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NEEM Foundation advocates more attention, humanitarian interventions in North-West

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NEEM Foundation, a leading crisis response organisation, has advocated for more attention and equitable humanitarian interventions to be given to the North-West region as the North-East has enjoyed.

The call was made in a new research highlighting the disparities in humanitarian response across Nigeria’s Northern Regions carried out by NEEM Foundation in collaboration with the Humanitarian Policy Group at ODI.

The research was presented at an event tagged ” Aid Beyond Politics and according to Need: Overcoming Disparities in Humanitarian Responses in Nigeria ,organised by NEEM Foundation on Friday in Abuja.

Dr Fatima Akilu, Executive Director of NEEM Foundation , said that the research revealed the discrepancies in humanitarian responses between Nigeria’s North-East and North-West regions.

Akilu said this was in spite of facing similar levels of humanitarian need, the North-West remains critically underserved compared to the North-East.

“The study highlights that acute malnutrition in the North-West nearly triples that of the North-East, with 64 per cent of surveyed Local Government Areas .

“This This is reporting ‘serious’ acute malnutrition, compared to 22 per cent in the North-East .’’

Akilu said that these disparities according to the report largely due to differing narratives and perceptions of the conflicts in these regions.

“The North-East’s conflict, framed as an ideologically-driven insurgency, has attracted significant domestic and international humanitarian attention.

“In contrast, the North-West’s crisis is often described as ‘endemic banditry’ or ‘lawlessness,’ leading to its deprioritisation.

“Here, we understood that while the landscape of aid provision in Nigeria is saturated with positive forces that help make the lives of people better, we also recognised that factors internationally and locally often leave certain demographics marginalised and underrepresented.’’

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According to Akilu ,NEEM Foundation sought to understand why this happens, whether aid providers are aware of it, how aid beneficiaries feel about it, and how they can improve it.

She said that the research underscored the urgent necessity to address the root causes of crises and to provide equitable, needs-based humanitarian aid across all regions of Nigeria.

Presenting the findings of the report, Mr John Bryant, Research Fellow at the Humanitarian Policy Group and co-author of the new study, said while the North-East has had a major humanitarian response spanning more than a decade, humanitarian efforts in the North-West have been almost entirely absent.

“The stark differences are primarily a consequence of how respective conflicts are understood in both regions by the state and humanitarian actors.

“ The North-East is commonly framed as an ideologically- driven insurgency of Islamic extremism, a compelling narrative of an understandable threat that helped galvanise domestic and international attention, including an international humanitarian response.

“In contrast, the framing of the conflict in the North-West has worked to effectively depoliticise and deprioritise the region’s crisis. State and international actors commonly describe the crisis as one of ‘endemic banditry’ or ‘lawlessness’ drive fundamentally by underdevelopment.

“ Both of these characterisations are incomplete and simplistic, but have shaped the perceptions of donors and other actors that in turn drive discrepancies.’’

Bryant said that the research underscored the need for the global humanitarian system to reassess its prioritisation mechanisms, especially as donor budgets shrink and fewer people were being targeted in humanitarian appeals.

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He added that the study emphasised that the solution for the North-West should not mirror the North-East response, instead, it advocates for leveraging local humanitarian capacities and supporting state-level authorities to develop more sustainable and effective interventions.

He said the study recommended that state authorities should be the central actors in delivering protection, services and development interventions for affected people.

Bryant added that the study called on humanitarian actors to uphold humanitarian principles, and assistance must be provided on the basis of need.

He said that lessons could and should be learned from the North-East on the responsibility for facilitating a needs-based and principled humanitarian approach among others.

Ms Meghan Diagle ,Senior Research Fellow at Humanitarian Policy Group, ODI, said that the organization is one of the world’s leading teams working on humanitarian issues.

“ We are dedicated to improving humanitarian policy and practice through a combination of high-quality analysis, dialogue and debate.

“The partnership we had with NEEM Foundation has produced a stronger, more interesting and more relevant piece of research that we could not have produced on our own.’’

Diagle advocated the need for international organisations to support local organisations to address the crisis locally by prioritising the adoption of localised approach to encourage local ownership in addressing the crisis and strengthening response among others.
(NAN)

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Boost Military Morale Through Positive Coverage, Media Told

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Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, says media, as gatekeepers and partners in nation-building, have a crucial role to play in supporting our military’s morale by highlighting their successes and sacrifices

The minister noted the critical role of the media in shaping public perception, adding that terrorists and criminal groups often use these avenues to spread fear, propagate disinformation, and recruit followers.

He urged journalists and editors to adopt a responsible and patriotic approach to reporting these issues, by avoiding sensational headlines and refusing to serve as amplifiers of terror propaganda.

Idris stated this on Wednesday at the ministerial press briefing held at the National Press Centre in Abuja.

“The media, as gatekeepers and partners in nation-building, have a crucial role to play in supporting our military’s morale by highlighting their successes and sacrifices,” Idris said.

“We must deny these groups the undue publicity they crave. We must take them off the front pages and accurately report them as the criminals they are, without glorifying their acts or giving credence to their false narratives.

“These are not freedom fighters; they are murderers, kidnappers, and destroyers, and they must be presented as such.”

The minister also noted that federal government is “actively” investing in military capacity through the acquisition of modern equipment, enhanced intelligence, and strategic partnerships.

