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Human rights Commission calls for transparency within the 35 member Borno flood disaster relief committee

Published

1 year ago

November 12, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Human rights Commission calls for transparency within the 35 member Borno flood disaster relief committee

By: Bodunrin Kayode

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on the “Borno State Flood Disaster Relief Disbursement Committee,” which is responsible for managing relief funds to streamline the process of compensation for residents so that each ward will know when they will be coming to their aid financially or materially.

The streamlining process being demanded will enable the 35 man committee to capture the entire residents affected and ensuring that justice is done to the myriads of people shouting to be included in the process which is looking almost like a selective jamboree weeks after it started.

The call was made by Hillary Ogbona senior Adviser (SA)to the executive secretary of the NHRC during a town hall meeting on the state of human rights during and after the maiduguri flood which took over the homes of over 200,000 residents within the state capital.

Hillary Ogbona stated recently that there was need for a timeline for the community to work with even as residents wait patiently for the Gujibawu led committee members to tend to their immediate needs.

Ogbona called on the numerous non governmental organizations (NGO’s) in the state to do more by engaging the committee to ensure all is well with the teeming residents waiting for their rightful compensations.

He regretted that it was sad that even the health sector and the information machinery in the state could not work together to fish out information from a common front instead of the piece meal approach employed in which residents were actually confused in certain instances of what to do to stay alive.

He regretted that many residents could not be reached in time for rescue because of the fact that they did not know who to call for help at such a desperately difficult period of their existence.

” I believe that the non governmental agencies would have done far better if they had engaged with the committee whose business it was to stabilize the people in the state capital.

” The values and approach to disaster management should be streamlined for effectiveness. This is because flood is not a respecter of people, creed, ranks or races. It is a leveler of all the people regardless of status.

“This is why is is important for the right thing to be done as at when due. People who earn daily wages are the most affected in such circumstances. Human rights inaction during flooding is key.”said Ogbona.

The SA stressed that there was need for the government to build a permanent and standardized camp for internally displaced people (IDP’s) with all the facilities so that all the principles of human rights based approach to disaster management will be employed without biases to anyone.

Ogbona emphasized that the usual discrimination based on status which is a common phenomenon in such circumstances in which some people are given compensation while others are not given was not permissible.

“It’s unfortunate that lots of discrimination was employed during the difficult period in which the flood was being managed but I feel this should not happen again because children should not be discriminated against at any time because major priority must be given to both women and children at such desperate circumstances.

“I had an experience in Germany which I wish to share with you people. While I was there, I observed that the selection of brains are placed above everyone during disasters, then the elderly and others may be considered later. This can equally be applied here whenever there is a similar disaster.” Said Ogbona.

Lessons from Community based human intervention in Borno were highlighted by barrister Okoro who insisted that leaders of religious groups have a very critical role to play in such trying times.

He posited that community and religious groups can be much more effective in handling such disasters if carried along when it occurred.

Okoro stressed that communication skills and the too much emphasis on the English language while encoding and decoding could also become a major challenge to the flood management approach.

Head of the Borno office Barrister Jumai Meshelia while welcoming stakeholders to the town hall meeting, called for the application of empathy while managing the people who have been traumatized by the flood.

She presented a summary on the state of human rights issues in Borno state from 2009 till date.

Stake holders present in the meeting highlighted the fact that some landlords have been coming to claim damages for the houses destroyed instead of first worrying about the fate of tenants who lost everything including lives to the flood.

One of them told stakeholders that his ten year old boy who was at home on that fateful night of Sept 10th lost his life in a fate of panic when on seeing the water pouring into the house, tried to get out but was swallowed by the raging flood from the dam.

On landlords who go to snap their homes while tenants are inside to claim damages and present same to the committees or coming to share humanitarian awards or compensations given to tenants, he called for a change of mindset by such shylock landlords.

Over 150 souls were reported as dead by the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

Zulum approves additional 4 weeks for disbursement Committee

Meanwhile, Governor Babagana Zulum has approved a four-week extension for the “Borno State Flood Disaster Relief Disbursement Committee,” which is responsible for managing relief funds for affected residents.

