COAS Support Driving Massive Infrastructure Renewal in 1 Division, Says GOC

By Zagazola Makama

The Nigerian Army’s 1 Division has embarked on an extensive infrastructure renewal programme that has transformed troop accommodation, worship centres, educational facilities and welfare infrastructure, with the support of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Sector 1, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Maj.-Gen. Muhammed Wase, has said.

Wase , who spoke through the Chief of Staff of the Division, Brig.-Gen. Timothy Opurum, during an interaction with defence correspondents in Kaduna, said the intervention was significantly improving the living and working conditions of troops while enhancing operational effectiveness across the Division’s area of responsibility.

According to him, the ongoing transformation is in line with the COAS’ “Soldier First” philosophy, which places premium attention on troop welfare, accommodation and morale as critical enablers of operational success.

He said the Division inherited several infrastructure that needed to be repaired . but had, through prudent management of resources and support from Army Headquarters, embarked on an aggressive programme of rehabilitation, renovation and construction.

“The support from the Chief of Army Staff has been tremendous. His commitment to improving troops’ welfare has enabled us to undertake several projects that are directly impacting the lives of our personnel and their families.

“Many of the structures we met were in very poor condition. Today, most of them have been completely transformed into modern and habitable facilities,” he said.

The GOC explained that one of the landmark achievements of the Division was the renovation of multiple blocks of abandoned accommodation that had previously become uninhabitable.

According to him, following directives and support from Army Headquarters, the Division commenced the rehabilitation of old accommodation blocks in November 2025 and successfully expanded the scope of the project beyond the initial allocation.

He said through prudent financial management and cost-saving measures, the Division was able to renovate six accommodation blocks instead of the four originally approved.

“By carefully managing available resources, we were able to increase the number of renovated accommodation blocks from four to six. This has significantly improved housing availability for officers and soldiers within the cantonment,” he said.

Wase added that the accommodation facilities were further enhanced with the installation of modern solar-powered electricity systems designed to provide uninterrupted power supply.

According to him, more than 65,000 watts of solar power infrastructure have already been installed across the renovated facilities, reducing dependence on the national grid and improving energy sustainability.

He disclosed that another major solar power project currently under construction had reached about 50 per cent completion and was expected to be delivered within the next few months.

The project, he noted, would further improve electricity supply and support military operations within the Division.

The GOC also highlighted extensive roof rehabilitation works carried out on several damaged buildings whose roofs had been blown off by severe weather conditions.

He said the repairs involved complete replacement of roofing sheets, ceiling systems and other structural components to restore the affected buildings to functional standards.

In addition to accommodation projects, the Division undertook a comprehensive renovation of its main auditorium, transforming the facility into a modern conference and event centre capable of hosting military and inter-agency engagements.

“The auditorium was in a deteriorated state before the intervention. Today, it has been remodelled and upgraded to meet contemporary standards,” he said.

The welfare-focused interventions also extended to places of worship within the Division.

Wase disclosed that all three major worship centres in the cantonment the Catholic Church, Protestant Church and Central Mosque had undergone extensive renovation.

The projects included structural repairs, repainting, refurbishment of facilities and environmental improvements aimed at providing conducive worship environments for personnel and their families.

“We believe welfare is not only about accommodation and feeding. Spiritual wellbeing is equally important. That is why attention was given to all worship centres within the Division,” he said.

The Division also established a modern cafeteria facility to improve feeding arrangements and create a more conducive environment for personnel.

According to the GOC, the project was completed within a remarkably short period and has since become one of the most utilised welfare facilities within the cantonment.

Another major intervention is the ongoing renovation of the Division’s crèche and nursery school, which is expected to provide improved educational facilities for the children of military personnel.

He said the project had reached approximately 70 per cent completion and would be delivered before the end of the year.

Beyond military facilities, the Division has also extended its intervention programmes to host communities as part of its civil-military cooperation initiatives.

Wase disclosed that a block of classrooms was recently constructed and handed over to a host community in Kaduna State to support educational development and strengthen relations between the military and civilians.

He described the project as part of the Army’s broader efforts to win hearts and minds while contributing to socio-economic development in communities hosting military formations.

The GOC noted that the infrastructural improvements were already yielding positive results in troop morale, discipline and operational effectiveness.

According to him, soldiers who live and work in conducive environments are better motivated and more committed to accomplishing assigned missions.

He also commended the Chief of Army Staff for providing strategic guidance, resources and operational support that have enabled the Division to simultaneously prosecute counter-banditry operations and pursue infrastructure development.

Wase further revealed that the Division had introduced new welfare initiatives, including recognition packages for retiring and redeployed officers and soldiers as part of efforts to reward commitment and service.

He noted that personnel who distinguish themselves in service now receive special appreciation packages, reflecting the Division’s commitment to recognising dedication and sacrifice.

