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UN Women, Stakeholders Strategize on Getting Special Seats Bill Passed to Increase Number of Women Holding Political Positions
UN Women, Stakeholders Strategize on Getting Special Seats Bill Passed to Increase Number of Women Holding Political Positions
By: Michael Mike
Key stakeholders, including United Nations
(UN) Women and Women Political Participation Partners Working Group are fine-tunning plans and drumming support for the passage of Special Seats Bill currently before the National Assembly.
Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja at the Strategy Convening on Special Seats Bill – Opportunities and Challenges: Options for State and Grassroot Advocacy Positioning Citizens for Nation-Wide Conversation, Ms Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, explained that the Special Seats Bill, seeks to address the under-representation of women in leadership positions.

She explained that the Bill, when passed into law, would be a major boost in enhancing women’s voice and representation in the country’s leadership and in the legislative agenda.
The intention of the bill is to create special seats for women as a temporary but necessary corrective measure, and its
passage is expected not only to strengthen the presence of women in national and state legislatures but also set a precedent for inclusive governance that reflects the diversity of Nigeria’s population.
The bill has been designed to suit Nigeria’s political and electoral context providing for seat reservations (women-only seats) because only women compete for such reserved seats, and they do not displace male elites contrary to popular belief among the political elite.
The bill also seek to amend sections 48, 49 and 91 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to create 74 seats in the National Assembly and 108 seats in the States Houses of Assembly (altogether) bringing the total number of seats to 182 seats in the Legislative arm of government.
In the current National Assembly, Eyong decried that women only occupy 3% of the seats in the Senate and 3.9% of the seats in the House of Representatives.
She revealed that UN Women has built strategic partnerships to garner support for the Special Seats Bill across the country.
She said: “UN Women has built strategic partnerships that are already yielding important advocacy results in terms of support for the Special Seats Bill across the country.
“15 Radio Stations and two TV Stations are hosting weekly programmes on the Special Seats Bill.
“The campaign is also being catalysed through newspapers and different media platforms.
“Further, UN Women will support the convening of 120 townhalls across 24 states to give citizens the opportunity to interact with the Bill and prepare memoranda to be submitted to the National Assembly Joint Committee on Constitutional Reform during their state-level and zonal public hearings.
“This will be supported by over 500,000 physical endorsements of the Bill in the 24 states.
“This great campaign is made possible courtesy, the Governments of Canada and the United Kingdom. We salute these two governments in their resolute to walk this journey with the Nigerian women.”
In her welcome address, the Chair, Women Political Participation Partners Working Group, Barrister Ebere Ifendu, explained that the intent of the “bill is to provide for a temporary specific measure to fast-track women’s political participation in Nigeria, the seats will be tenured for a specific amount of years and may be reviewed by the National Assembly.”
She pointed out that the meeting was convened to assess the opportunities and challenges surrounding the bill, refine strategies for national and grassroots advocacy, and to coordinate efforts to ensure the bill gains the support it needs in both houses of the National Assembly and across at least 24 State Houses of Assembly.
She added that. “The next few months (from May to August 2025) will be decisive. They demand from us a united voice, strategic action, and fervent commitment.
“We must engage our representatives in the National Assembly, mobilise citizens, raise critical awareness, amplify grassroots support, coordinate efforts and ensure that women, including young women and women with disabilities, are not just participants, but leaders in shaping the future of our democracy.”
UN Women, Stakeholders Strategize on Getting Special Seats Bill Passed to Increase Number of Women Holding Political Positions
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NAF air strikes destroy terrorist boats, neutralise fighters in Kukawa riverine
NAF air strikes destroy terrorist boats, neutralise fighters in Kukawa riverine
By: Zagazola Makama
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), operating as the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), has recorded another major success against terrorists in the Lake Chad and North-East corridors, following coordinated night precision air strikes that destroyed watercraft, hit key hideouts and neutralised several fighters in the riverine areas of Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the missions were executed after weeks of sustained intelligence gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance that confirmed increased terrorist movement and logistics activity around the Malimbe–Masaram Island axis and the Northern Tumbuns.
“Based on credible human intelligence (HUMINT) and persistent aerial surveillance, we tracked the movement of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) elements transiting through Masaram Island ahead of Malimbe, as well as Toumbun Beriberi in Kukawa LGA,” the sources said.
He explained that the strikes were carried out under the cover of darkness on Jan. 18, using precision-guided munitions to ensure accuracy and limit collateral damage.