The Secretary to the State Government, (SSG) Mallam Bukar Tijani, conveyed the approval on recently in Maiduguri to stakeholders when it became obvious the duration given to the committee was inadequate.

The SSG noted that Governor Zulum has approved the extension of their work to allow for a thorough assessment of the victims to ensure all those affected were reached.

Alhaji Bukar Tijani added that the state government had received an interim report from the disbursement committee, which achieved a substantial part of their terms of reference.

Many wards are yet to be reached by the committee which has not been able to touch over 50 percent of the areas affected because there has not been any programmed time tables

Human rights Commission calls for transparency within the 35 member Borno flood disaster relief committee

News

After Boko Haram’s destructions, Governor Buni built modern markets across Yobe

Published

19 hours ago

January 31, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

After Boko Haram’s destructions, Governor Buni built modern markets across Yobe

By: Yahaya Wakili

Yobe State is one of the states whose economic activities were destroyed and suffered from the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeastern part of Nigeria, and in its effort to expand the economic activities in the state and also to provide infrastructure facilities to the citizens of the state after recovery from the Boko Haram insurgency. His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Yobe State, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, has built modern markets across the state in order to boost the economy and businesses in the state. The Commissioner of Home Affairs and Information, Hon. Abdullahi Bego, said there are two types of markets that His Excellency built. The first one is the ultramodern markets: one in Potiskum, one in Damaturu, the state capital, one in Geidam, one in Gashu’a, and another one in Nguru town. The major towns of Yobe State have one each of these markets. And also, we have the modern markets: one in Yunusari, one in Machina, one in Ngalda, and one in Buni Yadi, an ongoing project.

The commissioner of Housing and Rural Development, Architect Ahmed Buba, said His Excellency has constructed 9 modern markets across the state; we have 5 ultramodern markets completed with one ongoing, making 6; and also we have 4 modern markets, and Potiskum ultramodern markets have 500 shops, 192 stalls, and 12 warehouses large enough to accommodate about 12 trucks each, and also they have about 3 kilometers of roads and drainages as well as an administration block and praying ground. The markets are opening up economic activities in Yobe State, and with these markets the economy of Yobe is now building up, and then with the modern markets the businesses are fully on course.

Bego said, “Yobe State Woven and Polythene Company has been an existing company for a long time, and His Excellency Governor Mai Mala Buni is retrofitting and rehabilitating it and making it modern and new.” He starts with the structure, renovating and improving the structure and equipment that are already imported; we are just waiting for the arrival. When they come, they will be installed, and work will start. We produce a lot of grains in Yobe as an agrarian state, so we don’t need to buy all the sacks, all the woven sacks, and all the polythene bags that were used for those grains and other things like that. So this company has existed for a long time but is comatose and dormant. His Excellency has decided to breathe a new spirit into it, retrofitting it, reconstructing it, rebuilding it literally, and then providing equipment. As you can see, the number of people is very few in terms of job creation and in terms of economic activities that will be spanned around this area.

The Mega Motor Park: The former motor park, due to the expansion of that place. His Excellency directed the ministry of housing to identify a site far away from the city; from that roundabout we have a bypass, and henceforth motor vehicles do not pass through Damaturu. They can stop here, and from here other vehicles can transport them to the city center. The commissioner of Housing and Rural Development, Architect Ahmed Buba, said, “This is Damaturu Mega Motor Park, with a capacity of about 500 vehicles. We have a drivers’ lodge, which is going to accommodate up to 150 drivers at a time; we have a terminal building; we have a police station outpost; and we have the clinic, restaurant, and quite a few more.”

