Uncategorized
Zulum: Plying roads with over 100 tons load economic sabotage
Zulum: Plying roads with over 100 tons load economic sabotage
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has described attitudes by some traders and owners of heavy-duty vehicles plying the Maiduguri – Gamboru Ngala road with loads exceeding 100 tons as economic sabotage.
Zulum stated this on Sunday in Gamboru town of Ngala Local Government Council.
Zulum highlighted the excessive strain that heavy trucks place on the road leading to accelerated deterioration.
He expressed concern over the long-term consequences of this practice, emphasizing that it undermines the federal government’s efforts to improve and expand the state’s infrastructure, hindering economic progress and development.
“It is sad to note what has been happening here. You can see trailers loaded with over 2,000 bags of cement or sugar. That entails more than 100 tons of commodities. This trend is only seen on this road and as a result, the road leading to Gamboru Ngala has been destroyed due to overload,” Zulum stated.

Furthermore, the governor emphasized the threat to public safety posed by overloaded trucks, citing the increased risk of accidents, particularly along the Maiduguri-Gamboru road. Zulum stressed the need for strict enforcement of weight regulations to protect both infrastructure and human lives.
The governor lamented that resulting from the impact of overloading, the bridge linking the Nigerian part of the border and other neighbouring countries was affected and nearly collapsed.
To address these concerns, Governor Zulum announced his administration’s plans to collaborate with relevant agencies of the federal government to address the issue effectively.
AThe governor also outlined a multifaceted approach, including increased enforcement of weight restrictions, strict implementation of penalties for violators and the establishment of weigh stations at strategic points along major transportation routes.
However, the governor noted that despite the government’s commitment to enhancing trans-border trade, appropriate measures will be implemented to maintain road infrastructure.
Zulum has lauded the efforts of the federal government for its commitment to revitalizing federal roads in Borno State.
Zulum: Plying roads with over 100 tons load economic sabotage
Uncategorized
FG Reaffirms Commitment to Uphold Rights of Inmates
FG Reaffirms Commitment to Uphold Rights of Inmates
By: Michael Mike
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to uphold the rights and dignity of all persons in held behind bars.
The commitment was made on Thursday in Abuja by the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo during the Commemoration of Nelson Mandela International Day 2025 and the presentation of the audit report of six custodial centres across the North-East.
The Minister, who was represented at the event sponsored by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) by the Director, Joint Services, Federal Ministry of Interior, Nasiru Usman, said holding discussion on prison reforms on Nelson Mandela Day is profoundly symbolic as late South African President’s legacy reminds us that justice, dignity, and humanity must remain central to how we treat even those behind bars.
He said: “Let me reaffirm the Federal Government’s commitment to upholding the rights and dignity of all persons in custody, in line with the Nigerian Constitution and our international obligations. The Nelson Mandela Rules which is the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners remains a central reference point for our correctional policies and reforms.”
He noted: “Today’s presentation of the prison audit report marks a critical milestone. Evidence-based assessments such as this are essential for shaping effective and humane correctional reforms. The audit of six custodial centres across the North-East provides a clear picture of the current realities within our facilities and will serve as a vital tool in informing policy, guiding resource allocation, and strengthening future collaborations.
He said: “We commend UNODC’s broader interventions in our correctional system, including the training of correctional officers and support for non-custodial measures and legal aid. These efforts contribute meaningfully to the professionalization and humanization of our correctional system.
“Particularly commendable is the initiative to establish inmate product display shops in select custodial centres. This innovative project aligns with our goal of equipping inmates with vocational skills, fostering economic empowerment, and changing public perceptions of incarcerated individuals. It is a vital step forward in enabling successful reintegration.”
He said: “As we move forward, I urge sustained multi-sectoral collaboration. Correctional reform cannot be achieved by government alone. It requires coordinated action across civil society, the private sector, and legal institutions. We must invest more in rehabilitation programmes, community-based alternatives to incarceration, and reintegration support.
“The Ministry remains fully committed to enhancing custodial conditions, promoting data-driven decision-making, digitizing inmate records, and ensuring proper classification and case management, especially for vulnerable groups such as women, juveniles, and persons with mental health challenges.”
The Minister called on all stakeholders present to continue working together to transform our correctional system into one that reflects the values of justice and humanity, streaking that: “Let us treat every inmate not as a burden or statistic, but as a human being capable of reform and reintegration.
“Let this Mandela Day renew our collective resolve to build a correctional system that protects society, respects human rights, and gives every individual a chance at redemption.”
In her welcome address, United Nations Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator and Designated Official a.i, Ms. Elsie Attafuah said: “We stand here today, united on Nelson Mandela International Day, a day that ignites our shared vow to justice, dignity, and human rights, especially in the shadows of prisons. At its core shines the Nelson Mandela Rules, forged in 2015 as the renewed United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. These aren’t mere words: they forge a bold, rights-driven blueprint for corrections everywhere, rooting every moment of imprisonment in respect, responsibility, renewal, and return to society. Demanding openness, unbiased watchdogs, and safeguards for the fragile, the Mandela Rules echo the United Nations Common Position on Incarceration: liberty’s loss must forever be our absolute last choice.”
She noted that at the core of the audit are identifying areas for immediate improvement in custodial conditions and recommending actionable steps to protect inmate welfare; Generating data to inform targeted justice sector reforms, including profiling pretrial detainees and mapping gaps in legal representation, and ensuring systematic alignment of Nigerian correctional practices with the Mandela Rules to drive progressive compliance with global human rights standards.”
She disclosed that the findings of the audit which will be discussed today presents clear evidence of both progress and remaining challenges. As of July 2025, Nigeria’s custodial centres hold 81,686 inmates, with 66 percent (53,713 inmates) still awaiting trial. This figure reflects a meaningful decline from 70 percent in July 2024, underscoring the impact of enhanced legal aid, the expanded use of non-custodial options, and improvements in case management.
She however added that: “As we dive into these truths, remember: rebuilding lives and weaving them back into society isn’t just the warden’s burden, it’s our collective call to rally businesses, schools, and neighborhoods. Together, we carve jobs and futures, arming the released with tools to reinsert himself to society as a law abiding citizen. Let’s weave a web of welcome that shatters prison walls, nurturing forgiveness for those chasing second chances.”
End
Uncategorized
Gunmen abduct four family members in Niger community

