News
EU, British Council Programme Constitutes Conflict Resolution Network in Nigeria
EU, British Council Programme Constitutes Conflict Resolution Network in Nigeria
By Michael Mike
The Managing Conflict in Nigeria(MCN) Programme, funded by the European Union(EU) and the British Council (BC) has
constituted a conflict resolution network to enhance crisis management and peace building process in the country.
This is part of activities to manage unrest and create a sustainable resolution network to foster peace in Nigeria by resolving conflict at the earliest stage and preventing their escalation into violence.
The National Programme Manager of MCN, Prof. Muhammed Tabiu on Tuesday, made this known at the MCN close out event and result dissemination in Abuja.
Tabiu noted that the network would translate into a more stable and resilient community, devoid of attack and conflict.
According to him the MCN Programme has been implemented in three states of the North East in the last six years, adding that its objective is to build more capability for managing conflict in the North East Region.
Tabiu said the aim is also to strengthen the capacity of the institution especially at the community level.
He said: “Dialogue have also been organised between communities that are in conflict with each other, they have also negotiated agreement between the communities in other for them to live in peace.
He added that by implementing this programme they are focusing on institutions that manage conflict at community level particularly through traditional rulers by training and setting up of case management system and adopting a code of conduct and ensuring that they have a smooth working relationship.
Tablu while reeling out some of the successes of the MCN, said they have empowered and given skills to thousands of young men and women who have been affected by conflict or who are involved in it and are looking for retirement home.
On her part, the Special Adviser to Borno State Governor on Health and Chairperson of MCN Borno State Advisory Committee Hajiya Zara Bukar described the training of traditional rulers of various community as a welcome development.
She said when you go through traditional rulers you have a positive impact on whatever you are trying to implement in a community because of the strong influence traditional leaders have on members of their communities.
Bukar said having Internally displaced person in an area causes a lot of havoc and problems of abuse and crimes. She therefore commended the Sexual Assault Referral Center programme of the MCN.
She said the MCN have done a lot of trainings, capacity buildings, reconciliation and established centres where reports are made, fund for assistance are provided noting that they have impacted tremendously in Borno State.
She said Borno State have learnt how to resolve conflict and manage situations adding that they have also learnt how to progress into bringing out their kind of community and whatever resolution they can do to resolve community conflict.
She noted that communities in Borno are ready for repentant Boko Haram that have successfully reformed with some of the trainings that they have had from MCN.
She however said they have not started reintegrating any member of the terrorist group as they are still undergoing the process of reintegration.
EU, British Council Programme Constitutes Conflict Resolution Network in Nigeria
News
MOTION Condemns Demolition of Homes in Oworonsoki
MOTION Condemns Demolition of Homes in Oworonsoki
…Says Action, Genocide Against the Poor
By: Michael Mike
The Movement for the Transformation of Nigeria (MOT!ON) has condemned in the strongest possible terms the alleged ongoing state-sponsored brutality and unlawful demolition of homes in Oworonsoki, Lagos.
The organisation, in a statement on Monday signed by Hauwa Mustapha and Chris Isiguzo, Convener and Co-Convener respectively, said reports confirmed that in the early hours of Sunday, armed policemen and hired thugs invaded the community, teargassed residents, and destroyed homes in defiance of a subsisting court injunction, adding that this brazen contempt for the rule of law, and disregard for human life and dignity, marks yet another dark chapter in the Lagos State Government’s deliberate war against the poor.
The statement read: “This is more disheartening against the fact that the world bank in October 2025 declared Nigeria to be home to 139 million people living in extreme poverty in its report.
