Bello Turji releases 100 captives in fresh peace deal effort

By: Zagazola Makama

A notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, has released no fewer than 100 captives in a renewed peace initiative aimed at ending years of violent attacks and abductions in Zamfara State.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the release followed sustained dialogue and confidence-building efforts led by community leaders and facilitated through the peace deal process of North West Operation Safe Corridor.

The freed victims, comprising men, women, and children, were handed over to local authorities and taken to a hospital for medical evaluation before being reunited with their families.

A source involved in the negotiation told Zagazola that the move was part of a broader understanding reached with Turji’s camp to embrace peace and end hostilities across affected communities in the state.

“ 36 people were initially released, followed by another batch of eight, bringing the total number of freed captives to 46. The remaining victims were freed later, making over 100 persons in total,” the source said.

He added that more releases were expected in the coming days as discussions continue between Turji’s group and mediators.

Authorities have, however, maintained close surveillance to ensure that the peace process remains credible and that no group exploits the negotiations to regroup or rearm.

Bello Turji releases 100 captives in fresh peace deal effort

FG Targets 20,000 Jobs Annually As VP Shettima Flags Off NJFP 2.0, Policy Dialogue

By: Our Reporter

Inaugurates project steering committee, tasks members on inclusivity, tangible outcomes

The Federal Government of Nigeria is targeting the creation of at least 20,000 jobs annually through the launch of the second phase of the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) aimed at connecting high-potential graduates with real-world work experience, training, and mentorship.

And to spearhead the initiative in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, will on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, in Abuja, flag off the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) 2.0 and declare open a High-Level Policy Dialogue on Job Creation with the theme, “From Skills to Jobs and Enterprises: Driving Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship in Key Economic Sectors.”

Ahead of the flag-off, the Vice President, on Monday inaugurated the Project Steering Committee of the NJFP 2.0, with a charge to members to make sure the programme is inclusive, ensuring that the opportunity reaches every part of the country.

The NJFP, a flagship initiative of the Federal Government being coordinated by the Office of the Vice President, is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and funded by the European Union (EU).

Launched in 2022 to bridge the gap between skills, jobs, and enterprise, the programme has already empowered over 14,000 young Nigerians through the 12-month paid fellowships that build experience, confidence, and lasting career opportunities.

Inaugurating the Project Steering Committee, Senator Shettima noted that the goal of the NJFP is to bridge the transition gap between learning and earning for thousands of young graduates with the required education but no job opportunity.

The programme, he said, represents “a deliberate attempt to translate the nation’s demographic strength into productive economic power, demonstrating that when government provides structure, partnership, and purpose, young Nigerians rise to the occasion.”

Maintaining that the NJFP is a Nigerian programme, shaped by national priorities and the nation’s sense of purpose, the VP told members of the committee “to deepen that ownership, strengthen coordination across our institutions, and ensure that NJFP remains accountable to the ambitions of this administration.”

Imploring the committee to work towards tangible outcomes and ensure inclusivity, VP Shettima said, “As we deliberate today, I encourage us to think not in terms of targets or figures alone, but in terms of outcomes that matter; young people whose lives change because this system works as intended.

“We have an opportunity here to demonstrate what partnership done right can achieve: where government leads with clarity, partners contribute with confidence, and results speak for themselves. Therefore, let us approach our work with that understanding.

“In scaling NJFP 2.0, inclusivity must remain at the heart of our design. Our young people are not a homogenous group; they live in different realities across regions, genders, and social backgrounds. We must ensure that this opportunity reaches every corner of the country — and that placements are tied to the sectors that will shape Nigeria’s future: agriculture, digital technology, renewable energy, manufacturing, and the creative industries.”

On his part, European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Gautier Mignot, expressed confidence that the programme would transform the lives of young Nigerians, saying the support of the Nigerian government will optimize the full mandate of the NJFP 2.0.

Also, the UNDP Resident Representative, Elsie Attafuah, described the NJFP 2.0 as a part of a larger national and continental vision which the UNDP is proud to support, noting that the target is to work across Nigeria to build an ecosystem that creates jobs.

She applauded Vice President Shettima for spearheading the initiative, saying what young Nigerians need is investment opportunities and an enabling ecosystem to make use of their skills and expertise.