Idris said the press briefing series is a forum that allows ministers to update Nigerians on the key achievements, ongoing initiatives, and policy directions of their various ministries.

He commended the media for their continued support and their broader role in promoting public awareness of government initiatives.

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“Through this interactive platform, which is being broadcast live on national television stations and streamed across social media platforms, we continue to demonstrate our commitment to transparency, accountability, and public engagement,” he added.

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24 federal tertiary institutions powered by solar energy – Minister

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The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa says 24 federal institutions have been powered by solar energy under the “Energising Education Project’’ of President Bola Tinubu led administration.

Alausa, who disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja, at the Collaboration Agreement Signing Ceremony with the Vice Chancellors of beneficiary institutions added that eight more universities have signed collaboration agreements to join the fourth phase of the project.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, before the signing ceremony, the minister undertook an inspection tour of the solar powered facility at the University of Abuja, now Yakubu Gowon University,

Alausa who described the project as a “new day for Nigeria” hailed the transformative initiative under Tinubu, aimed at providing uninterrupted power supply to Nigeria’s federal tertiary institutions.

He said the projects had wide-reaching benefits for education and the economy.

According to him, the University of Abuja, which now boasts of a solar farm, comprising 6,000 photovoltaic panels, is generating approximately 3.3 megawatts of electricity daily, enough to power the campus round-the-clock.

“This project brings continuous, 24-hour electricity to our institutions.

“It allows for increased academic activity, powers laboratories and libraries throughout the day and night, and improves living and learning conditions for both students and faculty,’’ he said.

The minister emphasised the economic ripple effect of the initiative, explaining how reliable electricity stimulates business within campuses.

“Any campus is a community by itself. With constant power supply, you unleash high economic activity,” he said.

The Minister explained that the project was backed by the Renewable Infrastructure Fund established by President Tinubu, to support infrastructure development across sectors.

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He, therefore, challenged Vice Chancellors of universities on innovative and creative ways of sustaining the project, noting that before 2027, every tertiary institution would have renewable energy generation.

On his part, the Managing Director, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Aliyu said that the phases 1, 2, and 3 of the project have so far impacted over 600,000 students and 50,000 academic staffers.

Aliyu said that the project had also generated over 100 megawatts of electricity to power university campuses and teaching hospitals.

He said the initiative, implemented through multiple phases, had already brought solar mini-grid infrastructure to 24 federal universities across the country.

“What you are seeing here is one of our interventions in the education sector, and the aim is to ensure that universities have a sustainable and affordable electricity supply,” he said

In addition to educational institutions, he said the Universal Public Health Project, part of phase 2, had successfully delivered clean energy to two universities and two teaching hospitals.

He added that the Phase 3, which includes electrification of eight more universities and one additional teaching hospital, is near completion and set to be commissioned in the coming two months.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the eight new beneficiary institutions include: Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Federal University, Wukari, Taraba state.

Others are Federal University Dutse, University of Benin, University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and University of Lagos. (NAN)

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APC Group To Tinubu:Stop Illegal Third-Term Bids In Lagos LG Officials

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A pro-democracy group, the Progressive Group for Democracy (PGD), has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and stop local government officials in Lagos State from pursuing unconstitutional third terms in upcoming council elections.

The group alleges that officials in Agbado Oke-Odo and Ikosi Isheri Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) are exploiting legal loopholes to extend their tenures, in violation of Nigeria’s Constitution.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, PGD National Coordinator Aladesanmi Abiodun Salawu described the move as a “clear violation” of constitutional provisions and a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

He invoked President Tinubu’s historical opposition to tenure elongation, referencing the president’s fierce resistance to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s third-term bid in the early 2000s.

“As a pro-democracy group, we are reminded of President Tinubu’s fierce opposition to Obasanjo’s third-term agenda. President Tinubu stood firmly against constitutional manipulation then. Where is the president’s voice now?” Salawu asked.

The PGD alleges that the officials in question assumed office following the deaths of elected chairpersons, took oaths of office, and later won full terms in subsequent elections.

“Their current bids for re-election, the group argues, constitute an unconstitutional third term. Salawu cited the Fourth Alteration to the Constitution, signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018, which prohibits individuals from seeking a third term after completing a predecessor’s tenure and winning a subsequent election.

“Today, we stand at a very dangerous crossroads. The same anti-democratic forces that our heroes fought against during the June 12 struggle are re-emerging in Lagos State,” Salawu said.

“In Agbado Oke-Odo and Ikosi Isheri LCDAs, we are witnessing a calculated attempt to normalise constitutional violations through the backdoor.”

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The group also criticised Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, accusing him of complicity due to his silence on the issue. “As the chief security officer of Lagos State, (Sanwo-Olu)has a constitutional duty to uphold the rule of law. His silence is not just concerning; it is complicity,” Salawu said.

The PGD urged President Tinubu to publicly denounce the third-term bids and called on the Attorney General of the Federation to issue an advisory on term limits for local government administrations.

It also demanded that the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) disqualify candidates seeking unconstitutional terms.

“These individuals in Agbado Oke-Odo and Ikosi Isheri LCDAs must withdraw their candidacy immediately. We are not making a request; we are stating what the constitution already mandates,” Salawu declared.

The group vowed to challenge the alleged violations through legal means, including mobilising civil society, approaching the courts, and organising peaceful protests if necessary.

“The Lagos Society for Good Governance will utilise every legal means available to challenge this dangerous precedent,” Salawu added.

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