Gunmen abduct four family members in Niger community
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed men have reportedly abducted four members of a family in Tungan-Mangoro village, located in the Nasko axis of Niger State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 7:00 p.m. on July 14 when the assailants stormed the residence of a community elder, Alhaji Danlami, and took away four of his relatives at gunpoint.
The victims have been identified as Abbas Danlami, Jamila Dan’asibi (female); Samaila Dan’asibi, and Naja.
Sources in the area said the attackers arrived in large numbers and operated for several minutes, causing panic among residents.
Security forces have since launched a search operation in nearby forests to locate the abductors and rescue the victims.
Gunmen abduct four family members in Niger community
Uncategorized
Gunmen abduct four family members in Niger community

Gunmen abduct four family members in Niger community
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed men have reportedly abducted four members of a family in Tungan-Mangoro village, located in the Nasko axis of Niger State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 7:00 p.m. on July 14 when the assailants stormed the residence of a community elder, Alhaji Danlami, and took away four of his relatives at gunpoint.
The victims have been identified as Abbas Danlami, Jamila Dan’asibi (female); Samaila Dan’asibi, and Naja.
Sources in the area said the attackers arrived in large numbers and operated for several minutes, causing panic among residents.
Security forces have since launched a search operation in nearby forests to locate the abductors and rescue the victims.
End
-
News1 year ago
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions3 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
Opinions4 years ago
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News1 year ago
EYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Columns1 year ago
Army University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
ACADEMICS1 year ago
A History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Opinions1 year ago
Tinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
-
Politics1 month ago
2027: Why Hon. Midala Balami Must Go, as Youths in Hawul and Asikira/Uba Federal Constituency Reject ₦500,000 as Sallah Gift