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Food Security, Regional Inclusion Key To Nigeria’s Stability – President Tinubu

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Food Security, Regional Inclusion Key To Nigeria’s Stability – President Tinubu

** Says every region of the country has role to play in national development

** Hails Taraba’s agricultural potential as proof of nation’s shared prosperity at state’s 2025 investment summit

By: Our Reporter

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pinpointed food security, along with regional economic inclusion, as the first currency of Nigeria’s path to long-term stability.

Accordingly, he disclosed plans by his Renewed Hope administration to transform Taraba State into an important centre for agricultural productivity, energy generation, and mineral resource development.

The Nigerian leader, who spoke in Jalingo on Wednesday during the opening of Taraba International Investment Summit 2025, described the state as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s agricultural and industrial future, as its agricultural potential is a manifestation of the nation’s shared prosperity.

Represented by his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima, at the summit, President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s economy from the ground up by leveraging local resources and decentralising development.

“Food sufficiency is the first currency of national stability. This is why we have prioritised agriculture as the anchor of our national strategy,” he said.

The President praised Taraba’s vast agricultural assets, calling for a shift from subsistence farming to industrial-scale food production.

“Our farmers must transition from the use of hoes and cutlasses to tractors and harvesters,” he said, stressing that modern tools are vital for increasing productivity and feeding Nigeria’s growing population.

Noting that Taraba is not just a state with potential, but also a strategic player in the national economy, President Tinubu described the state as a major player in producing export-grade tea, coffee, and livestock for the meat industry.

“Taraba’s role in this vision is central. From the export-grade tea and coffee grown on its hills to the livestock raised here that feed the nation’s meat industry, this state is an agricultural powerhouse that must be fully harnessed.

“The Kashimbila Dam, Nigeria’s largest hydroelectric dam, is not merely a monument of engineering. It is a symbol of what is possible when we dream and deliver,” he stated.

The Nigerian leader warned, however, that Nigeria’s development goals would not be met by merely exporting raw commodities: “We cannot live on raw produce and unprocessed minerals. What we need are factories to add value, clusters to drive innovation, and industrial parks to convert ideas into impact.”

He stressed that every region of Nigeria has a role to play in national prosperity, saying each part of Nigeria is a gift to the other, just as he said each region “complements the other so profoundly that the deficiency of one region is often redeemed by the sufficiency of the other.

“Our ultimate awakening as a nation begins with this realisation that no part of this country can thrive in isolation. What Taraba offers the nation is more than its breathtaking mountains or fertile valleys; it is a strategic contribution to our shared prosperity,” the President added.

He commended Governor Agbu Kefas for his visionary leadership, which he has demonstrated by convening the summit.

“There’s no doubt that you have chosen to reshape the destiny of your people. This is a defining moment for Taraba. We are determined to ensure that investment does not remain a tale of Lagos and Abuja alone. We are expanding the map of economic inclusion to include Jalingo, Gembu, Takum, Wukari, Bali, and every enterprising corner of Taraba,” President Tinubu told the governor.

He assured that the federal government is not a distant observer but a committed partner in transforming the state’s economic potential into measurable growth.

As the global demand for clean energy minerals like lithium and cobalt accelerates, President Tinubu called on investors to take a long-term view of Taraba’s role in the future of sustainable technology.

Earlier, Governor Kefas said that with the summit, life has come to Taraba State, assuring investors that the state is peaceful and safe for business, with huge human and natural resources.

Governor Kefas told investors present at the national summit that he has created an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

Speaking on behalf of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State, who represented the Chairman of the Forum, pledged the cooperation of the subnationals in developing agriculture in Nigeria.

“All the factors of production, land, water, sun and many others are all inherent in Taraba. So, the State government must be an enabler of businesses,” Governor Bago said.

Also, business mogul and President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, said he will continue to invest in Nigeria and mobilise other businesses to invest in Nigeria because when local investors perform excellently, they will encourage foreign investors to join them without invitation.

“We want to remain here and continue to invest in Nigeria to impact the lives of others, as we keep creating jobs and more jobs. When the local investors are doing well, the foreign ones will come without anybody inviting them. When you have a good restaurant, you will not need to invite people to come and eat. You will hear them talking about such restaurants. Start with the local investors, and this state shall become the shining star,” he said.

On his part, renowned banker and Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Chief Tony Elumelu, said Africa has opened an investment window for the world because the continent has what it can showcase.

He pledged to partner with Taraba State in ensuring that its vision comes true. “Investments help in building the capacity of our youth through employment generation. When we create investment, we improve our people,” he said.

For his part, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Mohammed Abubakar Sa’ad III, commended the Taraba State Governor for organising an international investment forum, which he described as historic.

Speaking on behalf of the spiritual and traditional leaders in Nigeria, the Sultan called on people in leadership positions to change the scenario, even as he said Taraba State is more secure now under the leadership of Governor Kefas, and urged the Governor to sustain the tide.

Food Security, Regional Inclusion Key To Nigeria’s Stability – President Tinubu

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Army troops restore calm after farmers, herders clash in Sokoto

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Army troops restore calm after farmers, herders clash in Sokoto

By: Zagazola Makama

The troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA have restored normalcy to Karangiya and Danjawo villages in Silame Local Government Area following a violent clash between farmers and herders on Sunday.

Zagazola reliably informed by sources that the clash erupted at about 9 a.m. over alleged cultivation of farmlands along cattle routes.

According to the sources, the altercation between Hausa farmers from Karangiya and Fulani herders from Danjawo escalated into violence before security operatives intervened.

