National News
CAN Denies Adoption Of Political Party For 2023 Gubernatorial Election In Borno

CAN Denies Adoption Of Political Party For 2023 Gubernatorial Election In Borno
By: Melvin Uche
The Christian Association of Nigeria, Borno State Chapter has debunked the rumours making round that it has adopted the political candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.
Speaking at the conference hall of ST Patrick Catholic Cathedral on Wednesday in Maiduguri, the State CAN Chairman, Most. Rev.Dr . John Bogna Bakeni called on those propagating and peddling the rumours to desist from doing so, saying that it is a campaign of calumny against CAN as a body.
To this end, the CAN Chairman called on all politicians and the government to be wary of some fraudulent people masquerading as pastors and Christian religious leaders or groups who go about operating under the guise and pretext of CAN, urging them to verify and deal with the authentic body of mother CAN , which has the Youth wing or women wing, as any other Christian group or associations outside these bodies are acting on their own.
” My dear good people of Borno State, Iam Most Rev. Dr. John Bogna Bakeni, the Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN ) , Borno State Chapter. I choose to address you this day in order to defuse and to clarify the rumour going round that the Borno State CAN has adopted the political candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) for the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the State.
” Let me say categorically that CAN is not a political party and will never be. The State CAN has not endorsed any candidate in her interactions with candidates who sought audience with her, and will not do so . CAN has not received money from any politician as a form of voter inducement. All CAN in Borno State has done from the Presidential elections to date is to encourage Christians to participate in the political processes by voting candidates of their choice.
” It might interest you to know that there are Christians who belong to different political parties and ideologies, so for CAN to line up behind a particular candidate is to be divisive and is not part of our mandate. CAN commands respect and enjoys cordiality with the current government of Borno state and we will not want some unscrupulous people to destroy that for their selfish ends.
” CAN remains a religious association that is apolitical, non- partisan and law abiding. We encourage all people of Borno State who are eligible to vote to come out and perform their civil duty and responsibility of electing their next set of leaders. Our hope and prayer us that whoever emerges as governor should carry everybody along, Muslims and Christians alike without discrimination base on tribe , religion, gender or status. I pray that we have a free , fair, credible and violent free elections,” Bakeni who isbthe Auxiliary Bishop of Maiduguri Catholic Dioceses said and prayed.
He however vowed that CAN will investigate its members and anyone found wanting will be surely sanctioned.
CAN Denies Adoption Of Political Party For 2023 Gubernatorial Election In Borno
National News
One killed, another abducted as bandits attack Katsina farming communities

One killed, another abducted as bandits attack Katsina farming communities
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits have attacked farming communities in Tashar Mangwaro and Dogon Ruwa villages in Dutsinma Local Government Area of Katsina State, killing one farmer and abducting another.
The incident occurred on Thursday at about 6:32 p.m. while residents were working on their farmlands.
One of the victims, identified as Hamza Usman, 45, of Tashar Mangwaro, was shot by the assailants and later confirmed dead at the General Hospital, Dutsinma.
Another farmer, Tukur Nalanga, 53, from Dogon Ruwa Village, was abducted during the attack.
Security operatives responded promptly following a distress call and engaged the attackers, forcing them to flee the area. However, the gunmen escaped with the abducted victim before reinforcements arrived.
Efforts are currently ongoing to track the bandits
One killed, another abducted as bandits attack Katsina farming communities
National News
Speak Out Africa Initiative Calls on FG to Involve LGAs in FAAC meetings.

