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Kwara Gov’s wife inaugurates water projects, receives N100m worth of items
Kwara Gov’s wife inaugurates water projects, receives N100m worth of items
Mrs Olufolake AbdulRazaq, Wife of Kwara Governor and Founder Ajike People Support Centre, on Thursday in Ilorin, inaugurated three solar-powered boreholes and received N100 million worth of food and medical materials from the Victims Support Fund.
AbdulRazaq said that the collaboration and engagements of her office and her pet project were a testimony of greater things to come.
She said that the provision of potable water and sanitation was crucial to human hygiene and socio-economic development.
“The state government has resolved to ensure that potable water supply is available to all residents, irrespective of how detached they are from city centres.
“This is in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 that is encouraging all nations to ensure that there is clean water and sanitation for all,’’ AbdulRazaq said.
She urged the beneficiaries of the motorised boreholes to ensure that the facilities were protected from damage, saying that they should adhere to instructions on how best to use them for optimum benefit.
According to her, the government’s efforts may not entirely sufficient.
The governor’s wife said that the palliative distribution to families and presentation of medical equipment to the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency would go a long way in complementing the government’s efforts.
“During the lockdown, occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, my office and Ajike People’s Support Centre presented food and other palliatives to over 3,000 families across the three senatorial districts of the state.
“My office and Ajike People’s Support Center are doing their utmost best to ensure that Kwara people enjoy the best of times.
“This has made my office and the centre engages in plausible partnerships that would further benefit citizens of Kwara in the areas of empowerment through skill acquisition.
“We also advocate for the encouragement of youth entrepreneurship and leading advocacies to curb drug abuse, gender-based violence, child abuse, human trafficking and other initiatives that directly impact the people.
“Three secondary schools across the three senatorial districts of the state are beneficiaries of the borehole intervention,’’ she said.
AbdulRazaq listed the schools as Government Day Secondary School, Adeta (Kwara Central), Lade Community Secondary School, Patigi (Kwara North) and Iketa Grammar School, Osi (Kwara South).
She said that 6,000 units of re-usable branded face masks and 18,000 bottles of hand sanitisers would be shared among the schools.
“To the benefitting schools, it is our hope that these water facilities will be sustainably operated and maintained so as to provide long term service to the people living in these communities,” she said.
Earlier, a representative of VSF, Toyosi Ogunsiji, said that the organisation, with Retired Gen. Theophilos Danjuma as Chairman, was set up in 2014 for the humanitarian and charitable gestures.
It was also set up to provide succour to people in distress across the nation so as to touch every family in the state with food and medical supplies.
Ogunsiji said that the supplies were to compliment the government’s efforts and curb social vices, adding that the value of the donated items was about N100 million.
She said that Kwara was the 32nd state to be visited since the inception of the programme while appreciating the state government for its support.
In his address, the principal of one of the benefiting schools, Government Day Secondary School, Adeta, Alhaji Yahaya Yisa, prayed for the continued progress of the sponsors and for the AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq-led administration.
He appreciated the wife of the governor and the VSF for deeming it fit to give their community clean and potable water, stressing that this would provide more opportunities for the students to excel in their academic pursuits.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the food support and medical materials distributed included: 3,000 units of 10kg rice, 3,000 units of 5kg beans and 3,000 units of 7.5kg garri and 6,000 units of 1kg salt.
Others were: 3,000 units of 2.75 litres of vegetable oil, 50,000 units of surgical face masks, 290 units of Hamzat suits, 290 units of safety medical goggles and 10,000 units of latex gloves 290 units of medical safety boots.
NAN also reports that among those present at the event were the Commissioner for Social Development, Health and Communication, Alhaji Raji Rasaq, Mrs Abosede Aremu and Mr Olabode Towoju respectively.
Troops neutralise bandit, recover arms in Plateau raid
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, under the Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace (JTF OPEP), have neutralised a notorious bandit and recovered arms and ammunition during a raid on a hideout in Plateau State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation was conducted on Jan. 8 at Yolan Gboka–Yama Da Lahdi, following sustained efforts to track and arrest perpetrators of the Dec. 16, 2025 attack on illegal miners at Tosho community in Fann District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.
According to the sources, troops made contact with the bandits during the raid and engaged them in a firefight.
“One of the bandits was neutralised during the exchange of fire and was later identified as Sadiq Isah, while others fled the area,” the sources said.
