News
UN Appeals to Nigeria to Commit Specific Percent of Budget to Addressing Gender Disparity
UN Appeals to Nigeria to Commit Specific Percent of Budget to Addressing Gender Disparity
By: Michael Mike
The United Nations has appealed to Nigerian government to commit specific percent of national budgets and development funds to interventions that address gender disparity in the country.
Addressing the media at the end of his visit to Nigeria, the UN Women Regional Director for East Africa, West, and Central Africa, Maxime Houinato noting that this was in congruence with the
demand earlier made by the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guteress.
Houinato while explaining that in order to bridge the multisectoral gender gaps in Nigeria and improve the standard of living for women and girls something should be done, appealed that the government of Nigeria commit specific percent of national budgets and development
funds to interventions that address gender disparity in Nigeria.
Houinato said: “Gender inequality is crippling the economy,” noting that: “Women are at the heart of
human capital for economic development in any nation – health, education, agriculture, and business. Gender disparity and the suffering of women are having a detrimental impact on the
building of that human capital which is at the centre of productivity and development”.
The regional director during the press conference informed the media that while in Nigeria he has had meetings with stakeholders to whom he advocated for increased investment in gender equality and women’s empowerment and allocation of specific.
This, he said, includes advocacy
meetings with Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and National Planning, where he advocated for increased allocation of specific budget lines to address gender disparity in Nigeria.
He also revealed that this was also echoed this during his meeting with the Director General of the Public Procurement Agency in Lagos where an AfDB/UN Women-assisted gender-affirmative procurement project is being implemented to promote participation of women-owned businesses in public and private procurement.
He disclosed that the DG assured him of the government’s commitment to promoting best practices that enable women-owned businesses to access
public contracts.
Houinato said while meeting with the management of Nigeria Exchange Group, he requested that the corporation commit a percentage of its returns to gender-responsive interventions and
encourage its clients to do the same.
He said, while in Lagos, he had a
roundtable meeting with women CEOs in Nigeria where a 25-million-dollar GBV fund was launched.
The fund, he explained, would be a contribution from private sector organisations in Nigeria, to fund gender responsive interventions that will curb violence against women and girls and enhance women’s empowerment.
The UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Beatrice Eyong, in her remark, stated that the financial implication of GBV is enormous and reiterated that if the prevalence of violence against women and girls reduces, family income and earnings will improve and so will the economy of the society at large.
UN Appeals to Nigeria to Commit Specific Percent of Budget to Addressing Gender Disparity
Military
Mutiny: Presidential Guard Tightens Security Around Niger Presidency Amid Reports of Military Protest
Mutiny: Presidential Guard Tightens Security Around Niger Presidency Amid Reports of Military Protest
By Zagazola Makama
Security was significantly reinforced around Niger’s Presidential Palace in Niamey following reports of unrest involving elements of the country’s armed forces, security sources told Zagazola Makama.
According to multiple security sources, the heightened deployment of the Presidential Guard, supported by armoured vehicles around the Presidential Palace on the night of July 3 and into July 4, followed what was described as a limited protest by personnel of an armoured unit within the Niger Armed Forces (FAN).
The sources said some soldiers reportedly declined deployment to frontline positions in northern Tillabéri Region, particularly around Inatès and Chinagodrar, citing inadequate heavy equipment and insufficient operational resources to confront the growing security threats in the area.
The protest was described by one source as a “small mutiny,” although there has been no official confirmation from the Nigerien authorities.
Security sources said the development triggered concern within the country’s leadership, prompting the reinforcement of security around the Presidential Palace and temporary restrictions on movement in the surrounding area as a precautionary measure.
The Tillabéri Region remains one of Niger’s most volatile security zones, with recurrent attacks by armed extremist groups, including factions linked to the so-called Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS).
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerien government and military authorities had not issued any official statement regarding the reported protest or the increased security presence around the Presidency.
The situation remains under close observation.
Mutiny: Presidential Guard Tightens Security Around Niger Presidency Amid Reports of Military Protest
Two suspected criminals arrested during patrol in Plateau
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 1 under Operation Enduring Peace have arrested two suspected criminals during a routine patrol in Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau.
Security sources disclosed that the suspects, identified as Azi Ezekiel, 21, and Ajiji Emmanuel, 19, were apprehended at about 10:30 a.m. on Saturday along the road leading to Forbur Village.
The sources said the suspects were intercepted by troops of Sector 1, Sub-Sector 12, while conducting a routine patrol in the area.
According to the sources, the two suspects have been handed over to the Keystone Police Station in Forbur for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The arrest forms part of ongoing security operations aimed at combating criminal activities and enhancing safety across Plateau State.
Two suspected criminals arrested during patrol in Plateau
Troops arrest suspected kidnapper in Plateau community
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 4 of Operation Enduring Peace have arrested a suspected kidnapper during a security operation in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau.
Security sources said the suspect, identified as Mohamdu Surajo, 29, was arrested at about 6:45 p.m. on Friday at Sabon Layi Village following sustained security operations in the area.
The sources disclosed that the suspect is currently in military custody and is undergoing preliminary interrogation to aid ongoing investigations.
They added that the arrest is part of continued efforts by security forces to dismantle criminal networks and enhance security across Plateau State.
Troops arrest suspected kidnapper in Plateau community
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