Troops Neutralize Kidnappers, Rescue Abducted Victims in Plateau

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of 3 Division and Operation Safe Haven have neutralized two kidnappers and rescued a woman and her daughter in Gindiri, Mangu Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation took place on Feb. 23 at about 8:30 p.m. after troops received intelligence on the abduction of the victims in Gindiri Town.

Acting on the information, troops swiftly mobilized and pursued the kidnappers, making contact with them on the outskirts of the town. In the ensuing gunfight, two of the kidnappers were neutralized, while another was captured with fatal injuries.

The abducted woman and her daughter were successfully rescued without harm and taken to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (Gindiri Branch) for first aid before being reunited with their family.

Troops have since intensified patrols in the area to enhance security and boost public confidence.

Troops Neutralize Kidnappers, Rescue Abducted Victims in Plateau

Kazakhstan Expresses Willingness to Improve Volume of Trade with Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

Kazakhstan has expressed its willingness to improve on the trade relations with Nigeria

Currently, the trade volume between both countries stands at about $1 million.

The Asian country’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs,Alibek Kuantyrov, who is in Nigeria leading 30 delegates from both public and private sectors, said on Tuesday in Abuja that his country and Nigeria have the potential to improve on the current trade relations.

This, Kazakhstan Deputy Foreign Minister said, his country is so much interested in an upsurge in value-added trade between the two countries.

While explained that the visit to Nigeria is aimed at exploring all avenues, he said: “The trade is not that big. I think it’s less than one million dollars. And, of course, we have to raise this figure in manifold, because we have a great potential for that.

“On the one hand, Kazakhstan is rich in one kind of resources, mineral resources and agricultural resources, and Nigeria is also rich. And more than that, we should develop the value-added trade between two countries.

“And that’s why we are here, and that’s why we are discussing this potential, not only in trade, but also in mutual investment and in cooperating in the ICT, IT and AI spheres.”

Kuantyrov disclosed that some agreements have already been signed.

He said, “We already, for example, today, signed a memorandum between Astana International Financial Centre and the Taj Bank. So, this in particular is directed at developing the Islamic banking and Islamic finance in Kazakhstan, where, you know, Nigeria has a great experience. So, we have quite a big Islamic population in our country.
“So, this is just a particular project that we are developing at the moment. And of course, there will be other projects.”

He disclosed that the delegation had been involved in government to government and business to business meetings.
The issue of visa was also part of discussion, he noted.

He said: “Well, for the last two days, these have been very active days, and we had plenty of G2G and B2B meetings. Well, yesterday we started with a meeting with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where we discussed issues on political consultations, visa requirements, and also mutual support at international platforms, including the UN. After that, we had a meeting with the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment.

“And we are very much interested in developing cooperative projects in the sphere of solid minerals with Nigeria, and, of course, increasing our bilateral trade. For example, one of the interests is directly importing cocoa beans, of which the chocolate, the Kazakhstani chocolate, is made. And, of course, there are many, many other spheres where we can cooperate, including exporting Kazakhstani grain, high-quality grain, wheat, to be particular, to Nigeria.

“After that, we also had a meeting with two ministers, one of the Minister of Oil and also the Minister of Gas, where we also expressed mutual interest in developing oil and gas projects together and exchanging technologies and expertise in developing these spheres. Also, we had a meeting with the EXIM Bank that is helping trade operations, export and import operations. And we decided to have close cooperation with the Kazakhstani EXIM Bank as well.

“And today, we also had a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture, where we discussed phytosanitary and other restrictions, that elimination of them will be helping us in boosting our bilateral trade, especially in the agricultural sector. I personally had a meeting with the Minister of Digital Economy, where we also agreed upon cooperating in the spheres of cost monitoring, in the sphere of IT development, ICT development, smart bridges, e-golf, etc., where Kazakhstan has a lot of experience and is one of the forerunners in the world in e-golf and ICT. And Nigeria has a great potential to do the same, and Nigeria has been developing very rapidly in the sphere of ICT and smart cities.”

