Category: News

My Day, My Rights: Children Call for Real Change in Bauchi

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By: Bashir Hassan Abubakar Children in Bauchi took centre stage on Thursday as UNICEF Nigeria, Bauchi Field Office, in collaboration with state MDAs, marked the 2025 World Children’s Day with a special interface between children and policymakers. The event created a rare platform where children engaged directly with government officials, community leaders, civil society groups, and the media under the theme “My Day, My Rights.” Speaking at the celebration, the Chief of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique—represented by Oluseyi Olosunde—reminded participants that World Children’s Day commemorates the adoption…

Gunmen Seize 50+ Students in Niger School Raid

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Terrorists abducted more than 50 students during an overnight raid on St. Mary’s School, a Catholic institution in the Papiri Community of Niger State’s Agwara local government area. The Niger state government confirmed the development in a statement. “The Niger State Government has received with deep sadness the disturbing news of the kidnapping of pupils from St. Mary’s School,” the statement read. Details later…

WASH Experts Chart New Roadmap at World Toilet Day Webinar

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By: Bashir Hassan Abubakar As the global community marks World Toilet Day 2025, Mangrove & Partners, a leading institutional strengthening consultancy, convened a high-level national webinar to accelerate efforts toward ending open defecation in Nigeria. Speaking at the virtual workshop, Managing Partner/CEO Timeyin Uwejamomere said the session was designed to unite key WASH stakeholders to examine strategies for scaling up sanitation interventions at national and subnational levels. He stressed the urgency of fast-tracking Nigeria’s journey toward an Open Defecation Free (ODF) status. The webinar spotlighted the country’s two ODF-certified states—Jigawa…

Shippers’ Council Boosts Maritime Police Port Efficiency

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APAPA, Nigeria — Nov. 19, 2025 — The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and the Nigeria Police Maritime Command have initiated joint efforts to streamline port operations and mitigate delays stemming from human factors. The continued routine delays in cargo clearance at Nigerian seaports are negatively impacting business and increasing costs for stakeholders. The average dwell time of 21 days is significantly higher than Singapore’s 6 hours and Lome’s 7 days. The Nigerian Shippers’ Council Executive Secretary Akutah Pius Ukeyima emphasized the Maritime Police’s strategic role in trade facilitation and interference…

J4PD Seeks Ethical, Compassionate GBV Reporting

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By: Bashir Hassan Abubakar As the world prepares for the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, media-focused Civil Society Organization, Journalists for Public Health and Development Initiative (J4PD), has urged journalists nationwide to follow GBV cases through to their logical conclusion to ensure justice is served. J4PD stressed that beyond reporting arrests, journalists must monitor court proceedings, trials and eventual convictions to help deter perpetrators and reinforce survivors’ confidence in the justice system. The organisation also appealed for empathy in GBV reportage, emphasising compassion and ethical sensitivity when…

Bandits Kill Vice Principal, Abduct 25 Students in Kebbi School Raid.

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Armed bandits in large numbers reportedly attacked Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS) Maga in Danko/Wasagu LGA of Kebbi State, abducting at least 25 students and killing the vice principal early Monday, November 17. This was confirmed in a statement issued by the Kebbi State Police Command Spokesman, Nafi’u Abubakar Kotarkoshi, who stated that the assailants abducted 25 students during the attack. Abubakar added that they were “armed with sophisticated weapons” and “stormed the school around 4:00am, engaging police personnel on duty in a gun duel He confirmed that…

Customs Busts Ring Smuggling Patas Monkeys Along Badagry-Seme Corridor

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A routine checkpoint stop by the Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) resulted in the interception of a wildlife trafficking operation involving a lion cub and two patas monkeys. The seizure occurred in the early hours of Sunday, November 16, 2025, on the Badagry–Seme Expressway as part of ongoing efforts to combat illegal trade. Command spokesperson CSC Isah Suleiman reported that a blue Mazda vehicle, registration number MUS 743 HA, was halted by customs operatives at Gbaji around 2:19 a.m. A subsequent search uncovered ‘One (1) Lion…

Gumi: ”I acted With Approval” in Bandit Talks.

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Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has rebuffed critics calling for his arrest, stating that those who advocate for his arrest do not know his role in efforts to address banditry. Gumi maintained that his involvement with armed groups was part of a wider search for peace and was undertaken with the knowledge of authorities. To recall, his recent comment on his staunch support for dialogue as a viable approach to ending rural violence ignited public debate across some parts of the country, where other citizens are calling for his arrest. Gumi stated:…

DRF Coverage to Hit 50% as Bauchi Pushes Healthcare Upgrade

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By: Bashir Hassan Abubakar The Bauchi State Drugs and Medical Consumables Management Agency (DMMA) has intensified efforts to ensure uninterrupted access to quality and affordable essential medicines by expanding the Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) scheme across the state. So far, 352 health facilities—representing 30 percent of public healthcare institutions—are enrolled. In a major push to extend coverage, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has approved the enrolment of an additional 248 facilities and released funds for their capitalization. The expansion aims to strengthen the availability of essential drugs, especially at primary healthcare…

New Globe, Bauchi SUBEB Move Toward Partnership on Basic Education Reform

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By: Bashir Hassan Abubakar The Permanent Secretary of the Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Abduhamid Mohammed, has expressed optimism over a proposed partnership with New Globe, an international education support organisation, aimed at enhancing the delivery of basic education in the state. Mohammed stated that the collaboration is expected to help address key challenges affecting foundational learning in Bauchi State. He made the remark shortly after a delegation from New Globe presented it’s profile to SUBEB management as part of efforts to explore areas of cooperation with the…