Earlier, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, said following the flag-off of the NJFP 2.0 on Wednesday, “the Vice President will also declare open the High-Level Policy Dialogue on Job Creation, themed: “From Skills to Jobs and Enterprises: Driving Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship in Key Economic Sectors.”

Speaking during a press conference at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, ahead of the event scheduled to take place at the old banquet hall of the Presidential Villa, Senator Hadejia said the dialogue will bring together Federal and State policymakers, private sector leaders, and development partners to discuss actionable strategies for expanding employment, supporting enterprise growth, and aligning youth skills with national priorities.”

He explained that building on the success of the NJFP, the second phase, NJFP 2.0, has been redesigned to respond to current economic realities and lessons learned from the first phase.

The target, he said, is to “put structures in place to sustain the deployment of at least 20,000 fellows annually”.

He explained that the new phase of the initiative, NJFP 2.0, which “will place a minimum of 24,000 fellows over the next 10 months, with the funding support of the EU,” directly “supports the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, which prioritizes job creation, skills development, and youth empowerment as key pillars of Nigeria’s economic transformation.

“It shows that this administration is not only focused on policy — it is focused on impact. Through NJFP 2.0, we are demonstrating how government programmes can translate into real opportunities for decent work and enterprise creation for young Nigerians,” he added.

Shedding more light on the NJFP 2.0, Senator Hadejia explained that with the new phase, the Federal Government plans to create two clear pathways for every fellow namely “a pathway to employment, through extended professional placements, and a pathway to entrepreneurship, through business mentorship and enterprise support.”

The idea, according to him, is to ensure that “every fellow is empowered to either secure meaningful employment or launch a viable business in strategic sectors of the economy at the end of the fellowship.”

Hadejia observed that under the Tinubu administration, the NJFP is “a bold and practical response to the aspirations of young Nigerians – a generation of problem-solvers and innovators who only need opportunity to thrive.

“The Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme is one of several opportunities created by the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR)— a platform to turn skills into jobs, ideas into enterprises, and hope into results,” he further stated.

FG Targets 20,000 Jobs Annually As VP Shettima Flags Off NJFP 2.0, Policy Dialogue

ACReSAL, NUJ sensitise 100 journalists to climate change, environmental reporting skills

The Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, on Monday, trained 100 journalists to enhance coverage of climate change and environmental issues in Gombe State.

The one-day capacity building exercise is being implemented in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), aimed at raising awareness on land restoration and sustainable landscape management.

ACReSAL is a World Bank financed project designed to tackle the pressing issues of land degradation and climate change in 19 states in northern Nigeria.

Dr Sani Jauro, State Coordinator, ACReSAL, described journalists as critical stakeholders in efforts towards reclaiming degraded lands and ensuring sustainable landscape management.

He said the training aimed at improving journalists’ understanding of climate related issues to help them communicate the challenges and solutions effectively to the public.

Jauro expressed optimism that the training would enhance the skills and knowledge of media practitioners in reporting ACRESAL, environmental and climate change issues.

The coordinator commended Gov. Inuwa Yahaya for his support in addressing environmental related issues, to improve lives and protect livelihoods of communities threatened by land degradation.

He also lauded the media support in the implementation of ACReSAL project through accurate reportage, and urged them to sustain the feat to promote community ownership of ACReSAL project.

NUJ Chairman, Faruk Muazu, lauded ACReSAL and Jewel Environmental Initiatives (JEI), the implementing partner, for their efforts at upskilling journalists.

Muazu urged other government bodies to partner with the organisation to train journalists on issues that would enhance development in Gombe State.

“This training will help improve the quality of conversations around climate change, land restoration and environmental issues across the state.

“It will ensure that the media becomes adequately informed about climate change related issues across the state,” he said.

Mr Ismail Bima, Project Coordinator, JEI, also urged journalists to prioritise environmental and climate change reportage to promote sustainable environment.

Represented by Danladi Aliyu, an official of JEI, Bima said awareness creation on ACReSAL project, government and stakeholders investment would build sustainability culture among residents.

One of the participants, Chika Udenkwo, commended the gesture, adding it would expose journalists better skills to report environmental issues and climate change.

ACReSAL, NUJ sensitise 100 journalists to climate change, environmental reporting skills