National News
AICIS 2025: Nigeria Says Africa Must Be Active Architect of Its Own Sustainable Development

AICIS 2025: Nigeria Says Africa Must Be Active Architect of Its Own Sustainable Development
By: Michael Mike
Nigeria has expressed its commitment to hosting the Africa Infrastructure and Climate Change Investment Summit (AICIS) between August 11 to 14, 2025.
The Nigerian government also said as the world intensifies action to tackle the twin challenges of climate change and infrastructure gaps Africa, Nigeria inclusive, must be positioned not as a passive recipient of solutions, but as an active architect of its own sustainable development.
The commitment of the government was revealed on Monday in Abuja by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
Akume, who was represented at the press briefing the Permanent Secretary for Political and Economic Affairs at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Mr. Nadungu Gagare, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to hosting the summit, scheduled for Aug. 11 to 14, 2025 at NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja.
He commended Africa Business Venture and Investment Group (ABVIG) for partnering the ministries and other stakeholders to take the bold and visionary initiative in driving Nigeria’s lead in tackling climate change issues across Africa.
According to him, government supports the initiative for the summit and encourage all stakeholders to remain steadfast in the shared mission to build a prosperous, climate-resilient Africa anchored on inclusive infrastructure.
He said: “As the world intensifies action to tackle the twin challenges of climate change and infrastructure gaps Africa must be positioned not as a passive recipient of solutions, but as an active architect of its own sustainable development.
“The forthcoming summit is, therefore, not only timely but provides a continental platform to articulate, align and activate collaborative strategies for resilient infrastructure and climate action across Africa.
“President Tinubu’s administration, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, has prioritised strategic infrastructure development, energy transition, environmental sustainability and inclusive economic growth.
“These priorities align with the goals of this summit and underscore Nigeria’s readiness to lead and collaborate on multi-stakeholder approaches toward climate resilience, and development financing.
“Today’s engagement is a clarion call to governments, private sector, development partners and diplomatic community to align efforts, pool resources, and harmonize policies,” he said.
He reiterated that such would reassert Africa’s voice and agency in the global climate discourse, ensuring our peculiar challenges and comparative advantages are well represented in shaping global solutions.
In his part, Chairman of the Africa Infrastructure and Climate Change Investment Summit (AICIS) Planning Committee, Mr Moses Owharo extolled the Nigeria’s lead towards tackling issues that border on climate change across the African continent.
Owharo explained that the event centered on the readiness to host the AICIS-2025 was put together by ABVIG in collaboration with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Women Affairs and the Ministry of Environment.
Owharo said: “AICIS-2025 is a landmark gathering that affirms Africa’s unified determination to address climate change through resilient infrastructure and strategic investment.
“The summit represents a continental platform for driving Africa’s sustainable development vision through climate smart solutions.
“It will unite governments, development finance institutions, private investors, technical experts, civil society, the UN system and the diplomatic community to forge actionable partnerships around Africa’s infrastructure transformation, and climate adaptation imperatives.
“This gathering is also an opportunity to echo the vision articulated by President Bola Tinubu, at COP28that Africa must not only participate in global climate discourse, but also lead with urgency, innovation, and collaboration.”
“Strategic investment in green infrastructure is the catalyst for inclusive growth and long-term climate security. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under leadership of Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, continues to champion Nigeria’s diplomatic efforts to attract climate finance and foster multilateral alignment with our development goals.”
He described AICIS 2025 the culmination of sustained engagements including the 2024 International Symposium on Leveraging Green Financing in Abuja, strategic dialogues in Washington D.C. and across West Africa.
AICIS 2025: Nigeria Says Africa Must Be Active Architect of Its Own Sustainable Development
National News
Bauchi Guber: Sen Buba accepts calls by Bauchi North APC members to contest in 2027

