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HOMEF Sympathises with Flood Victims, Calls for Government to be Proactive
HOMEF Sympathises with Flood Victims, Calls for Government to be Proactive
By: Michael Mike
Flooding has become a persistent nightmare in Nigeria. In 2012, floods affected 33 out of the 36 states following the rain that fell between July and October that year. The floods displaced over 2 million people, resulting in more than 400 deaths and other associated destruction. In 2018, the Benue and Niger rivers overflowed due to heavy rainfall, causing flooding in 12 states, including Kogi and Niger. Four years later, in 2022, another severe flood killed over 600 individuals, displacing more than 2 million others. The impacts of these floods have been catastrophic for communities and states.
Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) expresses sympathy for the families of the victims of the recent flood that struck Mokwa – a transit town for traders in Niger State, North Central Nigeria. It was reported that at approximately 3:00 am on Thursday, May 29, 2025, there was intense rainfall followed by a hazardous flood, which is said to have displaced over 3000 residents, destroyed properties, and claimed over 100 lives, with many individuals still unaccounted for.
While mourning this tragic loss, HOMEF emphasised that the government must take proactive measures to prevent similar or worse incidents from occurring in the future.
The Executive Director of HOMEF, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, in his reaction to the recent flood event in Niger State, noted that communities and cities in flood-prone areas could seize to exist if nothing is done to address this menace.
“This is a horrendous recurring decimal. There is no word to describe our lack of preparedness and our ill-maintained infrastructure. Combined with insecurity and the fact that more rain is expected, the displacement problems will be compounded. There is no time for excuses. This is the time to declare an environmental state of emergency across board. This national emergency can impact our national wellbeing by leading to food scarcity, environmental degradation, mass displacement, increased poverty, water-borne diseases and exacerbate insecurity.”
Dr Bassey further responded on forecasts and early warnings from different agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). He expressed his disappointment, emphasising that these warnings become meaningless if provisions are not made to move people and settle them on safe and higher ground.
“Nigeria needs to be proactive; our government needs to have emergency preparedness and be able to relocate people when these warnings and forecasts are made, to avert the kinds of disasters we see when flooding events like this occur. We sympathise with the families affected by the floods and stand in solidarity with the communities that have been impacted.”
Stephen Oduware, Programme Manager of Fossil Politics at HOMEF, noted that flood damage continues to escalate, making recovery challenging and problematic.
“The rains are just beginning, and there are signs of more flash floods. Apart from the usual palliative measures and reactionary responses, what plans are in place to ensure that the already predicted localised heavy rainfalls do not result in the kinds of catastrophes we witness during floods? What is the Nigerian government doing to address the issues of flooding holistically? When floods occur, they leave a trail of destruction, causing damage to properties, loss of lives, livelihoods, and other socioeconomic impacts.”
HOMEF believes that flooding is both a consequence of climate change and a result of poorly planned urban areas and inadequate emergency preparedness. While the effects of climate change are widespread, many Nigerian cities and towns are also beset by the latter.
HOMEF calls for immediate measures to address the root cause of climate change, for improvement on practices that preserve natural habitats and wetlands, and investment in infrastructure that can help reduce the frequency and seriousness of flooding.
HOMEF calls on all relevant agencies to work together in a fully synchronised manner to ensure that every facet of the disaster is addressed and succour is extended to the impacted people.
HOMEF Sympathises with Flood Victims, Calls for Government to be Proactive
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19 kidnapped victims regain freedom in Katsina under peace deal
19 kidnapped victims regain freedom in Katsina under peace deal
By: Zagazola Makama
Nineteen persons abducted by bandits in Katsina State have regained their freedom following the ongoing peace accord under the Operation Safe Corridor Initiative.
The victims, comprising men and women from Sabuwa and Funtua Local Government Areas, were released on Thursday morning at Innono Jigo Village in Sabuwa LGA as part of reconciliation efforts with repentant bandits.
They include Safaratu Basiru, 27, Jamila Auwalu, 22, and 17 others who had been held in captivity for several weeks.
Local officials and community leaders received the freed victims and conveyed them to Haske Private Health Centre, Sabuwa, for medical examination before reuniting them with their families.
Authorities in the area said the situation was being closely monitored as part of sustained efforts to consolidate peace and stability in the state.
19 kidnapped victims regain freedom in Katsina under peace deal
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Gov. Uba Sani Says No Citizens Should be Pushed into Poverty Seeking Essential Medical Care
Gov. Uba Sani Says No Citizens Should be Pushed into Poverty Seeking Essential Medical Care
…Pate Calls for National Consensus on Prioritizing Health Care
By: Michael Mike
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani has advocated for access to affordable medical care for all Nigerians, insisting that no citizens should be pushed into poverty for seeking essential medical care.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Ali Pate also called for national consensus on prioritizing healthcare system in the country.
