National News
IOM, Northeast Govs to Build Permanent Homes For Displaced Persons

IOM, Northeast Govs to Build Permanent Homes For Displaced Persons
By: Michael Mike
Governors of the northeast states have agreed to continue the partnership with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), an agency of United Nations, and other stakeholders to build more houses for people who were displaced from their homes following the prolonged Boko Haram insurgency.
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, made the commitment on behalf of his two colleagues, whose states of Adamawa and Yobe along with his state were the most affected by the insurgency.
Zulum, in his remarks during the presentation of awards to winners of the inaugural Housing Design Competition tagged “Home After Crisis” in Abuja on Thursday, said the states were ready for the collaboration to get those affected by the crisis get a place they can truly call home.

The governor told reporters in an interview that the security situation in his state has improved by 90%, adding that there are many safe areas to construct more affordable housing units for the displaced person.
He said the governors of the northeast states “will provide the political leadership to partner with the IOM and the other organisations to build more homes for displaced communities.”
Zulum while commending the IOM, which has so far constructed housing units to accommodate 9,000 people in the region, stressed that the effort is aimed at restoring dignity and stability to those that went “through unimaginable hardship.”
On his part, the IOM Chief of Mission to Nigeria, Laurent De Boeck, in his address said the aim of the project is to deliver life-saving responses that support the transition of vulnerable communities out of humanitarian assistance and towards development programmes.
He said: “Since 2015, the northeast of Nigeria has faced escalating violence, leading to an unprecedented housing emergency. As of 2023, an estimated 3.5 million people had lost their homes or lived in precarious conditions.
“Nigeria currently experiences an acute housing deficit, estimated at around 23 million, requiring the construction of one million housing units annually for the next 20 years. At the IOM, we commit to support the government and the people of Nigeria to increase the current production rate of housing construction with the private sector.”
He noted that to address this, IOM Nigeria is actively working to overcome the shelter emergency with a durable housing strategy, adding that the objective is to move beyond merely providing housing units and embrace the concepts of providing a home in line with the IOM Strategy for Nigeria 2023-2027.
The “Home After Crisis” brought together 1600 designers, architects and engineers from across 100 countries and a quarter of them were Nigerians. The experts have developed 250 design proposals for low-cost and innovative housing.
The Housing competition targeted the housing challenges linked to Nigeria’s rapidly growing population and aim to provide access to affordable housing units, built with the goal of delivering climate-proof housing with local materials.
Laurent De Boeck said: “It paves the way to engage the world in addressing these challenges. They provide a route towards integrating development programmes with humanitarian response. Above all, it is crucial that it ensures that No One is Left Behind, as we transition away from crises where safety and conditions prevail.
“It provides those affected by displacement with a home that is integrated with their natural environment and the stepping stones to engage with local and national development plans. It respects the culture and the social fabric which makes the society a safe haven, where communities live peacefully together, linking generations, persons interacting with each other,” he said.
IOM Strategy for Nigeria 2023-2027 emphasizes that “Nigeria’s overall strategic objective is to support the Government of Nigeria and relevant actors in governing migration effectively to maximize its positive impact while minimizing its potential costs on all migrants and society”.
The 2023 “Home After Crisis” design competition, funded by the Nigerian Humanitarian Fund (NHF), produced three main winners( First, Second and Third) and others who went home with cash prizes totaling 12,000 Euros.
The First Prize of 5,000 Euros went to the group that designed ‘New Home New Beginning’ the second prize of 3,000 Euros went to the group that designed ‘Zuhura Zuhair’ while the third prize of 2,000 Euros went to the group that designed ‘Homing Scheme’.
IOM, Northeast Govs to Build Permanent Homes For Displaced Persons
National News
Unidentified visitor dies suddenly at Niger Government House Lodge

Unidentified visitor dies suddenly at Niger Government House Lodge
By: Zagazola Makama
The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the sudden death of an unidentified man who collapsed and died at Government House Lodge, Minna. Zagazola learnt that the incident occurred on Friday, Aug. 2, 2025.
Sources said that the deceased had visited House No. 8, Government House Lodge, in an attempt to see Mr. Sammy, Chairman of Niger Foods. However, upon meeting his host’s absence, the man suddenly took ill.
Medical doctors were reportedly contacted from the IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna, for urgent attention. Unfortunately, by the time the doctor arrived, the man had already passed away.
Following the report, a team of police operatives from GRA Division visited the scene. The body was photographed and evacuated to the IBB Specialist Hospital Mortuary for autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
Unidentified visitor dies suddenly at Niger Government House Lodge
National News
Bauchi Guber: Sen Buba accepts calls by Bauchi North APC members to contest in 2027

