Northeast
Over 500,000 people to benefit from new humanitarian package in Northeast

Over 500,000 people to benefit from new humanitarian package in Northeast
By: James Bwala
German Government, WFP, UNICEF has launched €40m resilience and essential services support in north-east Nigeria. This was to support over 500,000 conflict-affected people in the northeast by enhancing peace, increasing livelihood opportunities and providing education, health, nutrition, child protection, and sanitation support to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable populations in Borno and Yobe States.
A statement from UN Agency made available to NEWSng on Thursday said children 0-23 months, pregnant women, school-age children, adolescent girls, female-headed households, and people with disability will be targeted under the Resilience and Social Cohesion project to be implemented for three years by the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF.
“The multi-year project will leverage ongoing humanitarian support in Bade Local Government Area (LGA) of Yobe State and Shani LGA of Borno State, while also providing multisectoral interventions to address drivers of conflict and fragility. The project will support the strengthening of local governance structures to promote social cohesion through community-based processes and the capacity building of Government partners.” The statement said.
It further stated that now in its thirteenth year, armed conflict in north-east Nigeria has levelled communities, destroyed livelihoods, and disrupted essential services for children and adults. Protracted insecurity, high food prices and COVID-19 lockdowns have put more than 4 million people in need of food assistance. The situation is further exacerbated by a severe impact of violence and unrest on family income, mental health, nutrition, education and other child protection concerns. Across the region, 1.14 million children are acutely malnourished at a scale not seen since 2018.
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“This is a pathway to peace and sustainable development,’’ said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria. “Children and other vulnerable groups will have a lifeline and an opportunity to survive and thrive in communities where livelihood and peace building activities are present’’.
“Conflict in any region is potential instability in the rest of the world. UNICEF is grateful to the German Government for supporting pathways to child survival and peace in north-east Nigeria,’’ said Peter Hawkins.
The Resilience and Social Cohesion programme will contribute to seven Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of poverty eradication, zero hunger, access to quality education, gender equality, good health and wellbeing, climate action, peace, justice and strong institutions as well as partnership for goals.
The new programme which will focus on peace building, governance capacity strengthening, sustainable livelihood creation, restoration of infrastructures, and provision of life-saving services to 156,888 direct beneficiaries and 362,307 indirect beneficiaries in both LGAs.
“WFP welcomes this timely and generous support from the Government and people of Germany. This project will support people and communities facing the peril of conflict and hunger in northeast Nigeria, especially in Borno and Yobe states,” said Ms. Simone Parchment, Deputy Country Director and Officer in Charge, the World Food Programme Country Office, Nigeria.
“In these affected states, persistent conflict, climate shocks, high food prices and reduced household purchasing power undermine people’s ability to feed themselves and sustain their livelihoods. This contribution from the Government of Germany will go a long way in building resilience, social cohesion and peace in the affected communities”.
Over 500,000 people to benefit from new humanitarian package in Northeast
News
ACReSAL, NUJ sensitise 100 journalists to climate change, environmental reporting skills

ACReSAL, NUJ sensitise 100 journalists to climate change, environmental reporting skills
The Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, on Monday, trained 100 journalists to enhance coverage of climate change and environmental issues in Gombe State.
The one-day capacity building exercise is being implemented in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), aimed at raising awareness on land restoration and sustainable landscape management.
ACReSAL is a World Bank financed project designed to tackle the pressing issues of land degradation and climate change in 19 states in northern Nigeria.
Dr Sani Jauro, State Coordinator, ACReSAL, described journalists as critical stakeholders in efforts towards reclaiming degraded lands and ensuring sustainable landscape management.
He said the training aimed at improving journalists’ understanding of climate related issues to help them communicate the challenges and solutions effectively to the public.
Jauro expressed optimism that the training would enhance the skills and knowledge of media practitioners in reporting ACRESAL, environmental and climate change issues.
The coordinator commended Gov. Inuwa Yahaya for his support in addressing environmental related issues, to improve lives and protect livelihoods of communities threatened by land degradation.
He also lauded the media support in the implementation of ACReSAL project through accurate reportage, and urged them to sustain the feat to promote community ownership of ACReSAL project.
NUJ Chairman, Faruk Muazu, lauded ACReSAL and Jewel Environmental Initiatives (JEI), the implementing partner, for their efforts at upskilling journalists.
Muazu urged other government bodies to partner with the organisation to train journalists on issues that would enhance development in Gombe State.
“This training will help improve the quality of conversations around climate change, land restoration and environmental issues across the state.
“It will ensure that the media becomes adequately informed about climate change related issues across the state,” he said.
Mr Ismail Bima, Project Coordinator, JEI, also urged journalists to prioritise environmental and climate change reportage to promote sustainable environment.
Represented by Danladi Aliyu, an official of JEI, Bima said awareness creation on ACReSAL project, government and stakeholders investment would build sustainability culture among residents.
