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WANEP harps on need to invest in peacebuilding 

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WANEP harps on need to invest in peacebuilding 

By: Michael Mike

The West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), has called on the government and relevant authorities in the West Africa region, and the Lake Chad basin to invest in peacebuilding as a means to tackle conflict.

The organisation made the call on Monday, at the beginning of a 3-day training workshop on conflict prevention, violent extremism, Crisis management and peacebuilding, in Abuja. This was organized by the Research and Action for Peace Network (REcAP Network), and implemented by WANEP, in partnership with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC),with funding from the European Union (EU).

The project seeks to establish a sustainable, more inclusive, and effective regional network of experts specialised in peacebuilding, the prevention of conflicts and violent extremism in 18 countries in West Africa and the Lake Chad Basin to act as an interactive platform for regional cooperation.

Regional Coordinator, Research and Capacity Building WANEP-Regional, Festus Kofi Aubyn, during his presentation on ‘conflict and conflict prevention,’ noted that for every conflict experienced in an environment, there have been early warning signs neglected by the  authorities.

According to Aubyn, situations that lead to conflict are escalated because relevant authorities do not make concerted efforts to tackle immediate actions that result in conflict.

He noted that Peacebuilding is not a one off event as warring parties should  be allowed to air their perspectives and then settle for  a compromise as this leads to the building of relationship which is important in resolving conflict.While also advocating for preventive mechanisms .

He said, “conflict prevention is very key. We do not have to always be preventive but proactive. This is to ensure that conflict does not  start  in the first place.” 

Proffering solutions to crisis management and Peacebuilding, Aubyn urged  the use of systematic, direct, and structural methods  noting, conflicts are dynamic and various individual perspectives need to be carried along.

“Poverty and employment can be causes of conflict in the society if not tackled  in a long period, but can not be resolved through direct or systematic means of prevention. But a structural means of prevention can be applied as this is a process that takes a longer time to properly address conflicting issues.

“The aim is to reduce violence as well as addressing the root causes of the violence. It is for a longer term. It involves a wider range of issues and actors, he said.

The Nigeria National Network Coordinator WANEP, Dr. Bridget Osakwe on her part noted that, resources do not create conflict except there is a deliberate intention to use it. Adding, resources are enough to go round but not enough to settle the greed of many.

Osakwe highlighted the need for conflict analysis in peacebuilding, noting the strategy deployed in bringing conflict  to an end is only as good as the analysis carried out else, it will not yield positive results.

Speaking further she emphasised that, individuals mistake peacebuilding and peacekeeping to mean the same process, noting the later occurs when war is in place and the use of military force is implied.

She underscored the need for the government to provide basic amenities for the citizens, especially those at the rural areas, stating these individuals only demand for their rights, which according  to her is not difficult to achieve.

She  said, “violent extremism strives in ungoverned spaces. In the NorthEast terrorism  was easy to penetrate because they provided the locals with their basic needs.

“Items as little as wheelbarrows were distributed to locals and this for a long period enhanced local support for the terrorists actions.”
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WANEP harps on need to invest in peacebuilding 

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Herdsman loses two cows to suspected hoodlums in Adamawa

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Herdsman loses two cows to suspected hoodlums in Adamawa

By: Zagazola Makama

Suspected hoodlums have killed two cows belonging to a herdsman in Shelleng Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

The incident, which occurred on Wednesday at about 3:30 p.m., took place in the Wuroyanka District of Shelleng.

A source in the area told Zagazola that the attackers, believed to be from Bare in Numan Local Government Area, ambushed the herder, Shehu Alhaji Yakubu, while he was grazing his cattle in the bush.

The assailants reportedly killed two of the animals before fleeing the scene.

Police and local hunters later visited the area to assess the situation and appealed for calm among residents to avoid reprisals.

A stakeholders’ meeting has been scheduled to discuss measures to prevent further tension between herders and farmers in the area.

Herdsman loses two cows to suspected hoodlums in Adamawa

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Over 600 patients receive free kidney dialysis, and other treatment on a monthly basis……………Bego

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Abdulahi Bego

Over 600 patients receive free kidney dialysis, and other treatment on a monthly basis……………Bego

By: Bodunrin Kayode

Over 600 patients receive free dialysis and additional treatment on a monthly basis at the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital (YSUTH), the Yobe state commissioner of information Abdulahi Bego has said.