The GOC stressed that despite prevailing operational challenges, including mobility constraints, logistics demands and infrastructure deficits, the Division remained focused on sustaining the momentum of ongoing development projects.

He assured that additional accommodation, power and welfare projects were already in the pipeline as part of efforts to further improve living conditions for personnel.

According to him, the Division’s experience demonstrates that investment in troop welfare and infrastructure remains a critical force multiplier in modern military operations.

“When soldiers are well accommodated, properly cared for and adequately motivated, they perform better in operations. That is the philosophy driving these interventions, and we are grateful to the Chief of Army Staff for his unwavering support,” he said.

COAS Support Driving Massive Infrastructure Renewal in 1 Division, Says GOC

Abuse, Violence Threaten Safety of Nigerian Schools as FG, EU Launch Fresh Crackdown

By: Michael Mike

Schools across Nigeria, once regarded as safe spaces for learning and personal development, are increasingly becoming environments where children face abuse, exploitation and violence, prompting fresh intervention by the federal government and international partners to strengthen accountability and justice for survivors.

Alarmed by the growing prevalence of school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) and the challenges victims encounter in seeking justice, stakeholders from the justice, education and child protection sectors have commenced coordinated efforts aimed at improving the prosecution of offenders and strengthening institutional responses to cases involving children.

The renewed commitment was underscored on Tuesday in Abuja during the First Training of Trainers Workshop on the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Legal Pathway for the Prosecution of Perpetrators of School-Related Gender-Based Violence.

The initiative, organised under the European Union-supported programme to end sexual and gender-based violence and implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Justice, brought together officials from key government ministries, security agencies, child protection bodies and civil society organisations.

Participants warned that violence within schools is taking multiple forms, including sexual harassment, abuse, bullying, corporal punishment, exploitation and technology-facilitated violence, leaving lasting scars on victims and undermining confidence in educational institutions.

Speaking at the event, Gender-Based Violence Policy and Strategy Development Specialist for the programme, Melissa Omene, described the situation as a major threat to the nation’s education system.

She noted that available studies indicate that nearly one-fifth of reported sexual violence cases occur within school environments, while a significant number of children continue to experience corporal punishment from teachers.

According to her, beyond the statistics are thousands of children whose safety, education and future prospects have been severely affected.

Omene said survivors often endure long-term emotional, psychological and educational consequences, with girls and other vulnerable groups bearing the heaviest burden.

She stressed that strengthening legal pathways for prosecution would send a strong signal that violence against children would no longer be tolerated and that institutions are prepared to act decisively against offenders.

She explained that although Standard Operating Procedures were jointly developed in 2024 by the Federal Ministries of Justice and Education to guide reporting, referrals, investigations and prosecution, inadequate awareness and inconsistent implementation have weakened their impact.

The current training, she added, seeks to bridge those gaps by equipping participants with practical knowledge to improve case management and accountability.

Omene also revealed that the European Union-funded programme, which runs from 2025 to 2029, is focused on strengthening legal and policy frameworks, improving access to quality support services for survivors and promoting social norms that discourage gender-based violence.

She disclosed that facilities within hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory have already been identified and are being assessed for conversion into Sexual Assault Referral Centres to provide specialised support for victims.

In her remarks, Head of the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Response Unit at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Yewande Gbola-Awopetu, said the protection of children requires a united and coordinated response from all institutions.

She described the SOP as a critical tool for ensuring professionalism, accountability and consistency in handling cases of abuse within schools.

Gbola-Awopetu warned that violence in educational institutions does more than disrupt learning, noting that it erodes trust in public institutions and threatens the future of young Nigerians.

She urged participants to become agents of change within their respective organisations and work towards ensuring that no child is forced to choose between education and personal safety.

Also speaking, Assistant Director at the Federal Ministry of Education, Apakasa Augustina, disclosed that the SOP document had already been distributed to all 115 Federal Unity Colleges nationwide.

She said principals had been engaged on implementation strategies and stressed that teachers and school administrators remain central to identifying, preventing and responding to abuse.

According to her, effective efforts to tackle gender-based violence in schools cannot succeed without adequately training those who interact with children daily.

Executive Director of Protect the Child Foundation, Elizabeth Ebulejonu Achimugu, noted that many cases fail to progress beyond the reporting stage because frontline officers often lack sufficient knowledge of legal procedures and prosecution processes.

She said participants were expected to transfer the knowledge acquired during the training to colleagues within their institutions, while future phases of the programme would focus directly on teachers, caregivers and other school personnel.

Stakeholders expressed optimism that stronger collaboration among government agencies, educational institutions, civil society groups and law enforcement authorities would help close longstanding justice gaps, improve prosecution rates and restore schools as safe environments where children can learn and thrive without fear.

