dues in the business of being a welfare unionist. She is a rare breed between the NUJ and nawoj. Voting for her will mean voting for a mother figure who will help bring the women together and ensure that the home front does not suffer at all. This university of maiduguri mass communication graduate is a veteran in the political tuff of the NUJ and that makes her a much more matured and stable candidate for the presidency. As one of those practicing when women were second rated in Nigerian politics, she knows what it takes to carry women along the paths of righteousness to achieve a common goal of unity devoid of clannish pettiness and emotional instability. And that is why she has contested many positions and won at the NUJ level within her region in the country. This journalist has international connections the entire women journalists will benefit from.
Indeed NAWOj was established on 14th September 1989, to serve as a rallying point for Nigerian female journalists.The birth of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists was the result of the struggle to gain more recognition for women in the journalism profession. And that kind of recognition is already fixed if some delegates will put aside their pettiness and vote for someone who is emotionally stable and not someone who will “talk down” on you during congress meetings at the national level. Or a candidate who will behave like a tug and intimidate you for demanding for transparency over your finances. With Aisha you are safe when it comes to your funds for instance because she has already aligned with a tested hand for internal auditor in Jemila Abubakar of the NTA.
A vote for Aisha will ensure that the efforts by the pioneer President of Nawoj Brenda Akpan and a few female journalists who started the association will not go in vein because we can all see that the last three years were wasted years poured down the drain of insolence, indulgence, latent corruption and outright vein glory to one individual instead of the collectivity of the union. Unionism is not about filling your pockets or using check up dues to outshine one another. It is about selflessness and you will see that in Aisha a servant leader.
With the support of some of us who are gender sensitive, it is our intention to ensure that the next leadership under Comrade Aisha Kwaya Bura will become as transparent as possible as it was during the leadership of George Izobo which molded nawoj into existence as an affiliate to the NUJ instead of a nonchalant challenging monster to the NUJ as the incumbent leaders are trying to turn the association into. Gentlemen colleagues any aspiring leader that is not with the NUJ our parent union is a lost sheep. Do not waste your precious votes on them. Vote Aisha a well balanced member of the association and the NUJ.
Bringing the association back to the original ideals.
Nawoj was formed to serve professionally as an umbrella organization for all female journalists in the country and to cater for their career interests in terms of training and retraining and to take care of the responsibility of the welfare and interests of women and children in the society. Most of these ideas have been eroded away by pettiness and obstinate tendencies not known to our constitution.
At some point, some observers have began to think nawoj was an autonomous organization which does not take cues from any one at the national level. But that is not the nawojian body founded by those who wanted better things for female comrades. NAWOJ is an affiliate of the parent NUJ constituted so that the union shall take notice of them in times like these and NAWOJ, will remain as its affiliate. When nawoj was formed over 30 years ago, by a group of female journalists who came together, it was meant to attract goodwill and respect to themselves and respect for others. Surely not for authoritative tendencies and outright despotism as is displayed by the incumbent who wants to return with more punishment for you if you bring her back. This is why you want to vote for Aisha Ibrahim Kwaya-bura a mother, sister and friend who will use her soft spoken nature to take you from where you are into the pinnacle of excellence where you should be and by God’s grace the sky will be the beginning of good things to come.
Gentlemen, Nawojians have made their mark in different ways in this country. This is the time to abandon the old ways of doing things to the contemporary which is collaboration with all willing partners for the good of gender parity and the progress of the woman folk.
16th The advent of dangerous diseases like COVID-19 and diphtheria hunting our children cannot escape the eagle eyes of Aisha because these concerns our children. You will see less talk and more actions in her executive when she wins. Nobody will be left out on the quest for a good living condition even the wives of our male colleagues during sickness or death. This is because of her principled and incorruptible background. Her ways of doing things are unique. And let me tell you, she will respect the view of congress.
Proactive response to challenges
Recently, a radio executive in katsina state was accused of sexually assaulting a female colleague. Comrade Aisha virtually condemned it with a warning that her executive will not leave such excesses lying low. That is how a proactive leader talks the talk. That is the Aisha you will get to meet if you vote for her. Proactive, and result oriented. After all the entire country will be her Constituency and nobody will be left out in the dividends of her new dawn supported by her deputy from the south south. Vote for Aisha and vote for myriads of gains for yourself and family this weekend.
The struggle continues!!!
Aisha Kwaya-Bura on a mission to take nawoj to the next level
Three killed as hoodlums attack hunters, burn huts in Adamawa community
By: Zagazola Makama
Three persons have been killed after armed hoodlums launched attacks on hunters and residents in Song Local Government Area of Adamawa State, authorities confirmed on Friday.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident began at about 3:20 p.m. when local hunters from Barkin Sajo, under the Miyetti Allah hunters association, pursued suspected cattle rustlers into the Mayo Suno forest.
According to the source, a gun duel ensued between the hunters and the hoodlums, resulting in the death of one of the hunters, identified as Buji Alhaji, 40.
He explained that the attackers later moved to Maigero village, where they set seven thatched huts in the local market ablaze before shooting and killing two residents: Alhaji Haruna and Iliya Dabba.
He said security operatives visited the scene and evacuated the bodies to the Cottage Hospital, Song.
The sources added that efforts were ongoing to track down the perpetrators, while the police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had been assigned to conduct a discreet investigation into the incident.
End
Welfare allegations against 90 amphibious battalion Commanding Officer proven inaccurate
By: Zagazola Makama
Contrary to recent media reports alleging mismanagement of soldiers’ allowances and welfare at the 90 Amphibious Battalion, Koko, a detailed review confirms that the Commanding Officer (CO), Lt. Colonel M.M. Garba, has maintained proper management of all entitlements and provided additional support to deployed personnel.
