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Nigeria: UN releases additional US$ 5 million to ramp up flood response in Bauchi, Borno and Sokoto states
Nigeria: UN releases additional US$ 5 million to ramp up flood response in Bauchi, Borno and Sokoto states
By: Our Reporter
The UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has released US$5 million to scale up the flood response and address critical needs in three of the most flood affected states in Nigeria – Borno and Bauchi in the north-east, and Sokoto in the north-west.
The announcement follows the increasing impact of floods on people’s lives, livelihoods, and food security across Nigeria at the peak of the rainy season. More than 300 people have lost their lives. At least 1.2 million people are affected in 31 states, according to Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA). Thousands of hectares of cropland have been damaged ahead of harvests.
“Floods across Nigeria have created a crisis within a crisis,” United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, said. “Millions of people were already facing critical levels of food insecurity before the floods because of economic hardships that have made it exceedingly difficult for the most vulnerable to feed themselves and their families. The floods have compounded people’s suffering.”
As of mid-September, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimated that crop losses due to floods in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states were equivalent to an amount of food that could feed 1.4 million people for six months. Nationwide crop losses could feed 8.5 million people for six months. To mitigate the flood impact, there is a need for extended lean season support and a scale up of emergency agriculture activities, where possible.
The CERF funds will help humanitarian partners reach 280,000 people in Borno, Bauchi and Sokoto states with food, clean water, sanitation, and shelter support. The funds will also help to rapidly mobilise resources to bolster access to healthcare, including efforts to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera. The response will include the use of multipurpose cash assistance (MPCA) and cash for work programmes to help affected people earn an income.
The funding will also enhance protection services, including support to women and girls and services for gender-based violence (GBV), as well as support to people living with disabilities.
“This CERF allocation is a much-needed boost to the joint efforts of humanitarian partners in Nigeria in support of the Government-led response. However, the CERF funds and the previous allocation from the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund (NHF) are insufficient to meet the scale of needs. What is required right now is the immediate mobilisation of additional resources by donors, development partners and the private sector as the emergency response transitions to the recovery phase in some affected areas.”
The CERF funds complement a $6 million allocation from the NHF for the BAY states, where more than half a million people have been affected by floods. In addition to the flood impact, the BAY states are experiencing cholera outbreaks that have claimed dozens of lives at the height of a food security and malnutrition crisis that is projected to affect five million people through October. The NHF funds and resources from the US funded Rapid Response Fund, managed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), are supporting interventions in water and sanitation hygiene, shelter, and non-food items as well as MPCA in Borno. Other ongoing UN assistance includes food and nutrition assistance, emergency healthcare (including mass cholera vaccination campaigns and sexual and reproductive health services), emergency shelter and family tracing and reunification.
In Borno, which is the State most impacted by flooding, more than 400,000 people, many of them vulnerable internally displaced persons (IDPs) were displaced at the peak of flash flooding in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Jere local government areas (LGAs). A section of the Alau Dam collapsed in the middle of the night on 9 September forcing people to flee their homes with few if any belongings. This was in addition to displacement due to torrential rains and windstorms starting in August that affected tens of thousands of IDP shelters.
While the flooding has receded in MMC and Jere, there is an urgent need for protection services and sustained lifesaving assistance especially food, and clean water, and sanitation support amid cholera outbreaks for people who remain in emergency shelters. Recovery and livelihood support especially for farming households are required for those returning to their homes. Many areas experiencing ongoing flooding, such as Dikwa LGA in Borno, also need an immediate emergency response.
Nigeria: UN releases additional US$ 5 million to ramp up flood response in Bauchi, Borno and Sokoto states
PAP Scholarship Scheme Vehicle For Better Future For Niger Delta- Otuaro
By: Michael Mike
The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, has described the programme’s scholarship scheme as a major vehicle towards ensuring a better future for the Niger Delta.
He spoke at the opening ceremony for the fifth batch of the two-day “Leadership, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Mediation Training for PAP Stakeholders” organised by the Office in collaboration with the Alumni Association of the National Defence College (AANDEC) at the Nigerian Army War College, Abuja, on Thursday.
Otuaro, who declared the workshop open, said that the decision for the massive deployment of scholarship students to universities within and outside Nigeria is informed by the need to utilise formal education to build a sure future for the communities in the region.
According to him, his leadership’s focus on education is aimed at investing in the youths as a deliberate effort to equip them to be drivers of the planned prosperity, peace, stability and development of the Niger Delta in the years ahead.