One would have thought that the Nigerian government are collectively working hard to lift people out of poverty, unfortunately, the Lagos state government has allowed private interest to override public interest in complete defiance to an existing court order.”
It reminded that: “Nigeria is a signatory to the United Nation Convention on Human Rights. According to United Nation’s definition, forced evictions is the permanent or temporary removal against their will of individuals, families and/or communities from the homes and/or land which they occupy, without the provision of, and access to, appropriate forms of legal or other protection.
“And article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights states that the States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions. The States Parties will take appropriate steps to ensure the realization of this right, recognizing to this effect the essential importance of international co-operation based on free consent.
“At the time of this press statement, over 7,000 housing units have already been lost in the Oworonsoki community- a home to the middle class and poorest office poor in Lagos state, with families, pregnant women, children, and the elderly rendered homeless overnight. This is the height of abuse of human rights, cruel treatment of the poor and brazen disregard for the rule of law.
“We want to state clearly that it is irresponsible for the Lagos State government to discard these structures as “illegal structures.” These are people’s lives, built over decades of labour, community, and love. To tear them down without dialogue, compensation, or relocation is not urban development. The Lagos State government is carrying out a social cleansing and a genocide against poor people.
“The government’s actions violate not only the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which makes the welfare of the citizens, including their housing welfare, the responsibility of the government, but also violate the basic principles of humanity and justice. When the state becomes the destroyer of homes rather than their protector, it ceases to be legitimate in the eyes of the people, and utterly useless.
We, therefore, demand an immediate cessation of all demolition activities involving the houses of the Nigerian people in Oworonshoki and across Lagos State, and across Nigeria, immediately. We demand full compliance with the court injunction issued by Justice A.G. Balogun, and an independent investigation into the involvement of armed police and hired thugs in the attack on residents.
“We demand a commensurate compensation and emergency housing for all displaced families, and a public apology and accountability from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos State Task Force leadership.
“MOT!ON stands with the displaced residents of Oworonshokiand every Nigerian community facing the tyranny of forced evictions and state violence. The struggle for transformation begins in the defense of ordinary lives against the machinery of greed and impunity.
“If the government insists on destroying homes under the cover of “development,” the people must insist on building a country where justice, not bulldozers, shapes our cities. We demand that the government stop the demolitions now. Stop the violence now. Return the people’s homes now!”
MOTiON is a collective force of Nigerians from mass democratic organisations, workers’ organisations, pro-democracy movements, movements for social justice, women groups, citizens groups, NGOs, academia, students and youth groups, and climate action groups. We are a movement of movements channeling shared anger, frustration and aspirations of Nigerians into purposeful action. Through concerted, strategic effort, we are engaging in citizens’ actions to address and overcome the root causes of Nigeria’s current state: elite capture, ineffective leadership, institutional corruption, insecurity, and the pervasive culture of impunity.
MOTION Condemns Demolition of Homes in Oworonsoki
News
Multi-million naira assets rot away as auction stalls
Multi-million naira assets rot away as auction stalls
By: Michael Mike
Assets valued at millions of naira are rotting away at various locations across the country as the planned auction of the items by the Ministry of Water Resources failed to hold.p