He said that the free treatment was initiated by former Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam and was consolidated upon by the present administration of Governor Mai Mala Buni.

The Commissioner of information, Abdullahi Bego said that the increase of cases of Kidney diseases, mostly recorded in Jakusko, Nguru, Gashua, Yusufari and some other communities in Northern parts of the state, Governor Mai Mala Buni has came up with the continuation of the free treatment of all patients to save lives.

Bego gave this hint yesterday in an interactive session with some Journalists at the end of the 2-Day Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) 2025 Quarterly Strategy Meeting of Commissioners for information of All Progressive Congress, (APC) Governed States.

He noted that, yobe state has many cases of kidney diseases, as most of the communities on the shores of Yobe/Kumadugu River in northern part of the state suffered most”.

To address the roots causes of the incident, the Commissioner pointed out that, the State Government has established a Biomedical Science Research and Training Centre located at the College of Medical Sciences, Yobe State University.

The centre is fully equipped with equipment worth billions of naira, even as it is collaborating with University of Sussex, United Kingdom and some Researchers, including a US-based Dr. Mahmoud Maina, to take the place to the next level.

Mains a British-Nigerian neuroscientist and educator whose research is focused on the cellular and molecular pathogenesis in Alzheimer’s disease is expected to bring his expertise to bear in the project.

The impact of the state government’s initiative according to Bego, goes beyond providing immediate relief and medical consumables, but to also delve into the root causes of the kidney disease and prescribe proactive solute. .

He also explained that, Governor Buni who have since declared a State of Emergency in the health sector, has constructed over 400-bed capacity at Mamman Ali Maternal and Child Complex hitherto commissioned by the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

The state of the art facility located within the premises of YSUTH, he added, is not only saving millions of lives, but also serve as referral and research centre in addressing maternal mortality in the North East region.

On social infrastructures especially roads and drainage networks within rural and urban centres, the Commissioner said that, “apart from the ongoing construction of multi billion naira Fly Over within Damaturu metropolis, the state government has completed the rehabilitation of key roads such as Katarko-Goniri and Siminti-Godowoli stretch.

Other interventions are the Geidam-Bukarti, Bayamari-Yunusari, and Yunusari-Kanamma roads, Damaturu-Kalallawa 25.5-kilometer dual carriageway, facilitating access to the Muhammadu Buhari International Cargo Airport, and the dualization of the Abattoir Junction-New Bye-pass Roundabout on Potiskum road to manage high traffic volumes.

Additional projects are the construction of roads connecting various communities, such as Damagum-Gubana, Bulanguwa-Kumagannam, Nguru-Bulanguwa, Danchuwa-Garin Abba-Garin Bingel, Chumbusko-Tagali, Nguru Highway-Karasuwa Galu town, Fika-Maluri, Jaji Maji-Karasuwa town, and Kukuri-Chukuriwa-Dawasa among others”. Bego stated.

The Commissioner further explained that Governor Buni expended N3.5 billion in building four Ultra Modern Sesame Seeds Cleansing, Processing and Packaging processing centres across the state.

These factories he said, are located in Machina, Potiskum, Nguru and Damaturu local government areas, as Yobe state is the largest producer of Sesame seeds in Nigeria as at today.

Over 600 patients receive free kidney dialysis, and other treatment on a monthly basis……………Bego

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Man beaten to death over alleged affair with married woman in Bauchi

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Man beaten to death over alleged affair with married woman in Bauchi

By: Zagazola Makama

A 30-year-old man has been allegedly beaten to death by a husband for attempting to entice his wife in Lumbu community, Ningi Local Government Area.

Zagazola Makama learnt that the incident occurred at about 2:09 a.m. on Friday when the deceased, identified as Sanusi Tinau, allegedly visited the house of a yet-to-be-identified man to entice his wife.

The husband reportedly attacked Tinau, beating him to a state of unconsciousness before fleeing the scene.

Police operatives responded promptly, evacuating the victim to the General Hospital, Ningi, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor.

The report said efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect as investigation continues.

Man beaten to death over alleged affair with married woman in Bauchi

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