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IOM, Japan to support IDPs, returnees, host communities in Northeast

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IOM, Japan to support IDPs, returnees, host communities in Northeast

By: Michael Mike

The Government of Japan and the United Nations International Organisation for Migration (IOM) have signed a joint agreement to support .Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), returnees and vulnerable host communities in the Northeast.

The Ambassador of Japan, Kazuyoshi Matsunaga, said during the signing ceremony of the agreement in Abuja that the the aim if the assignment is to support measures designed to tackle urgent needs of vulnerable people in Adamawa, with an eye of extending it to other affected states.

The envoy said. the agreement focused on: “Strengthening basic healthcare services for IDPs, returnees and host communities in Nigeria” between Japanese government, Adamawa government, IOM and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

According to him, the project which is worthy US$4.4 million will run from March, 2024 to March, 2026 with measures to ensure sustainability, monitoring and evaluation, calculation of post-project cost, training of personnel in the operation, maintenance, and upkeep of equipment.

Kazuyoshi said: “t is towards combining fixed facilities with innovation technology solutions, such as medical mobility, as service and telemedicine is essential to effectively serving the mobile IDP population.

“Effective technology transfer from Japan to Nigeria requires strong focus on human resource development, therefore investment on capacity building to enable local staff fully utilize and maintain medical equipments.

“So, the ultimate measure of success of this project should not be measured by the construction of beautiful primary healthcare centre or improved access to healthcare service with advanced technology.

“It should be measured by the healthy and safe life of citizens who benefit from this improved healthcare services beyond the duration of the project.”

He explained that the project will bring about introduction of innovation technology, medical masks and telemedicine, and involvement of Japanese companies as model for improving healthcare service across Nigeria.

Chairman of Adamawa Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Sulaiman Bashir, who signed the agreement on behalf of Adamawa State Government, said the agreement would not have been possible without the partnership between IOM and the Japanese government.

He said: “Our state, as mentioned earlier, had enormous humanitarian and development needs. A state of 5.5 million people, 60 per cent are less than 30 years of age.

“These are areas that are of great concern to us. In terms of the humanitarian crisis, we have the three different crises that we are battling within our state.

“Initially, we have the Boko Haram terrorist activity in the northern part of the state, we have the farmer-herder clashes, we also have the last one, the inter-communal conflict there.”

On his part, the IOM Nigeria Chief of Mission, Laurent De Boeck, promised to partner States and Local Government actors to rebuild, rehabilitate, and equip nine health facilities in eight Local Government Areas in Adamawa.

He said such will be achieved through training staff from each unit of the nine Primary Healthcare Centres, which include doctors, nurses, midwives, community health workers, information/data officers, laboratory technicians.

He added that: “This project aligns with the long-term development priorities of both the Nigerian Government and the Adamawa authorities.

“It is a testament to our commitment to not only provide immediate relief, but also to contribute to sustainable solutions that addresses root causes of displacement and insecurity,” he said.

He reiterated the organisation planned to ensure healthcare is not a privilege, but fundamental right accessible to all, to pave way for healthier, more stable and prosperous future for the people of northeast Nigeria.

Chief Representative of JICA, Mr Yuzurio Susumu, said the grant provided from the agreement will further advance construction of primary healthcare centres, and boost capacity building among other things.

Yuzurio said, “Our ultimate goal is to contribute to the creation of an inclusive environment that fosters peaceful coexistence.

“By ensuring access to quality healthcare services, we aim to encourage the return and resettlement of IDPs, laying groundwork for sustainable peace and prosperity in Adamawa.”

IOM, Japan to support IDPs, returnees, host communities in Northeast

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Bandits kill one, abduct 14 in Zamfara communities

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Bandits kill one, abduct 14 in Zamfara communities

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed bandits have killed one person, injured three others, and abducted at least 14 villagers in separate attacks on Jangebe and Keta communities of Talata Mafara and Tsafe Local Government Areas of Zamfara State.

Zagazola learnt that the first attack occurred at about 4 a.m. on Sunday, when a group of heavily armed bandits invaded Fakon Idi area in Jangebe District of Talata Mafara LGA.

“The bandits shot dead one person and injured three others before abducting four individuals to an unknown destination,” the sources stated.

“Upon receipt of the distress call, troops of Operation Fansa Yamma, police and local vigilantes mobilised to the scene and engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle, forcing them to retreat into the nearby forest,” said the sources.

Sources said the corpse of the deceased had been handed over to relatives for burial, while the injured victims were receiving treatment at the Jangebe Primary Health Care Centre.

In a separate development, about ten villagers from Keta town were abducted while being forced to work on a bandits’ farm located between Keta and Kwaren Ganuwa villages in Tsafe LGA.

Sources revealed that at about 12:05 p.m. on Sunday, another notorious bandits’ kingpin, identified as Babangida Bature Yola, stormed the farm with his gang and abducted the villagers to an undisclosed location.

Authorities said efforts were ongoing to rescue all abducted victims and restore normalcy to the affected areas.

Bandits kill one, abduct 14 in Zamfara communities

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Nigeria Requests Evacuation of Jailed Pastor Egbaji from Benin Republic Over Deteriorating Health

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Nigeria Requests Evacuation of Jailed Pastor Egbaji from Benin Republic Over Deteriorating Health

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria has expressed concern over the failing health of one of its national, Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, currently facing trial in neighbouring, Republic of Benin.