Speak Out Africa Initiative Calls on FG to Involve LGAs in FAAC meetings.
By: Michael Mike
The Lead Director, Speak Out Africa Initiative (SOAI ), Engr.. Kenneth Eze. has made four demand that will allow local government authority work effectively in Nigerià most especial complete Financial Autonomy through the expansion of the Federal Account Allocation Committee meetings to include LGA officials.
Eze also ask for political Autonomy by calling the on the Independent National Electoral Commision (INEC) to conduct all local government elections that will guranteed fairness,, other demans for the local authority include, asking the CBN to make it mandatory for LGA to have account with Bank and asking development partners to support the Open Government Partnership (OGP) at the local government level
The lead Director, stated this during The Local Open Governànce Initiative in Nigerià (LOGINAIJA) close out session and the presentation of Report for the pilot LGA.
Speak Out Africa Initiative is a non-governmental organization focused on empowering marginalized communities, particularly women and youth, through evidence-based advocacy, capacity building, and service delivery. Whose mission is to prioritizes gender equity, health advocacy, and social inclusion .
According to Eze, LOGINAIJA which aim to access the workings and the functionality of the Local Government Areas to make work was launch in April 2024 with the objective promoting Accountability at the local level, building capacity for the personnels and political office holders at the local level and the domestication of the freedom of Information Act at the grassroot “.
The LOGINaija project is a 12-month pilot initiative implemented by Speak Out Africa Initiative (SOAI) to strengthen Open Government Partnership (OGP) adoption at Nigeria’s local government level. The project focuses on three pilot LGAs:
” This pilot phase was carried out in the selected three Local Government Areas in Nigerià, Gwagwalada Area Council in FCT, Umuahia North LGA in Abia State and the Ibadan NorthWest LGA of Oyo State which represent the Zones in the country and cut across political party lines and we are happy to announce that today’ this three LGA has perform creditably with functional Website, freedom of information desk officers in place and we have strenthening the capacity of both the executive and the legislative arms of the three Local Government. we expect to scale it up to 50 LGA in second phase of the project “.
“We in speak out Africa are thanking the Mac- Arthur Foundation that supported this project, and other partner for making this a reality.
The Executive Chairman, Umuahia North Local Government Area. Hon. Smart Iheoma, while appreciate all what has done by the speak out Africa Initiative to the LGA, said the problem we have as a nation is leadership, what we met on ground was not good but we have turn around every aspect of the LGA and the people are the beneficiary of this positive reforms, we are following the footsteps of His Excellency the Governor of Abia State which come c am e in with capacity to build the State and he is the best so far”. Iheoma said
Speak Out Africa Initiative Calls on FG to Involve LGAs in FAAC meetings.
National News
FG Plans Nationwide Audit Of Skills Centres To Transform Workforce

FG Plans Nationwide Audit Of Skills Centres To Transform Workforce
** As VP Shettima demands urgent action to bridge nation’s skills gap
By: Our Reporter
Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for immediate and united action to close Nigeria’s widening skills gap, describing it as a national priority critical to economic transformation.
This is just as the federal government has hinted at a proposal for the review of existing skills training centres across several Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government to align their work and functions with national development goals.
The Vice President, who spoke on Thursday during the 6th meeting of the National Council on Skills (NCS) at the Presidential Villa, noted that the council’s mandate is to develop a strategic workforce capable of meeting Nigeria’s evolving economic demands.
“What binds us together supersedes whatever divides us. We have to make this country work. We need to fill in the skills gap,” he said.
VP Shettima pointed out that the council has a mission to strategically position Nigeria’s workforce to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving economy.
“This council was established with a clear mandate to drive the strategic development of the skilled workforce that can contribute meaningfully to national growth and prosperity,” he added.
The Vice President described the session as an open forum where positions were aired and important decisions were taken, emphasising that stakeholder engagement, consensus-building, and decisive leadership are essential to fixing Nigeria’s skills and employment crisis.
A major highlight of the meeting was the proposal for a National Skills Infrastructure Audit to create a centralised database of all training facilities, verify their functionality, and identify gaps or overlaps in infrastructure.
“The government’s policy trajectory is to strengthen human capital development for national growth and industry through skills development. However, unless the skills infrastructure across MDAs is optimised, this vision will remain unattainable,” the council noted.
The audit will also involve physical verification of centres and a detailed cataloguing of operational training facilities, ensuring alignment with national occupational standards and labour market needs.
Earlier, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa made a presentation on the National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP), an initiative aimed at training 10,000 artisans annually in high-demand construction trades.
The programme is designed to formalise Nigeria’s informal artisan sector by providing certification and onboarding qualified artisans onto a Digital Artisan Marketplace.
“The overall goal of NASAP is to establish a reliable and competent artisan workforce to drive the Ministry’s housing and infrastructure agenda while empowering Nigeria’s youth with employable skills,” the Minister said.
He noted that NASAP seeks to tackle youth unemployment while simultaneously addressing the skilled labour shortage in the construction sector, just as he said it is projected to have a significant impact on both job creation and long-term infrastructure development.
FG Plans Nationwide Audit Of Skills Centres To Transform Workforce
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