Bauchi Guber: Sen Buba accepts calls by Bauchi North APC members to contest in 2027
By Amina Ahmed Dankawuwa
The Senator representing Bauchi South at the national assembly, Senator Shehu Buba Umar has accepted the calls by the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bauchi North Senatorial District to contest for Governorship come 2027.
The Director General of the campaign for the actualisation of Sen Buba’s Gubernatorial ambition, Alhaji Muhammad Sade (Usman) accepted the calls on behalf of the Senator during a town hall meeting held on Saturday by the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bauchi North Senatorial in Azare.
He appealed to members of APC to maintain peace with all other aspirants within the party.
“Let’s respect other aspirants, such that anybody who win the primary election can have will be assisted by others, so we must value and respect each other”, he reasoned.
Muhammad Sade also called on party members to commence looking for delegates for ahead of the party primaries.
“It is now that we have to look for those that have votes. I call on our esteemed supporters to start mobilizing for delegate”, he emphasized.
He also advised social media handlers (citizens journalist) to avoid creating problems for personal gain, adding that social media some times create a lot of problem within and out side the party endorsed Senator representing Bauchi South, Senator Shehu Buba Umar for Bauchi Governor come 2027.
Baushe Daily Times reports that members of the APC gathered in thousands during the meeting in Azare during which they unanimously agreed to support Senator Shehu Buba for Governor come 2027.
Earlier in a welcoming address, former majority leader in the Bauchi state house of assembly, Hon Tijjani Mohammed Aliyu, the choice to support Sen Shehu buba Umar’s Governorship ambition was due to his concern and care he has for the people of Bauchi state.
“He respects us, he values our people politically and he also call on party members to respect each other because politics shouldn’t be considered as a do or die affair”, he said.
Also speaking, Alhaji Bashir Bukar Rimin Zayam charged the youth to cast their votes for the youth only and avoid voting older politicians who will always be going abroad for medical attention.
He therefore, appealed to members of APC to mobilised people to support Sen Shehu Buba for Governor.
Among those who attended the town hall meeting include state assembly member Azare/Madangala Hon Zakariyya sale maigero, comr sabo Mohammed S A to Sen Shehu Buba on media and communication, Hon kasuwa Shehu Damana, Hon Adamu Fanta Misau, Hon maiwada Misau,Hon Mohammed Hassan, Barr Muktar Umar, Alhaji Nura Adamu among others.
Bauchi Guber: Sen Buba accepts calls by Bauchi North APC members to contest in 2027
National News
NHRC: Closure of Badeggi Radio, A Suppression of Press Freedom, Affront to Democracy

NHRC: Closure of Badeggi Radio, A Suppression of Press Freedom, Affront to Democracy
By: Michael Mike
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has condemned in strong terms the closure of Badeggi Radio in Niger State by the State Governor Mohammed Bago, discribing it as not only a suppression of press freedom but an affront to democracy.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission Dr Tony Ojukwu, condemned the action while reacting to the ugly incident. He said the governor’s decision to shut down the radio station without following due process is disappointing and a clear violation of the right to freedom of expression, as guaranteed by Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Ojukwu noted that the consequences of suppressing press freedom are far-reaching and can lead to increased government opacity, reduced citizen participation, creat obstacles to accountability, and weakening of democratic institutions.
He said: “The arbitrary shutdown of media outlets undermines the checks and balances essential to a functioning democracy.”
He called on Governor Bago to immediately unseal the Radio Station and allow it to resume full operations, asking him to channel issues concerning any alleged unconstitutional operations of the Radio Station to the appropriate authority and not act with impunity.
He said: “This is both a moral imperative and a democratic requirement.”
Ojukwu who is also the president of the Network of National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa ( NNHRI-WA) urged the governments to protect journalists and media freedom, foster a culture of tolerance, and support independent media. “Journalists must be able to operate without fear of harassment, intimidation, or violence,” He emphasized.
He lamented that the media has severally come under attack in various forms, a situation he termed as unacceptable in a civilized society.
He called on the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to be firm in carrying out its Statutory mandate which must not be abused at any slight opportunity.
He used the opportunity to ask media practitioners to be professional at all times in order to prevent needless censorship by political office holders.
He also called on Nigerian Guild of Editors to provide professional guidance at regular intervals as this will curb the use of hate speech, fake news and other unprofessional conducts capable of adversely affecting the media houses.
He insisted that the Commission remains committed to promoting and protecting human rights in Nigeria and would continue to monitor the situation closely.
NHRC: Closure of Badeggi Radio, A Suppression of Press Freedom, Affront to Democracy
National News
NDLEA, Education Ministry Agree on Drug Education in School Curriculum, Test for Varsity Students, Others

NDLEA, Education Ministry Agree on Drug Education in School Curriculum, Test for Varsity Students, Others
By: Michael Mike
Compulsory drug integrity test for students of tertiary institutions and the review of current secondary school curriculum to include drug education are part of agreements reached between the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Federal Ministry of Education when the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) led a delegation of his management team to a meeting with the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa in Abuja on Wednesday.
Marwa had during the meeting commended the minister for his proactive approach to his job while highlighting the devastating effect of substance abuse on the country’s youthful population. He noted that the fight against illicit drugs is a fight for the souls of the Nigerian youth.

