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IOM, Northeast Govs to Build Permanent Homes For Displaced Persons

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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

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FG Plans Nationwide Audit Of Skills Centres To Transform Workforce

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FG Plans Nationwide Audit Of Skills Centres To Transform Workforce

** As VP Shettima demands urgent action to bridge nation’s skills gap

By: Our Reporter

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for immediate and united action to close Nigeria’s widening skills gap, describing it as a national priority critical to economic transformation.

This is just as the federal government has hinted at a proposal for the review of existing skills training centres across several Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government to align their work and functions with national development goals.

The Vice President, who spoke on Thursday during the 6th meeting of the National Council on Skills (NCS) at the Presidential Villa, noted that the council’s mandate is to develop a strategic workforce capable of meeting Nigeria’s evolving economic demands.

“What binds us together supersedes whatever divides us. We have to make this country work. We need to fill in the skills gap,” he said.

VP Shettima pointed out that the council has a mission to strategically position Nigeria’s workforce to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving economy.

“This council was established with a clear mandate to drive the strategic development of the skilled workforce that can contribute meaningfully to national growth and prosperity,” he added.

The Vice President described the session as an open forum where positions were aired and important decisions were taken, emphasising that stakeholder engagement, consensus-building, and decisive leadership are essential to fixing Nigeria’s skills and employment crisis.

A major highlight of the meeting was the proposal for a National Skills Infrastructure Audit to create a centralised database of all training facilities, verify their functionality, and identify gaps or overlaps in infrastructure.

“The government’s policy trajectory is to strengthen human capital development for national growth and industry through skills development. However, unless the skills infrastructure across MDAs is optimised, this vision will remain unattainable,” the council noted.

The audit will also involve physical verification of centres and a detailed cataloguing of operational training facilities, ensuring alignment with national occupational standards and labour market needs.

Earlier, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa made a presentation on the National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP), an initiative aimed at training 10,000 artisans annually in high-demand construction trades.

The programme is designed to formalise Nigeria’s informal artisan sector by providing certification and onboarding qualified artisans onto a Digital Artisan Marketplace.

“The overall goal of NASAP is to establish a reliable and competent artisan workforce to drive the Ministry’s housing and infrastructure agenda while empowering Nigeria’s youth with employable skills,” the Minister said.

He noted that NASAP seeks to tackle youth unemployment while simultaneously addressing the skilled labour shortage in the construction sector, just as he said it is projected to have a significant impact on both job creation and long-term infrastructure development.

FG Plans Nationwide Audit Of Skills Centres To Transform Workforce

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Army intercepts railway vandals in Yobe, arrests 8 suspects including 5 NSCDC personnel

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Army intercepts railway vandals in Yobe, arrests 8 suspects including 5 NSCDC personnel

By: Zagazola Makama

The Nigerian Army troops of Sector 2, Operation Hadin Kai in Yobe have intercepted a truck loaded with suspected vandalised iron railway sleepers and arrested eight suspects, including five personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), during a targeted operation in Katarko area of Gujba Local Government Area.

Zagazola Makama gathered that the operation, which took place on July 8 at about 4:00 p.m., followed credible intelligence about the movement of vandalised railway materials.

The truck, was intercepted while en route to Damaturu. A Hilux vehicle marked NSCDC CD 234 A, believed to be providing escort for the illegal consignment, was also impounded.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the railway materials were vandalised from a section of the tracks around Kukuwa, also in Gujba LGA.

Further findings revealed that the arrested NSCDC officers were allegedly invited by the vandals to provide safe passage in exchange for monetary compensation.

A cash sum of ₦128,500, believed to be proceeds of the illegal escort, was recovered from one of the NSCDC officers. The money was reportedly concealed in his inner clothing.

The suspects and exhibits have been handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Damaturu for further investigation. An anti-bomb squad has also been directed to sweep the recovered materials to ensure public safety.

Authorities say investigations are ongoing and all those found culpable will be prosecuted accordingly.

Army intercepts railway vandals in Yobe, arrests 8 suspects including 5 NSCDC personnel

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NHRC: Over 320,000 Human Rights Violations Complaints Received in June

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NHRC: Over 320,000 Human Rights Violations Complaints Received in June

By: Michael Mike

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has decried the rising incident of human rights violation in the country, stating that last alone over 320,000 cases were reported across the country.

Speaking during the presentation of June 2025 Human Rights Situation Dashboard in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu said: “In the month of June, we received 327,154 complaints reflecting another sharp increase in human rights violations, each one a desperate plea for justice and a stark reminder of how much work remains to be done.”

He lamented that: “Every month, when we gather to present this human rights dashboard, we are confronted with a sobering reality of the lived realities of those affected by violence, injustice, discrimination, and systemic neglect. These numbers compel us to reflect deeply on our collective responsibility and ask ourselves the difficult question: Are we doing enough? The events of June 2025 demand not just reflection, but an honest and urgent response.”

He said: “Last month, Nigeria witnessed a harrowing surge in violent attacks, with devastating consequences for affected communities and our national conscience. Among the most tragic incidents were the brutal assaults on the Yelewata and Dauda communities in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, where over 200 innocent lives were lost. These were not mere figures on a report; they were fathers, mothers, children, and breadwinners; families torn apart, livelihoods destroyed, and futures extinguished in moments of senseless brutality.

“Equally alarming is the rising trend of attacks against law enforcement and local security forces. In Kaduna and Niger States, more than 17 soldiers were killed in coordinated attacks, further destabilizing already fragile regions. Equally distressing was the massacre of over 40 members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Ruggar Chida, brave individuals who stood on the frontlines to protect their communities, only to pay the ultimate price.

“Their deaths leave a void in local security structures, rendering civilians even more exposed to further violence.”

Ojukwu noted that: “The wave of insecurity plaguing our highways has also intensified. In June alone, more than 50 travellers were abducted along major transit routes in Kogi and Benue States. These are not isolated criminal acts; they represent a direct assault on the fundamental rights to freedom of movement, economic participation, and personal dignity. These abductions inflicts lasting trauma on victims and their families while further eroding public trust in the safety of our roads. This pattern of violence marked by impunity, fear, and systemic failure highlights a grave deficit in protection and accountability.”

He added that: “In the month of June, we received 327,154 complaints reflecting another sharp increase in human rights violations, each one a desperate plea for justice and a stark reminder of how much work remains to be done.

“To the government, we reiterate the need for decisive and coordinated security interventions. To civil society and the media, we urge sustained advocacy and amplification of these issues. To our development partners, we call for strengthened collaboration in addressing the root causes of these issues. This dashboard must not merely serve as a record of tragedies; it must be a catalyst for meaningful and sustainable change.

“Let us never forget; every complaint documented, every statistic recorded in these dashboards represents a Nigerian citizen, a fellow human being seeking justice, safety, and the fulfilment of their basic rights.

“The National Human Rights Commission remains unwavering in its mandate to promote, protect, and enforce human rights across Nigeria. We will forge ahead with purposeful and sustained action.”

NHRC: Over 320,000 Human Rights Violations Complaints Received in June

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