Abuse, Violence Threaten Safety of Nigerian Schools as FG, EU Launch Fresh Crackdown

HOMEF, CAPPA Seek Review of GMO Approvals, Advocate Agroecology as Nigeria’s Food Security Path

By: Michael Mike

Civil society organisations have intensified calls for a review of genetically modified organism (GMO) approvals in Nigeria, urging the federal government to adopt agroecology as a cornerstone of the country’s food security strategy amid growing concerns over food sovereignty, public health and environmental sustainability.

The call was made during a media training on Biodiversity and Agroecology in Nigeria themed “Nigeria’s Food Future,”organised by the Home of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and its partners, where participants challenged the increasing adoption of genetically modified crops and called for stronger biosafety oversight.

Executive Director of HOMEF, Nnimmo Bassey, warned against what he described as the growing influence of multinational corporations on Nigeria’s agricultural system, arguing that the country’s food future should remain in the hands of local farmers.

According to him, smallholder farmers account for more than 80 per cent of food production in Nigeria, yet face mounting pressure from proprietary seed systems and corporate-controlled agricultural technologies.

“Smallholder farmers produce more than 80 per cent of the food consumed in Nigeria, yet there are strong vested interests trying to increase dependency on patented seeds and corporate-controlled technology. This is why we describe it as food colonialism,” Bassey said.

He also questioned the effectiveness of Nigeria’s biosafety governance framework, expressing concerns about transparency and accountability in the approval of genetically modified crops.

“The question is, who is really in charge? If another agency can approve GMOs outside the established regulatory process, where are we in terms of biosafety?” he asked.

Bassey maintained that agroecology, which emphasises biodiversity, ecological balance and indigenous farming knowledge, offers a sustainable pathway to food security while protecting local ecosystems and rural livelihoods.

Public health expert, Dr. Ifeanyi Casmir, urged policymakers to broaden the national conversation beyond food availability to include food safety and food sovereignty.
“Food security is just one leg of the tripod. You must also look at food safety and food sovereignty. If, because of one leg of the tripod, you jettison the other two, then there are very germane reasons for us to be circumspect about genetically modified crops in Nigeria,” he said.

Casmir argued that genetic modification can alter the composition of crops and potentially introduce proteins capable of triggering allergic reactions in some consumers.

He also warned that increasing reliance on proprietary seed systems could undermine the role of smallholder farmers and weaken local food systems.

“If you take away control and make access to seeds very difficult and cost-prohibitive, you have destroyed our food system. Smallholder farmers are the people who feed the world, and they must not be pushed aside through proprietary control of staple crops,” he said.

On the environmental and health implications of agricultural chemicals, Casmir expressed concerns about the use of herbicides and pesticides associated with some GMO farming systems, noting that chemical residues could find their way into the food chain.

Executive Director of the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, Akinbode Oluwafemi, called on the government to apply the precautionary principle in decisions relating to genetically modified crops.

“There have been global concerns about the health implications of genetically modified organisms across the world, and many countries are taking precautionary steps. We do not want the Nigerian government to open our food system to issues of concern,” he said.

Oluwafemi stressed the need to safeguard indigenous seeds and traditional farming systems, arguing that food production is closely linked to culture, identity and national heritage.

“Local farmers are responsible for over 80 per cent of the food we consume in Nigeria. There is an attempt to take over our food chain and food system by corporations outside our shores. It rests on the Nigerian people and government to protect our food environment, our indigenous seeds and our indigenous crops,” he said.

Presenting a communiqué issued at the end of the training, Associate Director of CAPPA, Ogunlade Olamide Martins, said participants resolved to campaign for a comprehensive review of GMO approvals and biosafety regulations in Nigeria.

According to him, stakeholders called for greater transparency, public participation and independent scientific assessments in all biosafety-related decisions.

“Participants resolved to advocate for a comprehensive review of GMO approvals and biosafety governance measures in Nigeria, while promoting transparency, public participation and independent risk assessment in all biosafety decision-making processes,” Martins said.

The communiqué further called on the government to suspend new GMO approvals pending independent, long-term and peer-reviewed assessments covering feeding trials, environmental impacts, performance evaluations and social consequences.

Participants also urged authorities to strengthen legal protections for farmers’ rights to save, exchange and reuse indigenous seeds while increasing public investment in agroecological research, innovation and farmer training programmes.

In her closing remarks, HOMEF Programme Director, Joyce Brown, said Nigeria was at a defining moment in determining how it would address food insecurity and climate change.

“We seem to be at a crossroads in Nigeria and largely in Africa as to which pathway we need to take in responding to food insecurity and climate change challenges. There are efforts towards promoting agroecology, while some actors are strongly pushing GMOs. We are advocating for a concrete decision. We can’t be on the fence and we can’t be both ways,” she said.

The advocacy groups maintained that while food production must increase to meet the needs of a growing population, such efforts should not come at the expense of biodiversity conservation, farmers’ rights and long-term environmental sustainability.

HOMEF, CAPPA Seek Review of GMO Approvals, Advocate Agroecology as Nigeria’s Food Security Path