“The purpose of this visit is to seek collaboration with this esteemed ministry in our collective efforts towards drug control in Nigeria. Our focus basically will be on schools and educational institutions. There are millions of our children that are under the supervision of this ministry, and it’s very critical. The drug scourge, as we all know, is very high in Nigeria.
“So, we’re actually fighting for the souls of our children. Now, we also know that the drug use is exacerbating criminal activities. That is, the Boko Haram, the terrorism, banditry, and so on.
“We know that without drugs, they wouldn’t be able to do what they are doing, because they wouldn’t do all these criminal activities in their right senses. So, in our own way, we are contributing to the fight against insecurity in the country. Now, through law enforcement action, we have continued to deal mortal blows to the drug cartels. We know that through the seizures, arrests, convictions, and assets forfeiture, we’re doing our best.

“Supported by President Bola Tinubu, within the last two years, we have made arrest of 40,887 criminal elements, gotten 8,682 convicted and seized 5,507 metric tons of illicit drugs. In fact, from January last year to the present, opioids, that’s tramadol mostly, that we have seized, are in excess of one billion pills, which is worth more than N1 trillion.”
Marwa while stating that the President is also supporting the agency to build seven rehabilitation centres in addition to the existing 30 centres in NDLEA commands nationwide, noted that President Tinubu has also approved the construction of one model rehab centre in each of the geo-political zone in the country.
He listed three key areas he will want the Ministry and NDLEA to collaborate to effectively check the menace of substance abuse among Nigerian youths.
According to him, “the first suggestion we have is for a review of the drug education curriculum in secondary schools. Even though we’re told of the existence of this in the past but because of the complexity of drugs, the dynamism of it, and the new psychoactive substances that have come to play, we feel that it is time to consider a review of this drug education curriculum.
“Another area we were thinking of suggesting is to introduce stand-alone drug abuse prevention programmes in schools, secondary schools. Not the curriculum this time, but programmes that stand on their own, lectures, competitions, and involving the parents, and so on. And then the third area we were thinking is to adopt a drug testing policy in tertiary institutions, because we want a policy to keep our campuses clean. Several vice chancellors have come on their own to seek both our guidance and participation in conducting drug test for their students. So, what we are suggesting now is drug tests for new students, for students returning from vacations, and random tests. This will make the children to avoid taking drugs, knowing fully well that if they do and they are found out, there will be consequences. And the consequences do not necessarily mean rustication.”
In his response, the Minister commended Marwa for his steadfastness and commitment to the service of Nigeria.
He said: “Thank you for your service to Lagos. And beyond that, General Buba Marwa, has committed his life to serve this country. Since I know him 30 years ago, he’s still serving the country. And you could see the passion in the way that he laid out the problems in the country and what he wanted us to do. And as he was talking, I made note and it was as if I had seen his prepared comments. Thank you so much for making this visit.”
He noted that the drug scourge is a huge problem that must be tackled headlong.
“When the youths get into drugs, they won’t go to school and even when they go to school, they are not getting functional education. And at the end of the day, what happens? Their level of critical thinking is lower. Their ability to make informed decisions in the later part of their life becomes significantly reduced. So, they become unemployable. And what happens?
“You now have that vicious cycle. They’re not functional. They’re not useful to themselves. All they do is resort to criminality. Once you use drugs, you’re likely to have a dysfunctional family. So, it’s a huge menace that we need to tackle, and tackle very quickly.”
On the areas of collaboration, the Minister said: “I would suggest we form a technical working group, inter-ministerial working group between our ministry and NDLEA.
As a result, I will also like to create a Substance Use Prevention Unit in the ministry.
“We’re reviewing the curriculum now for secondary school. And that’s why I’ve asked the director of Senior Secondary School to come, to be here and then we find a way to cascade it down to primary school. But we need to get both primary school and secondary school and add this to their curriculum. But the one for secondary school, we can definitely do that now. We’re just developing their new curriculum now.
“Also, on the stand-alone school programmes, I agree with you fully. We should also design ongoing programmes in our schools. That we can roll out, and cascade down. You also said something very important about the drug test policy in tertiary institutions. We will do it.
We have to do it. We do not have a choice. At least, we’ll start with tertiary institutions, for their fresh and returning students as well as random testing.”
The Minister also assured on getting two agencies under the Ministry, UBEC and TETFUND to partner with the NDLEA Academy in Jos as part of efforts to deepen drug education in basic, secondary and tertiary institutions across the country.
NDLEA, Education Ministry Agree on Drug Education in School Curriculum, Test for Varsity Students, Others
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