“We executed swift, successive interdictions on identified targets. Several JAS fighters were neutralised and their water vessels, which they use for mobility and logistics across the Tumbuns and Lake Chad waterways, were completely destroyed.
“Those that remained at Malimbe and Toumbun Beriberi immediately abandoned their positions and fled,” he said.
According to him, post-strike battle damage assessment showed the fleeing terrorists withdrawing toward the Abadam axis, apparently in disarray and expressing suspicion that their movements had been compromised by informants within their ranks.
“The mission was adjudged highly successful. However, due to the terrorists’ paranoia that civilians are cooperating with government forces, we are sustaining air and ground monitoring of the area to deter any form of reprisal,” he added.
The officer further disclosed that the NAF also conducted another major Air Interdiction (AI) mission on Jan. 20 at a newly identified terrorist enclave codenamed “Rackstar” in the Northern Tumbuns.
“At about 1300 hours on Jan. 20, the Air mission identified location considered to be a safe haven for Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) members, including some prominent commanders. The area was also being used as an IED assembly point and a weapons servicing workshop,”said sources
The sources noted that confirmatory ISR carried out on Jan. 18 revealed the general area to be water-logged with dense vegetation, typical of the Tumbuns, but further scanning of the fringes uncovered active terrorist structures about 1.9 kilometres southwest of the initial coordinates.
“We observed terrorists gathering in two different locations. A solar panel and a black flag were also sighted within the enclave, clearly indicating occupation and operational intent.
“Accordingly, selected targets were acquired and engaged with munitions on board. The strikes degraded the terrorists’ capability and disrupted their command and logistics infrastructure,” the sources said.
The sources stressed that the sustained air operations were part of the ongoing efforts of Operation HADIN KAO to deny terrorists freedom of movement, sanctuary and resources across the Lake Chad basin.
NAF air strikes destroy terrorist boats, neutralise fighters in Kukawa riverine
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MD Damuli Investment Company Limited extends assistance to orphans, underprivileged students in Yobe
MD Damuli Investment Company Limited extends assistance to orphans, underprivileged students in Yobe
By: Yahaya Wakili
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Damuli Investment Company Limited, Alhaji Liman Mohammad Dabuwa, has extended assistance to the development of education in Yobe, targeting orphans and underprivileged students in the state.
The company expanded to be worth over $90 million as part of its contribution towards the development of education, students, and orphans in the region, which includes the purchase of mattresses and bedding materials for Mai Bukar boarding primary school.
Prior to government approval, Damuli Investment Company fed boarding primary schools in the region for a good 3 months for free. In addition, it purchased teaching and learning materials and foodstuff for teachers and principals, as well as presented gifts during the graduation ceremony and others to Mai Bukar boarding school in August 2025.
The company also made the payment of school registration fees for 15 orphan students at Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Potiskum, and also supported the Yobe State annual Quranic recitation competition held in Machina in 2025.

“In participation in supporting the students of high institutions, Dabuwa Company made the payment of school fee registration for over 150 students at various high institutions. In addition, it supported Yobe State University during a fire outbreak with bending materials.
“Damuli Investment Company also sponsored common entrance exams into Mai Bukar boarding school across the political wards of the Machina local government area in 2024 and 2025, respectively, as well as rendered support to Medical College Damaturu and purchased teaching and learning materials for GSS Machina.
Alhaji Liman Mohammad Dabuwa commended His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Yobe State, Hon. (Dr.) Mai Mala Buni CON, COMN, and the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Baba Mallam Wali mni, for turning Yobe State into semi-London.
“Now Yobe State can compete with any developing state in the country in terms of infrastructural development,” Alhaji Liman Mohammad Dabuwa said.
MD Damuli Investment Company Limited extends assistance to orphans, underprivileged students in Yobe
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One dead, four injured in communal clash in ngidoje village in Yobe
One dead, four injured in communal clash in ngidoje village in Yobe
By: Zagazola Makama
A 20-year-old man has been killed while four others sustained injuries in a clash involving youths in Ngidoje Village, Yobe State.
Sources said the incident occurred on Wednesday around 10:00 p.m. when some Fulani youths reportedly had a misunderstanding that escalated into a fight involving sticks and cutlasses.
The deceased, identified as Ibrahim Manu Gagare, was beaten and fell unconscious. He was rushed to Yobe State Specialist Hospital, Buni Yadi, where he was certified dead by a medical doctor. His body was later released to relatives for burial according to Islamic rites.
The remaining four victims sustained various degrees of injuries and are responding to treatment.
End
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