The sources added that troops subsequently exploited the hideout and recovered two AK-47 rifles and 162 rounds of 7.62mm (special) ammunition.
The recovered arms and ammunition are currently in military custody, while troops have commenced follow-up operations to intercept the fleeing suspects and prevent further criminal activities in the area.
Zagazola reports that Operation Enduring Peace is a joint security initiative aimed at restoring peace and stability across Plateau and neighbouring states.
Troops neutralise bandit, recover arms in Plateau raid
FG Urges NSCDC to Boost Intelligence as Interior Minister Decorates 113 Senior Officers
By: Michael Mike
The Federal Government has called on the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to strengthen intelligence gathering and operational readiness in the face of rising security threats across the country.
The call was made by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, during a ceremony to decorate 113 newly promoted NSCDC commandants. The minister, represented by the Secretary of the Civil Defence, Corrections, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), Maj. Gen. Abdulmalik Jibrin (Rtd), commended the Corps for its role in protecting critical national infrastructure, lives, and property.
Tunji-Ojo emphasized the need for strategic intelligence mapping to counter emerging threats, particularly as the Corps now shoulders additional responsibilities for the protection of Very Important Personalities (VIPs), a role previously managed by the Nigeria Police Force.
He encouraged the newly promoted officers and all personnel to uphold the confidence placed in the service by President Bola Tinubu, noting that the merit-based promotions are designed to boost morale and enhance performance.
The Commandant General of NSCDC, Professor Ahmed Audi, urged the officers to mentor subordinates, embrace leadership responsibilities, and adhere strictly to merit-based postings. He warned against lobbying for preferred postings, affirming that performance and dedication would guide all administrative decisions.
Representing the promoted officers, Commandant Ekanem Ekpenyong pledged unwavering commitment to duty, promising to uphold integrity and the Corps’ Oath of Allegiance.
In a key highlight of the ceremony, the Corps’ National Public Relations Officer, Afolabi Babawale was promoted to the rank of Assistant Commandant. The event also featured goodwill messages from the Controller General of Corrections, the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, and representatives from the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, and the Department of State Services.
The ceremony underscored the Federal Government’s resolve to strengthen the NSCDC and reinforce its role in Nigeria’s security architecture.
FG Urges NSCDC to Boost Intelligence as Interior Minister Decorates 113 Senior Officers
Zulum commissions remodelled ‘2nd chance school’ for vulnerable girls
.Disburses N1bn to SMEs in 5 LGAs
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, on Thursday commissioned a fully remodelled “Second Chance School” for vulnerable girls and women in Biu Local Government Area.
The newly inaugurated facility is part of a strategic initiative designed to offer adult women, including those who missed formal education or dropped out of school due to prevailing challenges, a pathway to self-reliance.
The school’s curriculum is tailored towards providing comprehensive skills’ acquisition, critical digital knowledge and basic literacy, and numeracy training.
With the Biu centre now operational, Zulum’s administration has established three such schools across the state, with existing centres already operational in Maiduguri and Bama.
Meanwhile, Governor Zulum has disbursed N1 billion to small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) across five local government areas in southern Borno.
The targeted LGAs include Biu, Hawul, Shani, Bayo and Kwaya-Kusar, with the funds intended to support entrepreneurs and enhance business sustainability.
Zulum explained that the direct injection of capital into the SME sector is essential for driving grassroots development and fostering self-reliance in the post-insurgency recovery phase.
In a related development aimed at tackling youth restiveness and promoting social stability, Governor Zulum has ordered immediate employment of 200 young individuals from the Biu Local Government Area.
After the inauguration, Zulum visited Biu Specialist Hospital where he announced the immediate and automatic employment of a number of dedicated volunteer health workers who have served tirelessly.
He also inspected the 100-unit teachers’ housing estate under construction in Biu town. The estate is part of the Borno State Government’s motivational strategy to attract and retain qualified teaching professionals in public schools.
Governor Zulum has also directed immediate commencement of rehabilitation work on the Borno State Hotel Annexe in Biu.
Zulum commissions remodelled ‘2nd chance school’ for vulnerable girls
Troops neutralise bandit, recover arms in Plateau raid
Nigeria Urges Europe and Africa to Build Bridges, Not Walls
FG Urges NSCDC to Boost Intelligence as Interior Minister Decorates 113 Senior Officers
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