Death toll in Plateau bus attack rises to eight, 22 suspects arrested

By: Zagazola Makama

The Plateau State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of 22 suspects in connection with the deadly attack on passengers in Mangun community, Mangu Local Government Area of the state, bringing the death toll to eight.

Zagazola Makama report that the Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Command, has visited the scene of the incident as part of intensified efforts to apprehend all culprits and bring them to justice.

An updated eyewitness account revealed that the targeted vehicle was conveying 31 passengers from Zaria to Qua’an Pan for a wedding ceremony not 28 passengers as initially reported. The witness further disclosed that three persons are still missing as of the time of reporting.

Police authorities through its Public Relations Officer, Alabo Alfred, confirmed that 22 suspects have so far been arrested in connection with the attack. Meanwhile, efforts are being redoubled to track down other fleeing perpetrators and to ensure the safe rescue of the missing persons.

One of the injured victims, earlier receiving treatment, was confirmed dead in the early hours of Saturday, raising the official casualty figure to eight.

In a show of leadership and empathy, the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, contacted his Kaduna State counterpart, Sen Uba Sani and engaged directly with the bereaved families. Following consultations, the families agreed that the remains of the victims be buried in Mangu, Plateau State.

The Plateau State Government and security agencies have assured that no stone will be left unturned in ensuring justice for the victims and in preventing further escalation of violence in the region.

Death toll in Plateau bus attack rises to eight, 22 suspects arrested

NUJ Awards Zulum Media Friendly Governor

…Commends Journalists for Objective Reportage

By: Our Reporter

The Nigerian Union of Journalists has awarded Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, with the prestigious media friendly award.

The event was held on Saturday at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Conference Centre, Abuja, to mark the 70th anniversary of the Union.

Governor Zulum is a multiple award recipient owing to his outstanding achievements and style of leadership including the NUJ Good Governance Award, 2024; NUJ most promising first term governor in 2019; Forbes Magazine African Leadership Award, 2024, among several others.

In his remark shortly after receiving the award, Governor Zulum, represented by his acting Chief of Staff, Dr. Babagana Mallumbe, expressed gratitude to the Union for the recognition bestowed on him as the “Media-Friendly Governor”.

“This award is not just an accolade for me personally, but a testament to the thriving partnership between Borno State Government and the media. It underscores our unwavering commitment to fostering an environment where a free, vibrant and responsible press can flourish,” Zulum stated.

He remarked that the NUJ, for seven decades, has stood as a bulwark for truth, a voice for the voiceless, and a critical pillar of our democracy, performing their core function of informing, educating and holding leadership accountable, which has in a no small measure shaped the nation’s narrative and guide its progress.

“In Borno State, we have witnessed firsthand the invaluable role journalists play, often at great personal risk, in bringing to light the challenges we face and celebrate our resilience,” he stressed.

Zulum described the media as an ‘indispensable ally’, emphasizing that their objective reportage helps to communicate his administration’s effort, address misconceptions, and gather vital feedback from the populace. We believe that a well-informed citizenry is essential for good governance and sustainable development.

“On this significant anniversary, i reaffirmed my commitment to supporting the media in Borno State and beyond. I congratulate the NUJ on 70 years of impactful service to Nigeria. May your noble profession continue to thrive, and may you continue to be a beacon of truth and integrity,” the governor added.

The governor also used the opportunity to urge the NUJ and media professionals to take full advantage of Artificial Intelligence (AI), especially in the areas of automation of routine tasks, personalization and audience engagement, efficiency and speed, and be wary of misinformation, disinformation and ethical concerns.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi, who represented President Bola Tinubu pledged to continue to uphold the principles of freedom of speech and the media.

“I want to reassure you, that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will continue to uphold and advance policies that promote media freedom and to partner with NUJ to changing media landscape in the country,” he promised.

The acting Chief of Staff was accompanied by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dauda Iliya, and the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Information and Internal Security, Alhaji Aminu Chamalwa.

The NUJ at 70 anniversary award was graced by many distinguished personalities including deputy governors of Kano, Bauchi, Oyo and Ondo states, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, Heads of federal media establishments, past presidents of the Union, veteran journalists and media professionals across the country.

NUJ Awards Zulum Media Friendly Governor

Tinubu: Businesses in West Africa Cannot Reach Full Potential with Fragmented Markets
Calls for Greater Economic Integration

By: Michael Mike

President Bola Tinubu has called for greater economic integration in West Africa, insisting that the region’s businesses cannot reach their full potential if markets remain fragmented.

The Nigeria’s President while lamenting that West Africa’s intra-regional trade remains a challenge at 10%, noted that this figure can no longer be ignored.

Speaking at the West Africa Economic Summit, Tinubu said, “Intra regional trade remains at 10%, a challenge you can no longer ignore. The low trade is not due to a failure of will, but a failure of coordination.”