Bauchi Guber: Sen Buba accepts calls by Bauchi North APC members to contest in 2027
By Amina Ahmed Dankawuwa
The Senator representing Bauchi South at the national assembly, Senator Shehu Buba Umar has accepted the calls by the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bauchi North Senatorial District to contest for Governorship come 2027.
The Director General of the campaign for the actualisation of Sen Buba’s Gubernatorial ambition, Alhaji Muhammad Sade (Usman) accepted the calls on behalf of the Senator during a town hall meeting held on Saturday by the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bauchi North Senatorial in Azare.
He appealed to members of APC to maintain peace with all other aspirants within the party.
“Let’s respect other aspirants, such that anybody who win the primary election can have will be assisted by others, so we must value and respect each other”, he reasoned.
Muhammad Sade also called on party members to commence looking for delegates for ahead of the party primaries.
“It is now that we have to look for those that have votes. I call on our esteemed supporters to start mobilizing for delegate”, he emphasized.
He also advised social media handlers (citizens journalist) to avoid creating problems for personal gain, adding that social media some times create a lot of problem within and out side the party endorsed Senator representing Bauchi South, Senator Shehu Buba Umar for Bauchi Governor come 2027.
Baushe Daily Times reports that members of the APC gathered in thousands during the meeting in Azare during which they unanimously agreed to support Senator Shehu Buba for Governor come 2027.
Earlier in a welcoming address, former majority leader in the Bauchi state house of assembly, Hon Tijjani Mohammed Aliyu, the choice to support Sen Shehu buba Umar’s Governorship ambition was due to his concern and care he has for the people of Bauchi state.
“He respects us, he values our people politically and he also call on party members to respect each other because politics shouldn’t be considered as a do or die affair”, he said.
Also speaking, Alhaji Bashir Bukar Rimin Zayam charged the youth to cast their votes for the youth only and avoid voting older politicians who will always be going abroad for medical attention.
He therefore, appealed to members of APC to mobilised people to support Sen Shehu Buba for Governor.
Among those who attended the town hall meeting include state assembly member Azare/Madangala Hon Zakariyya sale maigero, comr sabo Mohammed S A to Sen Shehu Buba on media and communication, Hon kasuwa Shehu Damana, Hon Adamu Fanta Misau, Hon maiwada Misau,Hon Mohammed Hassan, Barr Muktar Umar, Alhaji Nura Adamu among others.
Bauchi Guber: Sen Buba accepts calls by Bauchi North APC members to contest in 2027
National News
NHRC: Closure of Badeggi Radio, A Suppression of Press Freedom, Affront to Democracy

NHRC: Closure of Badeggi Radio, A Suppression of Press Freedom, Affront to Democracy
By: Michael Mike
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has condemned in strong terms the closure of Badeggi Radio in Niger State by the State Governor Mohammed Bago, discribing it as not only a suppression of press freedom but an affront to democracy.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission Dr Tony Ojukwu, condemned the action while reacting to the ugly incident. He said the governor’s decision to shut down the radio station without following due process is disappointing and a clear violation of the right to freedom of expression, as guaranteed by Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Ojukwu noted that the consequences of suppressing press freedom are far-reaching and can lead to increased government opacity, reduced citizen participation, creat obstacles to accountability, and weakening of democratic institutions.
He said: “The arbitrary shutdown of media outlets undermines the checks and balances essential to a functioning democracy.”
He called on Governor Bago to immediately unseal the Radio Station and allow it to resume full operations, asking him to channel issues concerning any alleged unconstitutional operations of the Radio Station to the appropriate authority and not act with impunity.
He said: “This is both a moral imperative and a democratic requirement.”
Ojukwu who is also the president of the Network of National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa ( NNHRI-WA) urged the governments to protect journalists and media freedom, foster a culture of tolerance, and support independent media. “Journalists must be able to operate without fear of harassment, intimidation, or violence,” He emphasized.
He lamented that the media has severally come under attack in various forms, a situation he termed as unacceptable in a civilized society.
He called on the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to be firm in carrying out its Statutory mandate which must not be abused at any slight opportunity.
He used the opportunity to ask media practitioners to be professional at all times in order to prevent needless censorship by political office holders.
He also called on Nigerian Guild of Editors to provide professional guidance at regular intervals as this will curb the use of hate speech, fake news and other unprofessional conducts capable of adversely affecting the media houses.
He insisted that the Commission remains committed to promoting and protecting human rights in Nigeria and would continue to monitor the situation closely.
NHRC: Closure of Badeggi Radio, A Suppression of Press Freedom, Affront to Democracy
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