Egbaji, a businessman and cleric from Cross River State, has for about two years been detained in a hospital in Cotonou, the Beninese capital under dehumanising conditions while his health is said to deteriorating.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement on Tuesday called on the Benin authorities to release the Nigerian national so that he could have better medical care and also serve out his sentence in Nigeria.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said discussions with the Nigerian Mission in Cotonou, indicated that Pastor Egbaji’s health is steadily worsening and he needs urgent and proper medical attention.

She stated that the Ministry had made spirited effort to rescue the troubled Egbaji in line with the citizen diplomacy thrust of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.

The minister who had early August visited Egbaji in the Cotonou hospital alongside the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, disclosed that the Ministry had requested the transfer of the Nigerian national to receive the deserved medical care and serve out his custodial term in Nigeria.

She explained that Nigeria was worried over the pace of Beninese authorities is taking to address the situation and acceding to Nigeria’s request.

She asked the Beninese authorities to consent to Nigeria’s request and accelerate the release of the detained Nigerian pastor in regards to the longstanding cordial relations existing between the two countries, founded on shared cultural heritage, bonds of trust, mutual respect, and a spirit of brotherhood,

Odumegwu-Ojukwu also disclosed that Nigeria’s position was further highlighted in a recent letter to the Republic of Benin Government.

She said: “It is against this backdrop of solidarity and mutual goodwill that I seek Your Excellency’s kind consideration regarding the plight of a Nigerian national, Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, who has been serving a custodial sentence in Cotonou since October 2023 for a jail term of 10 years. As Your Excellency may be aware, Pastor Egbaji has been in Benin Republic for over three decades, contributing meaningfully as an entrepreneur, pastor, and community leader.

“Regrettably, his health has deteriorated severely while in detention. Two independent medical experts appointed by the court recently recommended that he be transferred abroad for urgent medical care, as local interventions have proved ineffective.

“In the spirit of our longstanding friendship and in recognition of the humanitarian imperative, not being unmindful of the grievous nature of the offence he is charged with, we kindly request that Pastor Egbaji be repatriated to Nigeria to serve out the remainder of his sentence in a Nigerian Correctional Centre,” she stated.

She however reiterated that this gesture would demonstrate in practical terms the enduring spirit of fraternity and cooperation that bind Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.

Nigeria Requests Evacuation of Jailed Pastor Egbaji from Benin Republic Over Deteriorating Health

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President Tinubu Orders Reduction Of 2026 Hajj Fare

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President Tinubu Orders Reduction Of 2026 Hajj Fare

*As VP Shettima gives NAHCON 2 days to effect president’s directive

By: Our Reporter

Following the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for an immediate review of the 2026 Hajj fares, Vice President Kashim Shettima has directed the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to come up with new fares for the exercise within two days.

This, the Vice President said, had become necessary considering continued appreciation of the naira against the dollar – a primary determinant for the pilgrimage fares.

VP Shettima who handed down the President’s directive on Monday during a meeting with management and board members of NAHCON at the Presidential Villa, called for synergy among national and state officials, including state Governors, in streamlining and adopting a new set of fares for the exercise.

He aslo urged prompt action by all stakeholders to ensure quick payments and timely remittances to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to facilitate a hitch-free exercise.

Fielding questions from journalists shortly after the meeting with the VP, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadeija, said the meeting convened at the instance of the Vice President was to finalise preparations for the 2026 Hajj operations, particularly the determination of fares for the 2026 exercise.

He explained that the goal is to reduce the amount payable by pilgrims for the exercise, given the current trend in the economy occasioned by ongoing reforms being undertaken by the Tinubu administration.

He said, “Rates have continued to improve steadily, with the naira appreciating based on the effects of the economic reforms of the government. The Vice President felt that if pilgrims paid ₦8.5 million to ₦8.6 million based on negative exchange rate last year, and the exchange rate has improved, then the changes should reflect in the current fares, and the benefits should also be passed to the prospective pilgrims.

“So, the commissions and all officers of the Hajj commission are here and they have been told to immediately go to look at more realistic exchange rates. If we achieve what we envisage, then we will have a very significant reduction in the Hajj.”

On his part, Secretary of the National Hajj commission (NAHCON), Dr Mustapha Mohammad, said the President’s directive would increase the number of intending pilgrims for this year’s exercise.

“It is a welcome development and the lower the Hajj fare, the better for Muslim faithful intending to perform Hajj. So, as directed by the Vice President, we will work tirelessly between today and tomorrow to see that we reduce it to the barest minimum and affordable rate for every Muslim faithful to have the opportunity to perform this very important pillar of Islam.”

Also, the Chairman, Kebbi State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board and Deputy Chairman, Forum of the Chief Executive of 36 and the FCT Chairmen of pilgrims Board, Alhaji Faruk Aliyu Yaro, expressed delight with the presidential directive.

“We are very happy because the President and the Vice President have already intervened. We thank God for what they have said, which is expected to bring down the cost of Hajj fare. So, we are happy,” he said

President Tinubu Orders Reduction Of 2026 Hajj Fare

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