News
IWD: EU-IIDEA, FG strategize to improve lives of vulnerable citizens

IWD: EU-IIDEA, FG strategize to improve lives of vulnerable citizens
By: Michael Mike
Worried over the low level of women, children and Persons With Disabilities, (PWD), inclusion in the nations affairs, stakeholders have converged to strategize on way forward in advocating for the vulnerable citizens in Nigeria.
The stakeholders at the second annual conference of Commissioners of State Ministries of Women Affairs noted that, achieving gender equality involved transforming social norms and power dynamics that supported the political, social and economic empowerment of the most marginalised and vulnerable, particularly women , children and PWD.

The 2nd Annual Conference of Commissioners of State Ministries of Women Affairs with the theme: Sub-National Policy and Practice for Enhancing Rights, Protection, and Justice for Women, Children, and Persons with Disabilities, is organised by the European Union-Union-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC-Phase II) Programme of International IDEA in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.
Minister Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim represented by her Senior Special Assistance,(SSA) on Women and Community Engagement, Princess Joan Jummai Idonije said the theme for this year, “accelerate action” is apt as there is need for renewed commitment, and bold action to tackle the issues of gender parity.
Suleiman-Ibrahim reiterated the need to critically evaluate the effectiveness of Nigeria’s policies and governance structures to ensure that collective interventions yield tangible and measurable impact, particularly at the sub-national level where the needs are most acute.
“We must ensure that every intervention is tracked, evaluated, and reported. Investing in state-level gender data systems will enable us to measure progress and feed into the national Women’s Empowerment and Protection Dashboard — ensuring accountability and transparency in our collective efforts.
“The success of our policies will not be measured by the frameworks we create but by the lives we transform. We must break down silos and foster collaborative partnerships that amplify impact at every level. This is the time to forge bold, practical, and scalable solutions that accelerate progress for women, children, and persons with disabilities across Nigeria,” she stressed.
She expressed appreciation to RoLAC, and other development partners who continue to champion the cause of women, children, and vulnerable groups. Commending the State Commissioners for Women Affairs for their leadership and unwavering dedication to advancing gender equality at the sub-national level.
Also, Head of Programme Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption RoLAC Programme, Danladi Plang, tasked state Commissioners on the need to pursue the enactment and implementation of relevant laws for women, children and PWD.
Plang called on relevant authorities to make available, resource allocations and investment for the sector to thrive beyond the rhetorics before the next election circle.
He said, “the core objectives of the Rule of Law Programme is to increase access to justice for women, children and persons with disabilities. Since 2017, in support of the European Union, we have been implementing this programme across five states in Phase 1 and currently we are working in seven states and the FCT.
“We have worked with our partners to do a number of things. Critical amongst them is some of the legislation that we have supported the various states to put, child protection law or what we know as the child rights law in some of the states, the VAPP law in some states and then the law that protects or prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities.
“The Ministries, in particular the commissioners, play a very big standard role to serve as catalysts, to change, to also serve as coordinators of implementation of policies in the states, but more importantly to serve as influencers within the cabinet.
Speaking on the sidelines with reporters at the event, Plang disclosed that, the survivors of about 8000 have been assisted by the SARCs. “Last year we commission NCPWD to ensure that building are accessible, especially office buildings.
Ensure advocacy, with the Commissioners as they are in the states and when they do not have the laws, they are able to see the benefits of those that have and discuss with their governors. Through the Nigerian governors forum so that they can plan together and know what their counterparts are doing and learn to move the agenda forward.”
In the same view, Project Manager, Access to Justice RoLAC Programme, Oluwatoyosi Giwa while setting the tone and objectives, said the conference is poised at initiating narratives that will have direct impact and benefit for vulnerable citizens.
“We hope that by the end of these three days, you will have action plans derived from the different presentations that have been made of things that you can go back and implement and that will make a difference in the lives of women, of children and of persons with disabilities in your various locations.
“Let us speak our truth and let us share our experience so that we can learn from each other and so that we can take back something tangible to go and make change in our various spaces.”
The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, for his part, noted that, almost all the Nigerian states have enacted the law but yet to implement.
He said, We need to explore these talents that women have. When you leave aside half of the population, you will miss specific talents that. Mixed groups with both women and men are more efficient than groups with only women or only men and this is very true for politics as well.
IWD: EU-IIDEA, FG strategize to improve lives of vulnerable citizens
News
Police rescue eight kidnapped victims, confirm one dead in Katsina

Police rescue eight kidnapped victims, confirm one dead in Katsina
By: Zagazola Makama
The Police Command in Katsina State says its operatives have foiled a kidnapping attempt, rescued eight victims and confirmed the death of one person in Dandume Local Government Area.
Zagazola Makama learnt that on Friday night, yet-to-be identified armed men laid an ambush along Funtua–Mahuta road and opened fire on a moving Golf vehicle with registration number EDT 693 AA, apparently intending to kidnap the occupants.
Sources said that the driver lost control of the vehicle which veered into a farmland.
“APC patrol teams promptly responded, cordoned off the area and engaged the hoodlums in an exchange of fire, thereby rescuing eight victims unhurt,” the sources said.
The sources dded that three other passengers sustained various degrees of gunshot injuries and were rushed to General Hospital, Dandume, where one of them was later confirmed dead.
The sources further said that search and rescue operations were ongoing to trace other passengers who might have scattered into nearby farms during the attack.
Police rescue eight kidnapped victims, confirm one dead in Katsina
News
Troops neutralise terrorist, recover AK47 in ambush near Buni Gari

Troops neutralise terrorist, recover AK47 in ambush near Buni Gari
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 2, Operation Hadin Kai, in collaboration with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), have neutralised a terrorist in a long-range ambush around Ndoksa village near Buni Gari, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama on Saturday that the ambush was conducted following intelligence on the movement of terrorists in the axis.

The source said the troops killed one terrorist during the operation and recovered an AK-47 rifle and two motorcycles.
“The successful ambush is part of the ongoing aggressive operations to deny terrorists freedom of movement, disrupt their logistics, and safeguard communities in the North East,” the source said.
Troops neutralise terrorist, recover AK47 in ambush near Buni Gari
Crime
Troops ambush, neutralise two terrorists in Bama, recover weapons

Troops ambush, neutralise two terrorists in Bama, recover weapons
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised two terrorists in a successful ambush at Dipchari, near Banki Junction in Bama Local Government Area of Borno.
The ambush, conducted by troops of 151 Task Force Battalion on Friday evening, followed intelligence on terrorist movements in the area, according to a special situation report from the Headquarters 7 Division, Nigerian Army, on Saturday in Maiduguri.

During the encounter, the troops killed two insurgents while others fled with possible gunshot wounds.
Recovered items include two AK-47 rifles, two magazines, 16 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one RPG tube, and a motorcycle.

Operation Hadin Kai troops have intensified clearance operations, ambushes, and patrols across the North East in recent weeks, aimed at denying terrorists freedom of movement and access to logistics.
Troops ambush, neutralise two terrorists in Bama, recover weapons
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