One of the participants, Chika Udenkwo, commended the gesture, adding it would expose journalists better skills to report environmental issues and climate change.
ACReSAL, NUJ sensitise 100 journalists to climate change, environmental reporting skills
News
FRSC launches Ember Months campaign in Gombe

FRSC launches Ember Months campaign in Gombe
The Gombe State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps has launched the 2025 Ember Months campaign in the state, stating that 87 deaths were recorded between January and September 2025.
The Gombe Sector Commander, FRSC, Mr Samson Kaura stated this at the Command’s state headquarters in Lafiyawo community in Akko LGA of Gombe State on Monday.
Speaking at a news conference to flag off the 2025 Ember Months in the state, Kaura said that 870 persons sustained varying degrees of injuries, while 579 went home unhurt.
He said that 319 vehicles were involved in the crash comprising 146 motorcycle/tricycles, 90 cars and buses and 83 pickups and others.
He said that 233 road crashes involving 1536 people in the state were recorded within the period under review.
He attributed the suspected causes of the crashes to over-speeding, dangerous driving, route violation and over-loading, among others.
“I want to use this medium to call on motorists to adhere to traffic rules during this year’s Ember Months.
“Don’t hurry while on the road; we must be very careful because one mistake can cause a crash,” he said.
On the 2025 Ember Months campaign, Kaura said that the corps had mapped out actionable measures to ensure hitch-free road use in the state.
According to him, personnel and special marshals have been deployed to ensure free-vehicle check exercise to improve road worthiness.
He said that the corps would strengthen awareness creation and collaboration with all road safety stakeholders in the state for a seamless ember-months campaign
He listed some of the violations often recorded during this period to include failure to adhere to road traffic rules and regulations; speed limit violations; driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Others include underage driving, seat belt violations; and, road rage; use of phones amongst other driver-related causes of road crashes.
Kaura urged road users to take caution to avoid human factors that cause crashes.
“The theme for this year’s campaign is “Take Responsibility for Your Safety: Stop Distracted Driving.”
“The theme reinforces the view that human factor is one of the major causes of road crashes. It also draws attention to the fact that drivers are largely responsible for crashes on our highways.
“This is why all motorists must take responsibility for their own safety and that of their passengers,” he said.
FRSC launches Ember Months campaign in Gombe
News
Zulum’s Shuttles Of Resilience And Nigerian Borders Security

Zulum’s Shuttles Of Resilience And Nigerian Borders Security
By Dauda Iliya
Leadership is indispensable: decisions must be made, trust earned, promises kept, a way forward proposed- Henry Kissinger.
The recent tour undertaken by the Borno state governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum to Diffa region in the Republic of Niger, as well as the border towns of Kirawa and Banki was not only strategic but a pragmatic decision.
The visit fulfils the Governor’s pledge to secure a sustainable peace for the state, with its central aim being the repatriation and resettlement of those displaced by the Boko Haram conflict, who have been seeking refuge beyond Nigeria’s borders.
Governor Zulum and Boko Haram/ISWAP terror group seem engaged in a startling clash of strategies that launches a new phase in the 15-year Northeast terror war.
Troops have virtually squeezed the terrorists out of major sections of Borno State and tamed them along Nigeria’s borders with the three neighbouring countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon, and the Lake Chad Tumbus (islands); but the terrorists seem solid in their resolve to maintain a firm grip of the borders.
They seemingly do so for twin reasons: to maintain their frightening presence to the Nigerian nation, seemingly saying: “We are still very much around; we are only watching you from the borders”; and, therefore to carry out sporadic unsuspected attacks, especially on resettled communities in border local government areas.
Zulum, leveraging the success achieved in the war over the last six years he has governed Borno State, he, with the instrumentality of the UN-hailed 25-year Development Plan and Borno Model, launched a comprehensive and expansive recovery, reconstruction and resettlement phase that has facilitated the return and resettlement of hundreds of communities in their ancestral abodes to rebuild their lives and, consequently, facilitate the rapid restoration of prosperity for the state.
Zulum seems strategically resolved to ensure the terrorists, even if not completely exterminated, remain squeezed to, and tamed along, the borders where the four Chad Basin nations can easily crush them in what may seem a decisive phase in wiping out terror from their respective terrains and the entire Chad Basin.
Over the last one year, the terrorists have been marauding into the Borno terrain from their border enclaves, tormenting resettled communities, killing scores to, apparently, scare Zulum from going ahead with his UN-praised Borno Model of societal recovery.
Zulum, leveraging the fascinating successes of the security agencies – The North-East Operation Hadin Kai Theater Command in Maiduguri and the Multi National Joint Task Force headquartered in Ndjamena, Chad Republic, seem solidly determined to ensure that Borno recovers from the terror-inflicted humanitarian crisis and, as a competent representative of the Nigerian authorities, squeeze terror out of the shores of Nigeria.