He said, “We have seriously focused on education, and the scholarship programme is a proper vehicle for a better tomorrow for our region. So far, between 2024 and 2025, we have deployed over 9000 scholarship students to universities within and outside Nigeria; in-country deployment alone this year is 4500.
“These are deliberate efforts we are taking to prepare our region for tomorrow. We need to prepare the next generation for the challenges of peace, socio-economic growth, development, and security.
“If we don’t equip our youths today with education, tomorrow would not be assured. It is time to prepare for the rainy day, that is why we are deliberately investing in the education of our young ones.
“I believe that the scholarship beneficiaries will appreciate this opportunity that we are giving to them. For nearly two years, we have tried as much as possible to impact nearly all communities through the scholarship programme.”
Otuaro explained that the capacity-building workshop was organised to consolidate the PAP’s peacebuilding process in the Niger Delta in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
He told the participants that they have a great role to play in the task of deepening the peacebuilding process because they are stakeholders and leaders in their own right.
The PAP helmsman said the time had come for stakeholders to unite strongly and come together to resolve issues in the region without the involvement of outsiders.
He urged the participants to be role models for stability and peace ambassadors of President Tinubu in the Niger Delta.
He also stressed that peacebuilding should be their watchword going forward.
Otuaro expressed appreciation to Tinubu for his steadfast support for the PAP, saying that the president is pleased with the existing peace and stability in the Niger Delta.
He applauded the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his encouragement and strategic supervision of the PAP.
He further extended gratitude the management of the Nigerian Army War College, resource persons, and the leadership and membership of the AANDEC for partnering with the PAP to deepen the peacebuilding process in the region.
PAP Scholarship Scheme Vehicle For Better Future For Niger Delta- Otuaro
Police arrest three kidnappers, recover 54 AK-47 ammunition in Kwara
By: Zagazola Makama
The Kwara State Police Command has arrested three suspected kidnappers and recovered 54 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition during a patrol operation in Bani area of the state.
Sources said the arrest was made at about 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday following intelligence-led patrol by local vigilantes.
According to sources, the Vigilante Commander in Bani, Taiye Abubakar, and his team were on patrol within the Bani axis when they sighted two men riding on a Bajaj motorcycle.
The suspects were identified as Gero Mahamadu of Komi Marshallashi via Bani and Lawale Falike of Sambo Ginda via Jebba.
The sources stated that while efforts were made to stop them, Lawale Falike initially fled the scene, but Gero Mahamadu was arrested. A search conducted on him led to the recovery of 54 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition.
The sources added that during interrogation, Gero Mahamadu confessed that the ammunition was supplied by one Alhaji Shahu Fire and one Ismail Mashamari, both of Sambo Ginda via Jebba, and was to be delivered to one Manu of Ilesha Baruba for a planned kidnapping operation.
Subsequently, Lawale Falike and Alhaji Shahu Fire were arrested, while the suspects reportedly made useful confessional statements.
The police said efforts were ongoing to arrest the remaining suspects, including Manu and Ismail Mashamari, and to recover any additional arms or ammunition connected to the planned crime.
Police arrest three kidnappers, recover 54 AK-47 ammunition in Kwara
Assistant Commissioner of Police dies during duty in Ebonyi
By: Zagazola Makama
A senior police officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ogbon-Inu Taiwo Popoola, has died while in service at the Ebonyi State Police Command.
Sources said the incident occurred at about 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday during a management meeting at the Commissioner of Police’s office in Abakaliki.
According to the sources, ACP Popoola, who was the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Intelligence Department (SID), suddenly developed breathing difficulty and began gasping for breath during the meeting.
He was immediately rushed to the Police Medical Centre at the Police Headquarters, Abakaliki, where he was promptly attended to by the command’s medical personnel.
Despite efforts to resuscitate him, the officer was confirmed dead by medical doctors.
The sources said preliminary medical findings indicated that the death was due to cardiac arrest, secondary to hypertensive heart disease.
The remains of the deceased have been deposited at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital (AE-FUTHA 1) mortuary in Abakaliki.
The police described the late ACP Popoola as a dedicated officer who served the Force with commitment and professionalism.
May his soul rest in peace
Assistant Commissioner of Police dies during duty in Ebonyi
PAP Scholarship Scheme Vehicle For Better Future For Niger Delta- Otuaro
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Police arrest three kidnappers, recover 54 AK-47 ammunition in Kwara
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