Speaking at a High-Level Health Media Dialogue with Media Executives in Nigeria with theme: “Escalating Executive and Media Action for Health Accountability and Financing,” on Thursday in Abuja, Kaduna State governor said: “We believe no Nigerian family should be pushed into poverty by seeking essential medical care. Here, equity is not rhetoric for us. It is a principle of governance and justice…”

Sani, while noting that health facilities have been elevated in all parts of Kaduna state, said these landmark facilities significantly reduces the need for medical tourism, lessening the financial and emotional burdens in families.
He noted that emergency care is given priority, said: “We have launched the Kaduna State Emergency Medical Services ambulance system,” which has ensured that countless lives ensuring that urgent intervention reach patient within critical calling hour.
He added that: “Our consensus, as of today in Kaduna, the government has made it free for every emergency case in the first 24 or 48 hours without paying a penny, every patient will be treated free the first 48 hours in Kaduna,”
On his part, Pate said the issue of health affordability is universal and Nigerians need to know that the federal government is working on this.
He said: “There is real pain of affordability. Half of the world’s population doesn’t have access to basic healthcare services, not only in Nigeria, but we tend to self flagellate and not build a consensus to fix it, because it takes national consensus. It’s not a technical issue.
“Fixing health is not just a technical issue because we have had technical expertise for a very long time. It’s not also purely technocratic in terms of just having the right actors that know how to manage doing fundamentally, it’s a political choice that is reflective of political consensus within a country. It is when a country does not build a consensus on the prioritization of health or of education that it doesn’t allocate the resources or use the resources in that right way. And that goes beyond government.”
He noted that with the new tax reform has offered an opportunity for health to be adequately funded in the country.
Also speaking, the Country Director, Gates Foundation Nigeria Uche Amaonwu, said the health of our mothers, children and families, and by extension Nigeria’s human capital depends on what we do next for primary health care.
He assured that the Gates Foundation remains deeply committed to working alongside government and partners to ensure that every Nigerian family can rely on a strong, well financed primary healthcare system.
Earlier in her welcome speech, the Executive Director. International Society of Media in Public Health, Mrs. Moji Makanjuola reiterated the importance of budgeting adequately to health sector
She said “while we acknowledge the remarkable progress made, we must also confront — with courage and compassion — the realities reflected in our health indices.”
She said according to the 2023 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), Nigeria still records one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world at 512 deaths per 100,000 live births, and an under-five mortality rate of 102 deaths per 1,000 live births. These figures translate to approximately 82,000 Nigerian women dying annually due to pregnancy-related causes, and one in every ten Nigerian children dying before the age of five.
“These statistics are not meant to indict but to inspire — to spotlight the urgency for deeper reforms, more coordinated investments, and sustained accountability. They also highlight why our collective focus on strengthening PHC systems remains both timely and essential.
“Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) represent the bedrock of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) — the first and most critical point of contact for millions of Nigerians, especially those in rural and underserved communities. Yet, data from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) reveals that only 20% of the over 30,000 PHCs nationwide are fully functional.
“When PHCs work — maternal and child mortality declines, immunization coverage improves, productivity rises, and the cycle of poverty linked to ill health is broken. Our task, therefore, is not merely to acknowledge these challenges but to transform them into opportunities for lasting change.”
Gov. Uba Sani Says No Citizens Should be Pushed into Poverty Seeking Essential Medical Care
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Four killed, others displaced as communal clash erupts in Niger community
Four killed, others displaced as communal clash erupts in Niger community
By: Zagazola Makama
Four persons have been confirmed dead following a violent communal clash between Nupe and Fulani residents in Ezhigi village, Edati Local Government Area of Niger State.
Zagazola Makama report that the conflict began on Oct. 21, 2025, when a yet-to-be-identified Nupe man from Ezhigi had an altercation with one Jibril Adamu, a Fulani herder, for reasons yet to be ascertained.
During the dispute, Jibril allegedly attacked the Nupe man with a machete, inflicting deep injuries. The victim was rushed to the General Hospital, Kutigi, where he later died on Oct. 22 while receiving treatment.
The death of the victim reportedly triggered a reprisal attack by Nupe youths, who stormed the Fulani camp in the same village, killed four Fulani residents, and set their settlement ablaze.
Police personnel from Enagi Division swiftly mobilised to the scene and restored normalcy.
The command confirmed that one suspect, Jibril Adamu, had been arrested, while investigation was ongoing to track other perpetrators and prevent further escalation.
Four killed, others displaced as communal clash erupts in Niger community
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