He insisted that the visit, which was facilitated by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has been a great success.

He said: “So, I consider this visit to be very successful, and we’re going to continue our joint work with the Nigerian side. And in the coming future, we’re also awaiting a business delegation led by His Royal Majesty, His Royal Highness, to Kazakhstan, to Astana International Forum, where we’re going to go on with mutual realisation of investment and trade projects.”

Kazakhstan Expresses Willingness to Improve Volume of Trade with Nigeria

ActionAid: Conceited Efforts of All Needed for Seamless Migration of Returned Migrants

By: Michael Mike

ActionAid Nigeria has called for conceited efforts from all sections of the society to make reintegration of returned migrants seamless in the country.

Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday at the at the Community Forum on Sustainable Reintegration of Returned Migrants in Nigeria and Project inception meeting for the ActionAid, GIZ RECONNECT Project, the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu, said all stakeholders should identify the barriers that still exist in seamless reintegration of returned migrants into the society and find solutions together.

He said: “This forum is a space for that kind of critical dialogue, and it is my hope that as we engage over the next few hours, we can begin to chart a way forward for more effective, inclusive, and sustainable reintegration practices.

“At ActionAid Nigeria, we recognise that sustainable reintegration is not a one-off conversation. It is an ongoing process that requires continuous engagement, collaboration, and action. That is why we are launching this forum as a biannual event. We envision this forum as a “community of practice” platform where stakeholders from different sectors, ranging from government agencies to civil society organizations, development partners, and returned migrants themselves, can come together to share insights, experiences, and best practices.”

Mamedu, who was represented by AAN Deputy Country Director, Hajia Suwaiba Dankabo, said: “So, I invite all of us—whether as organisations, institutions, or individuals—to take a moment to critically assess the state of our work. Are we truly meeting the needs of the individuals we serve? Are our interventions making a lasting difference? Are we ensuring that our work is sustainable and impactful in the long run? It is only by having these difficult conversations, not just within our own organisations but across the entire community, that we can begin to make headway.”

He highlighted two challenges faced in seamless reintegration of returned migrants into the society to include; the challenge of big numbers and that of lack of community support.

He noted that: “One of the consequences of this fragmentation is that some individuals have taken advantage of the system for personal gain, turning the status of being a returned migrant into a commodity. This undermines the credibility of our efforts and compromises the well-being of those we seek to support,” adding that: “Without effective coordination, we lose valuable opportunities to share intelligence, resources, and best practices, which could lead to more efficient and impactful interventions.

“We must ask ourselves: how can we promote true cooperation within the migration space? How can we create a shared platform that goes beyond meetings, trainings, and workshops to define and implement industry standards? How can we ensure that we are working in a way that maximizes our collective resources and expertise, rather than competing with each other? It is clear that our approach needs to evolve. We must prioritise collaboration over competition, sharing resources and intelligence to create a more effective and efficient system of support for returned migrants.”

On his part, the Honourable Federal Commissioner – National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs (NCFRMI), Hon. Tijjani Ahmed said the project, a timely and strategic initiative aimed at ensuring the sustainable reintegration and economic empowerment of vulnerable populations in Nigeria.

He further said: “Today’s gathering portrays our commitment to improving the quality of life, reducing suffering, and fostering long-term stability for those most affected by displacement, irregular migration, and socio-economic challenges.”

The Commissioner who was repented by a Director in the Commision, Ambassador Kathrene Udida, said: “At the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), we recognize that sustainable reintegration is about restoring dignity, ensuring livelihoods, and creating an environment where returnees can thrive ni their communities. This requires collaboration, innovation, and a people-centered approach, and we commend ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) and GIZ for their leadership and support in this transformative initiative.

“Therefore, Iurge al stakeholders, government agencies, civil society, private sector actors, and community representatives, to work ni synergy to ensure that this project delivers lasting impact. The success of reintegration programs depends on creating economic opportunities, strengthening social cohesion, and ensuring that returnees and displaced persons are not left behind.”

ActionAid: Conceited Efforts of All Needed for Seamless Migration of Returned Migrants