The President noted that West Africa is one of the last great frontiers of economic growth, but however added that opportunity alone does not guarantee transformation.

He said: “Opportunities, not just wishful thinking, we must earn it through vision integration, policy coherence, collaboration, and capital alignment.”

The Nigerian President called for collective action, investment in infrastructure, and coordinated policies to drive growth, stating that: “We must together strengthen our regional value chains, invest in infrastructure and coordinate our policies.”

He stated that the region’s greatest asset is its youthful population, but however said this demographic promise can quickly become a liability if not matched by investments in education, digital infrastructure, innovation, and productive enterprise.

He said: “Our prosperity depends on regional supply chains, energy networks and data frameworks. We must design them together, or they will collate separately,” he said.

Tinubu, while citing the examples of joint projects that demonstrate what is possible when West African countries work together, said include the Lagos-Abidjan highway and West African power pool. “We must move from declarations to concrete deals, from policy frameworks to practical implementation,” he urged.

The President also stressed the need for West Africa to become more competitive and resilient, investing in local processing and regional manufacturing to unlock the region’s mineral wealth. He said: “The era of ‘from pit to port’ must end. We must turn our mineral wealth into domestic economic value, jobs, technology, and manufacture.”

He called for actionable outcomes from the summit, including a renewed commitment to ease of doing business, enhanced inter-regional trade, improved infrastructure, and innovative ideas to drive growth and prosperity.

He pleaded that: “Let us build a West Africa that is investable, competitive and resilient, one that lives with vision, responsibility and unity.”

On his part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, reiterated the region’s potential for growth and development.

He said: “We’re here today to build on that enabling environment. We’re not reinventing the wheel. As an economic community, West Africa enjoys freedom of movement and a framework to facilitate trade, pool electricity, and integrate transport corridors.”

Tuggar however said West Africa’s economic trajectory is unsustainable, with only 8.6% of the region’s $166 billion exports in 2024 remaining within its borders.

He noted that: “Imports followed the same pattern, heavily tilted toward partners outside the continent. Machinery and manufactured goods from China, India, the United States, and the European Union dominate our import flows while we continue to export and process raw materials.”

Tuggar however called for more efforts to bring the informal sector into the formal economy, leveraging economies of scale and efficiencies to accelerate growth.

He said: “As governments, as states, and the region, we need to do more to make it easy to bring that activity within the formal sector,” he said.

He stressed the importance of local processing and investment in the region. “Bring that investment, bring that local processing, let’s see our transport, economic infrastructure and other building blocks for prosperity grow,” he asked .

Tuggar expressed optimism about the region’s potential, citing its rich natural resources and youthful population. He said: “West Africa can and should be part of this.

He said: “I read a couple of weeks ago in an American newspaper that China had a monopoly on some of the rare minerals vital to the new industry in which the future will be built. Not so. We have those same minerals here in Nigeria and across the region.”

Also speaking, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Jumoke Oduwole said, West Africa is poised to become a formidable economic bloc, capable of attracting capital, scaling industries, and delivering measurable outcomes across borders

The Minister claimed that Nigeria has made bold decisions under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, including exchange rate reforms, removing false subsidies, and aligning the economy to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA).

She said: “These reforms are yielding results, with Nigeria’s non-oil exports rising to $1.8 billion in Q1, a 24% increase over the same period last year.”

Oduwole cited several initiatives that demonstrate Nigeria’s commitment to regional integration and shared prosperity.

“Nigeria has reset its AFCFTA provisional schedule of tariff concessions, affirming its readiness to trade under a common African market.

“The country has also been designated as Africa’s co-champion on digital trade, with President Tinubu playing a pivotal role in the sector. Additionally, the National Talent Export Program (NATEP) has been launched, placing over 2,000 young Nigerians in international remote jobs and earning hard currency.”

“Furthermore, a new air cargo trade corridor has been opened with Eastern African countries, enabled with a market intelligence toolkit for their products, in collaboration with Uganda Air and UNDP.”

She also announced a landmark public-private partnership, the National Export Trading Company, aimed at aggregating, financing, and enabling exports of Nigerian commodities efficiently and competitively.

This initiative will create a pathway for farmers and MSMEs to access formal regional and global markets.

“The West Africa Economic Summit’s deal room showcased nearly $1 billion in live transactions, with over $400 million worth of transactions advancing into investor discussions.”

Oduwole commended the Minister of Foreign Affairs and his team for delivering a world-class summit, saying, “West Africa is open for business. The world is watching and is here with us. Let this summit be a prosperous turning point for us all.”

Tinubu: Businesses in West Africa Cannot Reach Full Potential with Fragmented Markets
Calls for Greater Economic Integration