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Access to Conflict Area: UNDP Calls for Military/Civilian Coordination
Access to Conflict Area: UNDP Calls for Military/Civilian Coordination
By: Michael Mike
The United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) has emphasized the need for advance coordination between military and civilian actors to enhance humanitarian access and civilian-led stabilization in conflict situation.
The Resident Representative of UNDP in Nigeria, Elise Attafuah, made this call in Abuja on Monday at the opening of the five-day regional workshop for security force liaison officers, Monitoring & Evaluation staff on conflict sensitivity: inclusive security.
The workshop, which was organised by UNDP in collaboration with Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) Regional Strategy for Stabilization, Recovery and Resilience of Boko Haram affected Areas of Lake Chad Basin Region (RS-SRR), seeks to provide opportunity to reflect on experience of civil-military engagement in stabilization programming in the Lake Chad Basin and Liptako-Gourma programmes.
Attafuah represented by the Deputy-Director of Operations in UNDP in Nigeria,
Blessed Chimuruta explained that successful stabilization cannot be achieved through security measures alone.
Attafuah added that: “Over the next three days we be embarking on a journey of reflection and learning, examining our civil-military engagement over the past five years.
“This workshop presents unique opportunity to accept how we engage with local, national and regional security forces, to support communities where we implement stabilization programmes.
“With SFLOs operating in the Liptako-Gourma region in the Lake Chad Basin, we have the chance to collectively address the risks and challenges we face in the field in border locations.
“By sharing our experiences and best practices, we aim to improve our approach and avoid passing states.”
On her part, the Senior Technical Adviser to the Deputy Governor of Borno, Dr Nana Zakama,, expressed appreciation to UNDP for invitation to share thought towards betterment of the security in the state.
She said: “Since the inception of the regional stabilization in our facility, Borno has played vital role to ensure successes, our contribution have been guided by the relentless leadership of our governor.
“The commitment of Borno to restoring peace, rebuilding communities and sustaining development is resolute, evident and very visible in the action of our governor.
“The governor of Borno Babagana Zulum leads a team of dedicated staff in driving and complimenting stabilization initiatives through strategic investment in security, livelihood, housing, health, social welfare among others.
“While creating conducive environment for the return of resettlement of people in dignified manner,” Zakama said.
Security Advisor to Yobe Governor. Gen. Dahiru Abdulsalam (Retired), said that since the regional stability project, Yobe state has contributed immensely to the efforts in the Northeast.
According to him, Yobe will continue to work closely with UNDP and other development partners who share and align with the state to improve coordination and effectiveness of security measures.
Abdulsalam said: “Our commitment to enhancing security, promoting human rights and fostering community resilience has been unwavering.
“Recently, Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe inaugurated security planning Commission, provided vehicles to our security forces, enhancing capacity and capability to maintain peace and security, and enforce control over insurgence stronghold.”
Access to Conflict Area: UNDP Calls for Military/Civilian Coordination
Nine PAP Foreign Scholarship Beneficiaries Bag Master’s Degrees From UK Varsities
•••771 to Graduate in Nigeria in 2025
•••Otuaro Hails Scholars’ Performances
By: Michael Mike
Nine students awarded foreign post-graduate scholarships by the Presidential Amnesty Programme have graduated from their master’s degree rprogrammes in universities in the United Kingdom.
The successful scholars are the first graduates in the offshore post-graduate scholarship deployment to UK institutions by the PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, for the 2024-2025 academic session.
They graduated from the Anglia Ruskin University, University of Dundee and The University of Law with master’s degrees in cyber security, data science and engineering, law, construction and civil engineering management, project management, and ICT.
Also, 711 undergraduate and post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries are expected to graduate from universities within Nigeria this year.
The PAP, on Wednesday, 3 December, 2025, organised a graduation reception for the scholars in London.
Otuaro has congratulated them on their successful graduation, stressing that they completed their programmes in record time which shows the seriousness they had put into their studies.
He said they have justified the Federal Government’s investment in their education with their successful graduation, and urged other beneficiaries not to be distracted in their academic pursuits.