The items, which included unserviceable earth-moving machines and other heavy-duty industrial equipment, had been abandoned at various sites by the ministry for several years, where they have been overtaken by weeds.

Findings indicate that many of the machinery are located in the Gurara dam in Niger State, Upper and Lower Benue in Doma and across other sites.

The ministry, in a publication dated August 20, 2025, signed by Moses Jo-Madugu, Chairman of the Board of Scraps and Unserviceable Items Committee, announced its plan to carry out an auction of the items.
But sources said the planned auction was stalled due to an alleged conflict of interest among senior ministry officials.

Speaking on the development, the President, Nigeria Association of Auctioneers, Musa Kurra, said the ministry appeared to be playing games over the planned disposal of the items, noting that the officials have refused to follow the due process.
He stated that: “Since August 20, 2025 when the ministry published an advertorial in the Blueprint Newspaper about the planned auction of the heavy-duty machinery and other scraps and unserviceable assets, the officials have kept mum. They refused to release further information about the auction.

‘’First, the advert is defective and vague; it was supposed to invite auctioneers to submit applications for appointment to sell on their behalf, but this was not done. Also, there were supposed to be second and follow-up adverts for the announcement of dates and location of sales to the public, but this was also not done. Everything is done in secrecy.
“Worse still, they are not involving auctioneers who, by law, are legally mandated to supervise the auction processes. What we learnt is that they have been taking some contractors to the sites where the assets have been left abandoned for several years to rot away. This equipment was bought at millions of naira, but, unfortunately, they were abandoned under the sun and rain and allowed to go bad.’’
He added that: “Now that the government can recover some money from these assets, the ministry has been playing hide-and-seek and refusing to provide clear information on the auction exercise. This is unacceptable to the Nigeria Association of Auctioneers. We demand that the right thing be done. The Ministry of Water Resources must carry us along, provide the necessary guidelines and ensure that the process leading to the auction and the auction itself are transparent and credible. Our objective is for the government to get value from the auction.”
Multi-million naira assets rot away as auction stalls
International
The Body Shop Extends Reach in Nigeria
The Body Shop Extends Reach in Nigeria
…. Opens First Store in Lagos
By: Michael Mike
The Body Shop has announced the opening of a new store in Nigeria, bringing ethical, naturally inspired beauty to Lagos.
Following the successful launch in Abuja and a national e-commerce site earlier in the year, the new opening marks an important step in the brand’s commitment to West Africa and its broader global growth strategy.
The new store in Lagos, located at Ikeja City Mall, brings the number of jobs created by the brand in Nigeria to over 20. The store will be home to the full range of Body Shop products, ranging from newly launched collections, such as Spa of the World, to its Most Loved products and ranges enriched with Community Fair Trade ingredients, including Shea, Tea Tree, and Aloe

According to a statement on Monday by Senior Press & Public Affairs Officer | Comms Lead, Prosperity and Economic Growth. Ndidiamaka Eze, with the customer placed at the heart of the store experience, locals and visitors alike will be welcomed through the signature dark green facade, into a world where confidence is beautiful. Members of the expert in-store team will be on hand to guide customers through the product ranges, consult on skincare needs and even offer a relaxing hand massage or treatment at the sink.
Speaking at the launch ceremony hosted at his Residence, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Mr. Jonny Baxter said:“The Body Shop’s arrival in Lagos marks more than a business expansion. It’s a powerful symbol of the deepening UK-Nigeria trade relationship. With bilateral trade now at £7.9 billion and rising, Nigeria stands as the UK’s second-largest trading partner in Africa and our leading export market on the continent.
“We’re especially proud to see this franchise led by Shalom Lloyd MBE, a dynamic British-Nigerian entrepreneur whose work in skincare, healthcare, and women’s empowerment reflects the kind of innovative, purpose-driven partnerships we champion. Her collaboration with The Body Shop is a shining example of the impact UK-Nigeria cooperation can achieve.”
“Expanding into Lagos marks another step in The Body Shop’s global growth strategy. As we accelerate our presence across high-potential markets, West Africa plays an important role in shaping the future of our business. Lagos, as a dynamic commercial hub, allows us to connect with a new generation of consumers who share our belief that beauty can be a force for good,”said Mike Jatania, CEO & Executive Chairman, The Body Shop.
“This is not just about opening a store, it is about deepening trade ties, creating opportunities, and showing the world what happens when values-driven business meets one of the most vibrant cities on earth,” added Shalom Ijeoma Lloyd MBE,
General Manager, The Body Shop Nigeria.
The Body Shop has longstanding and meaningful connections to Africa, first forged by founder Dame Anita Roddick who built personal and professional ties to the region that have been carried forward by the brand and continue to thrive today. They include partnerships with three Community Fair Trade suppliers – tea tree oil grown by smallholder farmers near Mount Kenya to shea butter handcrafted by women’s cooperatives in northern Ghana to moringa seed oil cultivated by wild harvesters in Rwanda’s eastern provinces.
The Body Shop has long invested in sourcing high quality ingredients from Community Fair Trade partners across the globe. The brand believes in building sustainable, fair supply chains that empower women and support local communities.
The Body Shop was founded in 1976 in Brighton, England, by Dame Anita Roddick. The Body Shop is a pioneer in ethical beauty, offering high quality, innovation-driven skin care, body care, hair and makeup products made with natural and fair-trade ingredients from around the world.
The Body Shop Extends Reach in Nigeria
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