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Struggling to survive — The hidden victims of Nigeria’s conflict

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Struggling to survive — The hidden victims of Nigeria’s conflict

By Dr. Kelechi Onyemaobi

Ngala, Borno state: In northeast Nigeria, we find malnutrition rates are the highest among those who manage to escape conflict-hit, inaccessible locations in search of refuge in largertowns, where they receive food and nutritional support from the United Nations World Food programme (WFP).

Despite her best efforts, 19-year-old Yasa is unable to feed her crying daughter, Aisha. Barely 40 days-old, Aisha is suffering from acute malnutrition. Yasa is also malnourished, and she has stopped producing breast milk.

We meet Yasa sitting with a small group of women and children beneath a tree. They are all new arrivals at Arabic Camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs). The mood among the women is sombre – the weight of their experiences too heavy to speak aloud.

The camp sits on the edge of Ngala-Gomboru, a town five kilometres from the Cameroonian border in Borno state. Since 2016, Ngala has been home to a growing population of IDPs, now estimated at over 100,000 people. They have sought refuge here, fleeing from the long-running conflict in Northeast Nigeria between government forces and non-state armed actors.

Many of the newly arrived families, like Yasa and her daughter, have managed to escape from areas inaccessible to humanitarian actors. Fear and hunger have driven them from their homes. Yasa walked more than 50 kilometres from her village in Dime to find safety.

People across Northeast Nigeria bear the greatest burden of this 15-year conflict. According the latest food security analysis, Cadre Harmonise, 5 million people face acute food insecurity in the coming months and 2.6 million children are malnutrition in the region.

Yasa tells us that at least four people recently died from hunger in Dime. Determined to survive, she decided her only option was to escape and head towards Ngala.

“A lot of people are starving at home. They’re trapped in Dime,and there is no food to eat. I would eat wild seeds and grass. Sometimes, I would follow a trail of soldier ants, then dig up their nest to find a small mound of millet or sorghum seeds. This is how I survived,” says Yasa.

On arriving at Arabic Camp three weeks ago, Care International, who partner with WFP in Ngala, quickly arranged for her to be included in the nutrition programme. Yasa now receives rations of super cereal, fortified with extra vitamins and minerals. Carealso referred Aisha to the camp clinic for more specialist emergency care.

In Ngala more than 22,000 children receiving nutrition assistance provided under WFP’s preventative nutrition programme – supported by donors including the European Union. New arrivals at the camp, particularly malnourishedwomen and children, are immediately enrolled into the programme and receive targeted nutritional support.

“Presently, we have 116 cases of severe malnutrition which we referred for emergency treatment at clinics. We have enrolled about 280 moderate cases among new IDPs into the WFP nutrition safety net,” says Care’s Nutrition Assistant in Ngala.

“We fear a silent disaster is unfolding in some remote areas,” explains Chi Lael, Head of Communications at WFP in Nigeria. “Gaining safe and unhindered access to these stranded communities to assess their needs is one of our top priorities”.

20-year-old Ata recently arrived in Ngala, having fled from her home in the village of Soloba, in Cameroon. For the past two weeks she has been receiving supplementary food from WFP. The super cereal she receives has helped to bring her four-month-old daughter, Ramata, back from the brink of starvation.

“When I first arrived in the camp, I was so weak I could barely feed my child”, says Ata. “Now my milk has returned and I am breastfeeding again. Ramata is getting stronger every day”.

Struggling to survive — The hidden victims of Nigeria’s conflict

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Troops repel attack by gunmen in Plateau – Army

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Troops repel attack by gunmen in Plateau – Army

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Sector 6, Operation Enduring peace, have repelled an attack by unidentified gunmen in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Sources said the incident occurred at about 8:00 p.m. on May 5 at Rim general area.

According to the source, troops deployed at the location came under sporadic gunfire from unknown assailants.

He said the troops swiftly responded and engaged the attackers, forcing them to withdraw from the area.

“Troops successfully repelled the attack, and the criminals fled,” the source said.

The source added that follow-up patrols had been intensified to track the fleeing attackers and prevent further security breaches in the area.

