School renovation: You’ve renewed our hope, Students with disabilities tell Gombe Govt, NEDC

Some students from the Special Education Centre in Gombe, have commended the Gombe State Government, and the North East Development Commission (NEDC), over ongoing renovation of their school.

The students told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe, that the move would boost access to education for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).

A NAN correspondent who visited the school, reports that there was ongoing renovation of facilities.

A visually impaired student of the Senior Secondary three class (SS3), Husseini Abubakar, said that the renovation sends a strong message of inclusion to them.

According to him, the ongoing upgrade of the school has renewed their hope in education and a better Nigeria, as emphasised by President Bola Tinubu.

“I was suprised to hear that our school is being renovated after many years of neglect.

“We had lost hope of any intervention, but see what Gombe State government and NEDC are doing; we lack words to express how we feel.

“Today, I feel that our President, Bola Tinubu’s statement of “let’s renew the hope” is being fulfilled in our school because our hope has indeed been renewed,” he said.

Another visually impaired student, Mr Ahmad Umar, noted that they use to share classrooms with junior students during the rainy season, following dilapidated classrooms.

“Some days, we prayed against rainfall so that we will not be beaten by the rain, but thank God the suffering has now ended, and a better structure is here,” he said.

He said that now, he feels relieved.

Another student with hearing disability, Mr Basesa David, who spoke through an interpreter, said he was happy that the days of cold were over

He noted that the rehabilitation of toilets facilities and regular water supply, would improve hygiene and health condition in the school.

“We are grateful, especially the female students who usually suffer severe cold from exposure and poor toilets; thank you Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State and the entire leadership of NEDC,” he said

NAN reports that the school, a specialised institution in the state, was established in 1996, to cater for children with disabilities.

The renovation project, is aimed at improving access to inclusive, equitable and quality education for PWDs, who are learners in the state and the North-East.

The centre currently has a population of 615 students

School renovation: You’ve renewed our hope, Students with disabilities tell Gombe Govt, NEDC

NAPTIP Vows Tough Crackdown on Traffickers in 2026 as 93 Convicted in 2025

By: Michael Mike

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has warned that 2026 will be an extremely difficult year for human traffickers operating in the country, as the agency intensifies its crackdown on trafficking networks across Nigeria.

The Director-General of NAPTIP, Hajiya Binta Bello made this known in Abuja while reviewing the agency’s activities in 2025 and outlining its operational plans for 2026.

Bello disclosed that in 2025, NAPTIP secured the conviction of 93 human traffickers, describing the achievement as significant given the complexity of prosecuting trafficking cases.

She also stated that the agency intercepted over 2,500 potential victims who had been deceived and recruited for various forms of exploitation within and outside Nigeria, adding that many of them were rehabilitated and reintegrated into society.

According to her, the agency’s increased surveillance and coordination among its commands led to a rise in rescues, arrests, and successful prosecutions during the year. She noted that traffickers were effectively disrupted, with several high-profile suspects arrested and convicted.

Among those apprehended were operators of some orphanages and care homes allegedly involved in trafficking and exploitation of children. Bello said over 120 suspected trafficked children were rescued from such facilities.

She further revealed that in collaboration with international partners, NAPTIP rescued more than 370 Nigerian victims from countries including Ghana, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire.

Looking ahead to 2026, the NAPTIP boss said the agency would scale up its operations by strengthening partnerships with other security agencies, civil society organizations, and development partners. She also pledged closer collaboration with federal, state, and local governments, including the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), to improve grassroots monitoring and prevention.

Bello emphasized that NAPTIP would work more closely with the legislature and judiciary to ensure stronger legal backing and faster prosecution of traffickers.

She added that within the first weeks of 2026, NAPTIP had already secured three convictions and warned that more traffickers would face jail unless they abandon their criminal activities.

The Director-General reiterated the agency’s commitment to nationwide awareness campaigns, particularly in rural communities, to reduce vulnerability and protect potential victims from traffickers.

NAPTIP Vows Tough Crackdown on Traffickers in 2026 as 93 Convicted in 2025

NEDC Deploys ₦3bn Ophthalmic Equipment, Begins Training at Maiduguri Eye Hospital

By: Michael Mike

The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has commenced a two-week Ophthalmology Equipment Set-Up and Training Programme at the Maiduguri Eye Hospital in Borno State, following the deployment of advanced eye-care equipment valued at over N3 billion.

The programme, which began on Monday, marks a major step in the Commission’s efforts to improve specialist healthcare delivery and address preventable blindness across the North-East region.

Activities on the first day included the installation, calibration, and coupling of cutting-edge ophthalmic equipment, alongside the start of hands-on technical and clinical training sessions. The exercise is aimed at ensuring the newly supplied equipment is fully operational and optimally configured for effective eye-care services.

The training is being led by Prof. Abdull Mohammed Mahdi, a Chief Consultant in Ophthalmology, with support from Dr. Abuh Sunday, also a Chief Consultant, and a multidisciplinary team of experts in ophthalmology and biomedical engineering.

Participants include consultant ophthalmologists, resident doctors, ophthalmic nurses, optometrists, and biomedical engineers from the Maiduguri Eye Hospital and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). They will receive intensive practical training on the operation, maintenance, and efficient use of the equipment.

According to the NEDC, the initiative is expected to significantly enhance the hospital’s diagnostic and surgical capacity, particularly in the management of cataract and glaucoma cases. The Commission noted that the intervention aligns with its long-term objective of transforming Maiduguri Eye Hospital into a regional centre of excellence for ophthalmic care.

In addition to the equipment deployment and training, the Commission is undertaking extensive renovation and infrastructure upgrades at the hospital to support modern clinical operations and improve patient experience.

The NEDC is also extending similar ophthalmic interventions across other states in the North-East. Of note is the ongoing construction of an ultra-modern Eye Institute at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi, which commenced last year and is scheduled for accelerated implementation this year.

Officials of the Commission described the intervention as a strategic investment that combines modern medical infrastructure with deliberate human capacity development, noting that the ₦3 billion equipment deployment and training programme will have a lasting impact on access to quality eye-care services in the region.

NEDC Deploys ₦3bn Ophthalmic Equipment, Begins Training at Maiduguri Eye Hospital