The troops swiftly moved to the scene to restore order.

Nine people from both sides five farmers and four herders sustained varying degrees of injuries. Five were treated and discharged at the Silame General Hospital, while three others are still receiving treatment.

The Chairman of Silame Local Government Area has convened an emergency stakeholders’ meeting to find a lasting solution to the dispute.

Intensive patrols and surveillance have been intensified in the affected communities, while calm has been restored.

Army troops restore calm after farmers, herders clash in Sokoto

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WANEP Hosts National Briefing on Rising Concerns of Religious Radicalism•Highlights risks of unregulated Madrassas in Nigeria

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WANEP Hosts National Briefing on Rising Concerns of Religious Radicalism
•Highlights risks of unregulated Madrassas in Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

The West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), under the EU-supported Research and Action for Peace (REcAP) program, hosted a national deliberative briefing to present key findings from two studies exploring the ideological, cultural, and security implications of madrassas in both Northern and Southwestern Nigeria.

This was disclosed in a statement made available on Monday by Mr Emmanuel Ami-Okhani, the representative of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) in Nigeria.

The session was attended by policymakers, researchers, civil society actors, and security stakeholders, focused on understanding how religious education intersects with radical ideologies, external funding, and youth identity in Nigeria.

The REcAP project, implemented by WANEP in partnership with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), aims to strengthen the role of civil society and research in shaping effective responses to conflict, violent extremism, and peacebuilding across West Africa and the Lake Chad Basin.

One of the working paper presentations of a major study titled “Madrasas, Charities and Religious Radicalism in Northern Nigeria: A Study of the Almajiri System,” authored by Prof. Freedom Onuoha, Dr Saheed Babajide Owonikoko, and Dr Chukwuma Okoli, explored the theological foundations and operational structures of the Almajiri system, particularly in Abuja, Kano, and Borno states, regions selected for their population size, security relevance, and Islamic education presence.

The research highlighted that the Almajiri system, rooted in the Arabic term al-muhajirun (meaning “to migrate for knowledge”), has historically served as a respected Islamic education platform but has since suffered neglect, a lack of regulation, and infiltration by unverified foreign actors.

According to Owonikoko, who presented the paper, the study found evidence of informal funding from foreign religious charities, mainly from the Middle East. Still, it warned that such support is largely undocumented, making it difficult to monitor for extremist influence.

He disclosed that, based on interviews conducted with school custodians, scholars, former Almajiri students, and security agents, a key concern is the lack of transparency surrounding financial donations and the ideological content introduced by some foreign-linked clerics.

He cited historical and contemporary cases where charities from countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran supported specific sectarian ideologies within Almajiri schools. However, direct links between this support and actual radicalisation remain hard to legally establish due to the clandestine nature of donations.

Owonikoko noted during the presentation that “most Almajiri schools are not documented or supervised, making them vulnerable to ideological manipulation through informal funding channels.”

“While the majority of Almajiri students are peaceful and focused on Quranic education, the lack of structure creates loopholes that can be exploited by extremist elements.”

A second study titled “Madrassas and Islamic Extremism among Teenage Muslim Students in Southwestern Nigeria” was presented by Dr Busari Dauda of the University of Ilorin. Co-authored with Dr Alatise Remi Kasalla from Osogbo, provided an empirical view of how madrassas are shaping youth religious identity in the South-West amidst growing ideological influences from the Middle East.

Unlike the Northern context, madrassas in Ilorin, Ibadan, and Osogbo were found to be more structured, often registered with education ministries and integrated into Yoruba Islamic cultural life, Dr Dauda revealed.

However, the study noted that sectarian interests and prestige-seeking among madrassa founders contribute to the proliferation of ideologically driven schools. Economic motivations and cultural acceptance also play significant roles in their expansion.

Dauda, during his presentation, stressed that, while the study found no widespread evidence of violent radicalisation, it did highlight growing perceptions of global injustice among teenage students, particularly around issues like the Palestinian conflict and Western treatment of Muslims.

He said, these sentiments, amplified by digital media and foreign ideological narratives, shape how young Muslims interpret their religious and social identity.

Dauda emphasised that “extremism is not part of the curriculum, but ideological influences can filter in through sect-based teachings and global narratives of Muslim victimhood.”

WANEP Hosts National Briefing on Rising Concerns of Religious Radicalism
•Highlights risks of unregulated Madrassas in Nigeria

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Army troops recover 70 rustled livestock after gun duel with bandits in Katsina

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Army troops recover 70 rustled livestock after gun duel with bandits in Katsina

By: Zagazola Makama

Army troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA in Katsina have recovered 70 goats and several sheep after engaging suspected bandits in a fierce gun battle in Bakori Local Government Area of the state.

Sources indicated that the incident occurred on Oct. 25, 2025, at about 11:50 p.m., when armed men suspected to be bandits loyal to a notorious leader known as “Abaku Aiki” who reportedly distanced himself from the recent peace accord invaded Ganjar and Alhazawa, two remote villages under Bakori LGA.

The bandits reportedly kidnapped an unspecified number of residents and rustled several domestic animals during the attack.

The troops in collaboration with other security agencies intercepted the bandits at Laila Forest. A sustained exchange of gunfire ensued, forcing the criminals to abandon the stolen animals and flee into the forest.

The sources confirmed that 70 goats and some sheep were successfully recovered, while efforts are ongoing to track the fleeing bandits and rescue the abducted victims.

The troops assured residents of continuous patrol and collaboration with security agencies to ensure peace and stability in the area.

Army troops recover 70 rustled livestock after gun duel with bandits in Katsina

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