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Yobe received the Arab Bank consulting team

Yobe received the Arab Bank consulting team
By: Yahaya Wakili
The Yobe state government, through the office of the secretary to the state government, Alhaji Baba Mallam Wali mni, has received a reputable consulting team who were engaged to conduct comprehensive feasibility studies and technical designs for the successful implementation of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) project in the state.
The SSG who received the team on behalf of the state government highlighted three priority areas identified by the Executive Governor of Yobe State, Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, to be handled under the project.
He articulated the three key areas to include: infrastructure, agriculture, and energy, which were strategically selected to improve the livelihoods and promote the economic growth of the citizens.
While making his remarks, the Secretary to the State Government has called on the consultant to justify the conference reposed on them by the government.
Earlier speaking, State Focal Person BADEA, Idriss Mohammed Yaro Gumsa, told the SSG that consultants were in Yobe for the past couple of days as he took them round for a sightseeing visit to some of the proposed project sites.
Also, as part of the mandate for the consultants visit to Yobe, the state government conducted a high-level stakeholder engagement aimed at preparing necessary requirements for securing alternate financing to drive sustainable development and enhance the quality of lives of Yobe communities through funding from BADE.
The session chaired by the SSG, represented by the Hon. Commissioner of Finance and Economic Development, Alhaji Mohammed Abatcha Geidam, was meant to deliberate on the technical aspect of the project proposal.
“Under agriculture, the proposed initiatives include supporting 20,000 smallholder farmers across the 17 LGAs of the state with essential inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and equipment, including solar-powered water pumps and hand-push tillers, among others.
“Establishing 50 small-scale irrigation schemes in Yobe State to facilitate year-round crop production, targeting over 14,000 individual beneficiaries.
According to him, the focus for infrastructure development in the project involves the construction and rehabilitation of 253 kilometers of rural and urban roads across the state.
Others include drilling and installing 200 hybrid solar-powered boreholes in urban-rural communities, boarding secondary schools and primary healthcare centers, as well as construction of 200-bed capacity hostels in the designated tertiary institutions across the three senatorial districts.
While the energy sector intends to provide solar and renewable energy solutions for boarding schools, specialist hospitals, healthcare centers, and modern markets and promote energy efficiency through advanced technologies and practices.
He urged the consulting firm to work in line with the state government’s priorities and ensure due diligence in the conduct of their assignment.
Meanwhile, in his presentation on the overview of the BADEA project in Yobe, the State Focal Person, Idriss Mohammed Yaro, highlighted the deliberate efforts made by the Yobe state government towards attracting the BADEA project, which include an official visit to the Arab Bank’s headquarters in Riyadh by our leader and people-oriented governor, His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni CON.
The consultant assured the government of their commitment to deliver the assignment according to standard specifications.
Yobe received the Arab Bank consulting team
News
FG’s student loan scheme improving access to higher education -NOA DG

FG’s student loan scheme improving access to higher education -NOA DG
The National Orientation Agency (NOA), on Wednesday, said that the Federal Government’s interest-free loan under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) is reducing dropout amongst undergraduates in the country.
Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the NOA Director General, stated this in Gombe at a news conference on five thematic areas of the present administration.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Issa-Onilu spoke through Mr David Akoji, the Director Special Duties, NOA Headquarters, Abuja.
He reiterated the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to improving access to education at all levels and ensuring that “financial constraints do not prevent young Nigerians from pursuing higher learning.”
Issa-Onilu said NELFUND was established by the Tinubu administration to ensure that no Nigerian who qualified to go for tertiary education was prevented from doing so, as a result of inability to pay school fees.
According to him, funding which used to be the biggest challenge in accessing tertiary education is no longer a threat to undergraduates and students seeking higher education.
The director general said the administration of President Tinubu had disbursed N59 billion to over 600,000 students that have applied for NELFUND Student Loan.
The director general assured that the era of students leaving tertiary institutions without completing their degree as a result of financial constraints was over.
He stated that the initiative showed that the Tinubu-led administration was committed to improving the wellbeing and welfare of Nigerians by empowering young Nigerians with education and skills.
Issa-Onilu urged students in Gombe State who have financial challenges to embrace the initiative to ease the burden, stressing that the loan scheme “is available to all qualified Nigerians who are schooling in public tertiary institutions in Nigeria.”
Speaking on the thematic areas Issa-Onilu said they include; Government Policies, Programmes and Activities, the Nigerian Identity Project and National Symbols, and flood mitigation.
He cited others as National Security Awareness towards achieving improved security consciousness in communities and National Values Re-orientation for Students of Secondary Schools and Tertiary Institutions against sign-out extreme practices.
He also announced plans by the federal government to support 150, 000 youths across Nigeria under the National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), adding that N110 billion had been dedicated to implement the initiative.
The director general further expressed the commitment of Tinubu’s administration to impacting positively on the wellbeing of all Nigerians especially the poor and vulnerable households.
On government programmes, Issa-Onilu hinted that over 2 million households enrolled into the Social Safety Nets Expansion, had benefitted from the Conditional Cash Transfer.
He said: “Trader Moni and Farmer Moni were introduced through the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP). These are interest-free loans of up to a maximum of N100,000 for trader moni, while, farmer moni up to N300,000.”
FG’s student loan scheme improving access to higher education -NOA DG
News
Security forces neutralise two notorious bandits in Benue clearance operation

Security forces neutralise two notorious bandits in Benue clearance operation
By: Zagazola Makama
Security forced have neutralised two suspected notorious bandits during a clearance operation in Ukum Local Government Area of the state.
Sources told Zagazola that the operation followed credible intelligence received on Tuesday at about 1:00 p.m.
The report indicated that a criminal gang led by one Senen Hemen, also known as Orpa, was sighted along the pipeline axis between Gbeji and Igbongom communities in Ukum.
According to the sources, security forces were promptly mobilised to the location, where the gang engaged the operatives in a gun duel.
During the exchange, Hemen and another gang member identified as Mzungweve Ichur, both from Igbongom, were shot dead, while others fled the scene with gunshot injuries.
The sources confirmed that the corpses of the two suspects had been recovered and deposited at a private mortuary in Gbeji, while a manhunt had been launched in the surrounding bushes to track the fleeing accomplices.
The sources assured residents that the operation was part of ongoing efforts to rid Ukum and adjoining areas of violent criminal gangs.
Security forces neutralise two notorious bandits in Benue clearance operation
News
Gunmen abduct worshipper in Oyo community

Gunmen abduct worshipper in Oyo community
By: Zagazola Makama
Gunmen have abducted a worshipper from a mosque in Gbonkan Village, Ipapo, Itesiwaju Local Government Area.
Sources said that the victim, identified as Amadu Usman, was kidnapped on Monday night while praying at the mosque alongside his elder brother, Adamu Usman.
The sources said seven armed men invaded the mosque at about 9 p.m. and whisked the victim away to an unknown destination.
The sources said that a joint team of security forces, Amotekun Corps, vigilantes and local hunters had since launched a search-and-rescue operation, combing surrounding bushes to track down the suspects and rescue the victim.
Gunmen abduct worshipper in Oyo community
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