Troops repel attack by gunmen in Plateau – Army

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Zulum meets NPA’s mgt in Lagos, wants Borno’s export capabilities scaled up

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Zulum meets NPA’s mgt in Lagos, wants Borno’s export capabilities scaled up

By: Michael Mike

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, met with the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in Lagos on Tuesday during which he discussed opportunities for his state’s local creators to link into the value chain.

Zulum’s administration, since 2019, has pushed to diversify Borno’s economy while also creating a conducive environment for business and investment.

The governor, who was received by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, alongside Executive Director, Engr. Ibrahim Abba Umar, had paid a similar high-level visit to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) last year.

At the NSC meeting, Zulum had pushed for the fast-tracking of the Maiduguri Dry Inland Port; a landmark project designed to bring port services closer to the northeast. 

Once operational, the dry port will create thousands of jobs, generate significant internal revenue and boost Borno’s overall economic activity by reducing logistics costs and decongesting coastal ports.

In a related development, Zulum’s administration is also working to fully establish the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in Banki, a border town neighbouring the Republic of Cameroon, with the process already at an advanced stage.

By simultaneously advancing the Dry Inland Port in Maiduguri and the Free Trade Zone in Banki, Zulum is putting in place a coherent strategy to industrialise Borno, create jobs, generate revenue and permanently shift the state’s economy away from over-reliance on monthly federal allocations.

Zulum meets NPA’s mgt in Lagos, wants Borno’s export capabilities scaled up

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APC Backs Tegbe for Power Reforms, Cites Proven Expertise, Strategic Leadership

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APC Backs Tegbe for Power Reforms, Cites Proven Expertise, Strategic Leadership

By: Michael Mike

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has hailed the nomination of Chief Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Nigeria’s Minister of Power, describing it as a timely move amid the country’s persistent electricity challenges.

In a statement issued in Ibadan, the party’s state leadership said Tegbe’s selection reflects both merit and the urgent need for competent leadership in the nation’s power sector.

The statement, jointly signed by State Chairman Chief Moses Adeyemo Alake and State Secretary Hon. Fatai Adesina, expressed strong confidence in Tegbe’s ability to drive meaningful reforms, citing his extensive professional background and policy experience.

Tegbe, an engineer and seasoned policy strategist, brings over three decades of experience spanning engineering, consulting, and public sector advisory.

He previously served as Director-General of the Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership, where he coordinated bilateral development initiatives and investment engagements between both countries.

He also chaired the National Tax Policy Implementation Committee, playing a key role in advancing Nigeria’s fiscal reform agenda and strengthening revenue frameworks.

Before transitioning fully into public service, Tegbe built a distinguished career at KPMG, rising to become Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services in Africa. In that role, he led major engagements on governance reforms, economic policy, institutional transformation, and investment strategy across both public and private sectors.

Earlier in his career, he worked with Shell Petroleum Development Company, gaining experience in corporate operations and resource management.

Academically, Tegbe holds a first-class degree in Civil Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University and has attended executive programmes at globally renowned institutions including Harvard and INSEAD, further reinforcing his technical and leadership credentials.

The APC noted that this blend of technical expertise and policy leadership positions him to tackle longstanding challenges in power generation, transmission, and distribution.

“The APC in Oyo State is confident that Chief Tegbe will bring innovation, efficiency, and sustainable solutions to Nigeria’s power sector. His history of performance and commitment to service positions him to make meaningful contributions to national development,” the statement read.

The party emphasized that Nigeria is at a critical stage where strategic direction is essential to unlock sustainable energy solutions, noting that Tegbe’s leadership could help reposition the sector for improved performance.

It added that the APC in Oyo would offer its full support while maintaining constructive engagement with the minister-designate and other stakeholders to ensure progress.

The statement also acknowledged Tegbe’s longstanding contributions to the growth of the party in the state, expressing optimism that his new role would further deepen his commitment to national development.

The APC wished him a successful tenure, expressing hope that his leadership would mark a significant shift toward stable and reliable electricity supply across the country.

APC Backs Tegbe for Power Reforms, Cites Proven Expertise, Strategic Leadership

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