“We congratulate these scholars on their successful graduation. It shows that they took their studies seriously. That is what we demand of every scholarship beneficiary, whether at the undergraduate or post-graduate level”, Otuaro said.
He reiterated his unwavering commitment to expanding the scholarship scheme to create more opportunities for indigent students of Niger Delta extraction to access higher education with a view to closing the human capital development gap in the region.
Otuaro said it was for this reason he deployed 3800 beneficiaries in-country in the 2024-2025 academic year, and increased the figure to 3900 in the 2025-2026 academic session with 200 for foreign scholarships.
Otuaro has so far deployed 7700 students for the PAP scholarship scheme within Nigeria in less than two years.
Within this period, also, he has also deployed 162 students from the region for post-graduate programmes in targeted disciplines in the UK universities.
According to him, this is in conformity with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu for the Niger Delta, who has given unprecedented support to the PAP because of his sincere love for the area.
The PAP boss said, “Our decision aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for the Niger Delta. We will continue to create more higher educational opportunities for students from indigent backgrounds in our region.
“We are also deepening the implementation of the programme’s mandate in informal education and other areas for the sustainable peace and socio-economic advancement of the region.”
Nine PAP Foreign Scholarship Beneficiaries Bag Master’s Degrees From UK Varsities
Sunshine Joint Venture Infrastructure Limited Established for Realization of Ondo Project
By: Michael Mike
Sunshine Joint Venture Infrastructure Limited has been incorporated to seamlessly allowed for the Refinery and Free Trade Zone in Ondo State.
A press statement on Thursday read that: “In furtherance of our commitment to the execution of these two major projects – Refinery and Free Trade Zone in conjunction with the Ondo State Government, the joint partners have taken another giant step by incorporating a joint company, namely – SUNSHINE JOINT VENTURE INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED – as the vehicle to be used in executing these projects. A move that further reinforces the sincerity of purpose and total commitment of the funding partners to move ahead together as a united front.
According to the release by Wale Adekola on behalf of the JV, the Sunshine Joint Venture Infrastructure Limitedwill, going forward serve as the vehicle to work with the Ondo State Government through the Ondo State Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA) in the implementation of the executed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
The statement added that: “In moving the projects forward for implementation, the JV team met in Dubai to finalize the funding modalities and put in place structures and plans for the commencement of activities for ground breaking and community engagements. These initial activities are aimed at complementing the 50th Anniversary of the creation of Ondo State and the one year anniversary of the election of the Executive Governor of the Sunshine State, His Excellency, Chief Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa CFR.
At the Dubai meeting were key officers of the JV Company, including: Messrs SALEHI FARHAD; ZAHERI NAVID; EGHBAL KORDJAMSHIDI; SAHEED ZAHERI; DR. STEPHEN DIKE; HENRY OWONKA AND MRS. NAMVAR MARYAM.
The statement further informed that, plans have been concluded to mobilize the relevant contractors working with the locals and host communities to put up structures that will host the information center, architectural models to showcase the projects on offer and facilities that will serve the team. All these are being planned with ONDIPA to execute the relocation and accommodation of the host communities that are likely to be affected by the projects and create a seamless transition that will engender peaceful co-existence and harmonious relationship with our host communities.
The JV company further reiterated its commitment to work with Ondo State Government (through ONDIPA) to change the infrastructural landscape of the Sunshine State and for mutual benefits.
Sunshine Joint Venture Infrastructure Limited Established for Realization of Ondo Project
Edo: Seven suspected bandits arrested along Benin-Agbor Road
By: Zagazola Makama
Seven suspected bandits were arrested along the Benin–Agbor Road in Edo State during stop-and-search operations, security sources confirmed.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the suspects, all Fulani youths, were intercepted after being offloaded from a truck at about 1800 hours on 2 December 2025. A search revealed pictures of assault rifles, including AK-47s, on their mobile phones.
Upon interrogation, the suspects claimed to have travelled from Adamawa State. Investigations are ongoing for the possible recovery of actual firearms and to determine their involvement in criminal activities.
Security agencies have urged members of the public to report any suspicious movements to help prevent criminal acts in the area.
Edo: Seven suspected bandits arrested along Benin-Agbor Road
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