Engr. Muhammed Abba Hassan, General Coordinator for the project, said, “This project is awarded to Samsun Nigeria Ltd by the Yobe state government. We started this project about 6 months ago. At this level, we have reached almost over 80 percent, and we expect to complete this project within the stipulated contract agreement. Inshallah, by the end of March, this project will be fully completed.” This Damaturu Mega Motor Park is one of the mega motor parks of its type in Nigeria. We have almost every facility here. We have enough accommodation for travelers and accommodation also for drivers. We have a shop complex, we have a fire service, and we have a comprehensive health clinic that can accommodate not only the passengers but also the environment of this town. We can handle it as far as concern goes; we delivered this project within the stipulated period of time.

Township Stadium in Buni Yadi: This township stadium here in Buni Yadi is transforming sport, which will transform sport in Yobe State. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sport, Alhaji Gidado Abubakar, said this project was awarded at the end of September last year to Damuli Investment Company Ltd. for the award of contract for the construction of a mini stadium in Buni Yadi. This is a post-insurgency project being awarded by the state government through the window of the Ministry of Youth, Sport, and Community Development. We signed a 6-month mandate giving the contractor the handing over of the project to the ministry for onward utilization, and about 65% of the project has been achieved. The capacity of the mini stadium is about 5,000 to 6,000 pupils; we have a multipurpose fit, we have badminton, basketball, and the other games, and we have about 78 different games in this project, and it is 250 meters by 200 meters, and 75 thousand square meters.

After Boko Haram’s destructions, Governor Buni built modern markets across Yobe

News

U.S. and Nigeria Forge Stronger Trade Ties Through New Investment Partnership

Published

19 hours ago

January 31, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

U.S. and Nigeria Forge Stronger Trade Ties Through New Investment Partnership

By: Michael Mike

The United States and Nigeria have taken a significant step to deepen commercial relations with the U.S.-Nigeria Commercial and Investment Partnership (CIP), a five-year initiative aimed at boosting trade, investment, and private sector growth.

The partnership was highlighted at a ministerial meeting in Lagos co-chaired by U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Commercial Service Bradley McKinney and Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole. The meeting brought together government officials and private sector leaders to review proposed reforms from the CIP Working Groups on Agriculture, Digital Economy, and Infrastructure.

The Working Groups presented strategies intended to improve the business environment, ease trade barriers, and attract investment. McKinney described the proposals as practical measures that could strengthen bilateral trade and create new economic opportunities for both nations.

Oduwole emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to expanding non-oil exports and making local businesses more competitive in global markets. “We are focused on creating sustainable and inclusive opportunities for Nigerian companies to access U.S. markets and beyond,” she said, noting ongoing efforts to implement reforms that make Nigeria’s economy more predictable and investment-friendly.

Senior officials from both countries attended the session, including U.S. Mission Chargé d’Affaires Keith Heffern and Nigeria’s Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Nura Rimi.

The partnership is expected to facilitate continued consultations on trade and investment, encourage two-way investment flows, and support economic growth on both sides of the Atlantic.

In 2024, bilateral trade in goods and services between Nigeria and the United States reached nearly $13 billion. U.S. foreign direct investment in Nigeria also rose to $7.9 billion, reflecting a 25 percent increase from the previous year, making the U.S. one of Nigeria’s top foreign investors.

U.S. and Nigeria Forge Stronger Trade Ties Through New Investment Partnership

News

Six killed, others injured, abducted in bandit attack on Tsafe community

Published

19 hours ago

January 31, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Six killed, others injured, abducted in bandit attack on Tsafe community

By: Zagazola Makama

At least six persons were killed and several others injured when armed bandits attacked Kanbiri village via Kwaren Ganuwa in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara on Thursday afternoon.

Residents said the assailants stormed the community at about 2:50 p.m., shooting sporadically and causing panic among villagers.

“They shot many people. Six were confirmed dead on the spot, while others sustained gunshot injuries,” a local source said.

The attackers were also reported to have abducted an unspecified number of residents and taken them to an unknown destination.

Troops and other responders have since moved into the area to evacuate the corpses for burial and to begin efforts to locate and rescue the abducted victims.

Kanbiri and surrounding communities in Tsafe LGA have experienced repeated attacks in recent months, as bandit groups continue to target rural settlements in Zamfara.

Six killed, others injured, abducted in bandit attack on Tsafe community