Zulum and the terrorists seem in a fierce clash of strategies in a fresh phase of the Northeast terror war, which portrays the incontrovertibly uncommon determination of the governor to snatch his dear Borno from the calamitous fangs of terror.
Excitingly undeterred by the persisting resurgence of terror across the Northern, Central and parts of the Southern zones of the state, the Mr. Resilience called Governor Babagana Zulum, smouldering with an uncommon determination and daredevil stance on recovery, trots round resettling communities and injecting them with the required resilience to withstand the terror resurgence.
He is injecting in them with the determination to rebuild their lives and economic activities as a critical part of the non-kinetic approach to ending the conundrum.
The Zulum administration has so far repatriated over 30,000 families from Diffa in the neighbouring Niger Republic and resettled them in their ancestral homes in Malam Fatori, Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State.
Other communities resettled by the Zulum administration, where socioeconomic activities picked up include, Kekeno, Cross Kauwa, Doron Baga and Kukawa town, all in Kukawa local government area in Northern Borno.
Also resettled are: Ngom, Koshobe, Ajiri, Gajibo, Wulgo, Banki and Darajamal, while efforts have reached advanced stage for the resettlement of Mayanti, Bula Yobe, Tarmu’a in Bama local government.
Majority of these are either border communities or communities close to the borders. He now strategically shuttles among them, planting the seeds of resilience and determination to rebuild their lives amid what seems an unending terror.
While at the Nigeria-Cameroon border community of Kirawa in Gwoza Local Government Area, where the terrorists invaded, during a 5-day strategic shuttle to some border communities to strengthen security and plant the seeds of resilience recently, Zulum assured them that arrangement have been concluded to station a military formation to guard to the border town.
“I want to assure you that we will do everything possible to ensure that Kirawa does not fall to Boko Haram insurgency. We must not allow this town to be displaced again, because once affected, then other adjoining communities like Pulka, Ngoshe and even Gwoza would be vulnerable ,” Zulum warned.
Sowing the seeds of resilience, he declared: “I promised to rehabilitate all the houses destroyed, I promise build a befitting General Hospital in the town because it will not only serve the people of this community but also the Cameroon Republic part of Kirawa, and also look into the possibility of compensating victims of community that lost their assets in the attack.”
The governor continued: “I have discussed with the Theatre Commander, Force Commander Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), and General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, we have agreed that within the shortest possible period, the military will deploy troops to Kirawa.”
Another measure taken, he disclosed, is to provide additional support to members of Civilian JTF, hunters and vigilante to enable them secure the town.
The storming terrorists burnt down eight vehicles, including heavy equipment and about 50 houses at the border town.
“We are looking into the possibility of getting some technological equipment that will enhance the security operation in the general area. We are also building their resilience
To boost border security, Zulum recently trotted to Diffa in Niger Republic Community, where over a hundred thousand of Borno families are taking refuge from Boko Haram, to review and fine-tune Lake Chad shores and border security with authorities there.
The visit, which comprised a high-level security and economic delegations, focused on strengthening the existing collaboration between Nigerian and Nigerien forces in the ongoing fight against terror and insurgency, particularly around the shores of Lake Chad.
Zulum was received by the Governor of Diffa, Brigadier General Mahamaduo Ibrahim Bagadoma, and other senior officials. The leaders held closed-door meetings centered on joint patrols, intelligence sharing, and sustaining the recent gains that have pushed insurgents out of many of their former strongholds.
At the Nigeria-Cameroon border town of Banki in Bama Local Government Area, Zulum assured residents that robust security measures would be adopted to protect them from further attacks by Boko Haram terrorists.
He commended the people for their courage and resilience in the face of a recent attack, urging them not to be disheartened.
“I purposely came to Banki to salute your courage; your act of bravery is really encouraging,” Governor Zulum stated. “We should not allow a few bad elements to displace this town whose businesses and economic activities have been thriving.”
He continued: “I want to assure you that the insurgents will not succeed, Insha Allah. We will strengthen the security of this border town and will support our youth volunteers, hunters, and vigilantes to further fortify this area.”
Governor Zulum undertook a two-day tour to some frontline locations in the southern and central parts of the state to inspect key resettlement projects as critical ingredients of community resilience building.
The projects include 500 resettlement houses and over 3,000 temporary shelters in Mayinti and DaraJamal.
Zulum’s resilience building initiative has been yielding gladdening socioeconomic results at Dikwa, Marte, Kala Balge, Gamboru-Ngala, Limankara and Gwoza, after his weeklong tours there some few months ago.
With the startling strategies of resilliance building adopted by Governor Zulum, now roaring and reverberating across the border areas, the path to enduring peace is just few a meters away.
Dauda Iliya is the Special Adviser on Media/ Spokesperson to Governor Babagana Umara Zulum.
Zulum’s Shuttles Of Resilience And Nigerian Borders Security
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