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Gombe, UNICEF move to end child poverty
Gombe, UNICEF move to end child poverty
The Gombe State government through its Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has begun a three-day training for council officials in the state.
The training is geared towards combating the multidimensional poverty amongst children in the 11 Local Government Areas of the state.
Speaking during the workshop in Gombe on Tuesday, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, the Chief of Field Office at UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office expressed concern over the high level of child poverty in the state.
Rafique said that the 2024/2025 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted in the state showed that seven out of 10 children in Gombe State experience multidimensional poverty.
She stated that in view of the challenge, many children in the state were being deprived of basic life necessities.
The chief said that the progress of Gombe State and Nigeria at large depended on how well multidimensional poverty amongst children was tackled.
She said that tackling child poverty remained key to ensuring that children in the state were better protected to grow well and contribute to the development of the state and country.
According to her, it is in that regard, that UNICEF is supporting the state to expand social protection programmes, improve healthcare access, and tackle severe child food poverty.
She further stated that UNICEF through the training would support the planning and budgeting exercise at the LGA levels towards tackling child poverty in the state.
“According to the data collected by the household survey, there are 7 out of 10 children suffering from some forms of multidimensional poverty.
” This is a high level of multidimensional poverty that we see in Gombe and other states as well.
“We don’t want any child to suffer any form of multidimensional poverty but 70 per cent of children are involved which is why UNICEF is involved.
“Some of the LGAs with high levels of deprivation are Dukku, Balanga, Nafada.
“We want to concentrate on the most deprived LGAs but also within LGAs, the most deprived areas where children are suffering the most, reaching the poorest of the poor,” she said
On his part, Mr Jalo Ali, the Permanent Secretary, Gombe State Ministry of Finance who is also overseeing the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning urged participants to leverage the training to enhance their capacity.
Represented by Mr Musa Babaji, Director, Administration and Finance, Ministry of Finance, Ali tasked participants to have cross-sector thinking about the theme of the workshop, stating that poverty facing children in the state was multidimensional.
“It (child poverty) involves so many things reason it is called multidimensional therefore there is need for cross sector thinking.
“Such thinking that is focused on solutions that are measurable, practicable and people oriented to achieve the purpose of this workshop,” he said
The Statistician General of Gombe State, Alhaji Ibrahim Dule who was represented by Musa Umar, the overseeing Director, Economic and Social Statistics, Gombe State Bureau of Statistics gave the outcome of the survey conducted in the state with the support of UNICEF.
Dule said that the Gombe State General Household Survey conducted for 2024/2025 showed that 65 per cent of households in the state have access to drinking water.
He further said that 51.5 per cent of household in the state have access to improved sanitation with urban centres having 64.9 per cent while rural areas 43 per cent.
According to him, 50.5 per cent of household have access to electricity with urban having 74.3 per cent and rural 35.4 per cent.
“10 LGAs have severe food security issues which is a great cause of concern and should be looked into critically,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 66 officials drawn from the 11 LGAs in the state are participating in the workshop.
Gombe, UNICEF move to end child poverty
Troops Intercept Arms Courier, Recover Weapons and Ammunition
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 12 Brigade, in collaboration with operatives of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and Hybrid Forces, have intercepted a suspected arms courier vehicle and recovered weapons, ammunition and communication equipment along the Sokoto-Zaria-Kaduna highway.
Security sources disclosed that the operation, conducted on June 21 based on credible intelligence, targeted a vehicle suspected to be conveying arms to Kogi State.
The sources said the suspect abandoned the vehicle and fled upon sighting the security operatives.
A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles, nine magazines, 67 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, two Beretta pistols with 9mm ammunition, two Baofeng handheld radios and three camouflage jackets.
According to the sources, the recovered items are currently in the custody of the troops for further investigation and exploitation.
The sources added that efforts were ongoing to identify and apprehend the fleeing suspect as well as uncover the network behind the arms movement.
They noted that the operation underscored the effectiveness of intelligence-led security efforts aimed at disrupting the movement of illegal arms and ammunition across the country.
Troops Intercept Arms Courier, Recover Weapons and Ammunition
COAS Joins Security Chiefs at Nigeria-UK Defence, Security Dialogue
By: Zagazola Makama
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, on Tuesday joined top Nigerian security leaders at the Fourth Nigeria-United Kingdom Security and Defence Partnership Dialogue in Abuja.
The high-level meeting brought together the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the Chief of Defence Staff, service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and other senior security stakeholders.
The dialogue was co-chaired by Ribadu and Jonathan Powell, and focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in addressing emerging security challenges and advancing shared strategic interests between both countries.
Participants discussed ways of enhancing collaboration in areas such as defence cooperation, intelligence sharing, capacity building and regional security.
Security officials noted that the longstanding partnership between Nigeria and the United Kingdom remained vital to efforts aimed at tackling security threats and promoting stability.
They added that the partnership had continued to support the development of military and security capabilities through training, technical assistance and strategic engagements.
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to working with national and international partners to strengthen security, safeguard the country’s sovereignty and contribute to regional peace and stability in line with the Federal Government’s security objectives.
COAS Joins Security Chiefs at Nigeria-UK Defence, Security Dialogue
Alleged Cybercrime: Sowore Sent Back to Kuje Correctional Centre
By: Zagazola Makama
- Court Fixes June 30 To Hear Appeal on Bench Warrant
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered that politician and online publisher, Omoyele Sowore, be sent back to the Kuje Correctional Centre until June 30 when his application for the setting aside the order of bench warrant and revocation of bail application would be considered.
On Monday, Justice Mohammed Umar, revoked the December 2025 bail he granted Sowore “based on self-recognition”, and ordered that the politician be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre.
Before the revocation of the bail, Justice Umar had ordered Sowore to open his defence in a matter of alleged cybercrime brought against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).
At the resumed hearing of the matter, on Wednesday, Sowore’s lawyer, R. O. Adakonye, who stood in for Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, informed the court that the matter was adjourned for hearing of their application to set aside the order of bench warrant and revocation of the bail of the defendant on account of his absence in court on 16th June, 2026.
The prosecution lawyer, A. T. Kehinde ,SAN, however, opposed the application filed by the defence. He told the court have he had filed a counter-affidavit urging the Court to refuse the application to set aside the order of bench warrant and revocation of bail against Sowore.
The judge, thereafter, adjourned the matter to June 30, 2026 for ruling on the application to set aside the order of bench warrant and revocation of bail application.
The defence lawyer begged the court to release Sowore to him, with a promise to bring the politician to court hon June 30. The judge declined the defence lawyer’s request and insisted that Sowore be taken back to Kuje Correctional Centre.
The DSS resorted to prosecuting Sowore for alleged cyber-bullying after several unsuccessful appeals to make him pull down posts he made on his “X” and Facebook accounts in August 2025, calling President Bola Tinubu a “criminal.”
Alleged Cybercrime: Sowore Sent Back to Kuje Correctional Centre
Troops Recover Over 2,400 Rustled Livestock After Clash with Terrorists in Zamfara
Troops Intercept Arms Courier, Recover Weapons and Ammunition
COAS Joins Security Chiefs at Nigeria-UK Defence, Security Dialogue
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