Investigations reveal that allegations of diversion of allowances, inadequate feeding, and extended duty rotations were unfounded. The battalion, which comprises 400 soldiers, with 300 deployed to oil facilities and 100 remaining at base, has witnessed an increase in allowances under the current Commanding Officer.
The RCA allowance, previously ₦30,000, was raised to ₦40,000 monthly and applied to all soldiers uniformly. Further clarification indicates that deployed soldiers receive a ₦150,000 monthly feeding allowance directly from the oil companies supporting operations, with funds transferred straight into the soldiers’ accounts,”two sources from the company confirmed.
However, SEPLAT, one of the partner companies, has reportedly not made payments since January 2025, contrary to claims that soldiers receive only ₦40,000, a sources from the company further confirmed.
In addition to standard entitlements, The Commanding Officer personally contributes approximately ₦7 million monthly for feeding across deployed locations and the base. This voluntary support aims to sustain morale and operational readiness, marking a significant improvement in welfare since his assumption of command in January 2025.
A preliminary assessment suggests the recent allegations may have been motivated by misinformation or deliberate attempts to undermine the CO’s credibility, create internal disaffection, or misrepresent welfare standards compared with other regions.
Some soldiers who spoke to Zagazola under conditions of anonymity said “Our Commanding Officer has never misappropriated soldiers’ allowances. Every soldier receives their full entitlements, and sometimes he provided more support voluntarily,”he said.
“Our CO na Good man i swear all this lies we day see for internet, we sef no believe am. Person just wan spoil him name. Oga tell them say make them call to asked soldiers. We dey enjoy for here woo. Nothing like that,”said one soldier who spoke in pigin english.
Soldiers at the battalion attest that the CO’s commitment has tangibly improved morale. “Since his arrival, welfare has never been better. We receive our allowances in full, and the feeding support keeps us going during deployments,” said another soldier, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Lt. Colonel Garba, leadership is measured not only in operational success but in the welfare and morale of his troops. His proactive stance demonstrates that even under challenging circumstances, committed leadership can bridge gaps in resources and ensure that soldiers’ rights are respected.
Welfare allegations against 90 amphibious battalion Commanding Officer proven inaccurate
NDLEA intercepts cocaine shipment from Brazil, detains ship, 20 Filipino crew members
By: Michael Mike
Barely six months after 10 Thai sailors and their ship were convicted and fined $4.3 million for bringing 32.9 kilogrammes cocaine into Nigeria, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have again intercepted another commodity laden vessel- MV Nord Bosporus marked 9760110 from the port of Santos in Brazil at the Apapa seaport in Lagos with no less than 20 kilogrammes of the Class A drug buried under its cargo.
A statement on Friday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said the illicit drug consignment was discovered on board the vessel last Sunday by NDLEA officers who thereafter took the Master of the ship, Captain Quino Eugene Corpus and 19 other crew members who are all Filipinos into custody for investigation.
Babafemi said following the seizure and arrest of the crew members, the NDLEA filed an application for an order of court for the detention of the vessel and the 20 Filipinos on board for further investigation.
He disclosed that the motion ex-parte in suit number FHC/L/MISC/1306/25 was argued before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos, who on Thursday granted the application for an initial 14 days detention of the vessel, Capt. Corpus and 19 other Filipino crew members.
Babafemi said preliminary investigation revealed that this was the first time the vessel was coming to Nigeria and Africa as it’s been largely transporting coal between Colombia and Brazil while Captain Corpus has been barely three months with the ship.
He recalled that the agency had in a similar circumstance arrested 10 sailors who are nationals of Thailand on 13th October 2021 on board a vessel named MV Chayanee Naree for trafficking 32.9 kilogrammes of cocaine from Brazil into Nigeria through the Apapa seaport. Nine Nigerian suspects were also arrested along with the Thai crew members.
He said the 10 Thai sailors and the vessel were eventually convicted on Thursday 15th May 2025 by a Federal High Court in Lagos presided over by Justice Daniel Osiagor who also fined them $4.3 million.
In his reaction to the latest significant seizure of 20 kilogrammes cocaine on board MV Nord Bosporus, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) commended the officers, men and women of the Apapa Strategic Command of the agency as well as the Directorate of Seaport Operations for their vigilance, diligence and professionalism.
Marwa said the cocaine seizure is not just an operational success but “a clear demonstration of our heightened capacity and unwavering resolve”, adding that “we will continue to tighten our grip on all entry and exit points, especially our seaports, which transnational criminal organisations have historically attempted to exploit.”
According to him, “Let this be an unambiguous message to every international drug cartel and every internal collaborator: Nigeria is not, and will never be, your space or your foothold. The NDLEA is operating with zero-tolerance, and we will not permit any illicit drug to pass through our borders, whether by air, land, or sea. You may scheme, you may attempt sophisticated concealment, but you will fail. Our intelligence network, collaboration with international partners, and the dedication of our officers are steps ahead of your nefarious activities.”
He reminded any Nigerian who chooses to collaborate with foreign syndicates in the illicit drug trade of the consequences their action.
He said: “You are not just committing a crime; you are betraying your nation’s future. The consequences of aiding and abetting drug trafficking will be severe and unrelenting. We are committed to using the full force of the law to dismantle your structures, seize your illicit assets, and secure your long-term incarceration.”
NDLEA intercepts cocaine shipment from Brazil, detains ship, 20 Filipino crew members
Three killed as hoodlums attack hunters, burn huts in Adamawa community
Welfare allegations against 90 amphibious battalion Commanding Officer proven inaccurate
NDLEA intercepts cocaine shipment from Brazil, detains ship, 20 Filipino crew members
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