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Northwest Governors’ Forum Advances Development Plans With UN, AfDB
Katsina State Governor and the Chairman, Northwest Governors Forum, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda today hosted a meeting of the Northwest Governors’ Forum with senior United Nations officials and the African Development Bank to advance top development initiatives in the region.
In his address to the press following the meeting, Governor Radda hinted on the significance of the engagement with UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, who specifically joined the forum, “because of the importance attached to the forum and to appreciate the kind of leadership in the Northwest at the moment.”
The meeting, which was attended by Governors Uba Sani of Kaduna State, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto, and Umar Namadi of Jigawa State, received briefing from UN Deputy Secretary-Geneeal Amina Muhammed and the UN Resident Coordinator, Malick Fall on progress with various programs and strengthening collective pact.
“Members of the forum agreed to pursue quick and high impact interventions across social protection, education, food security and climate adaptation,” Governor Radda declared.
The Governor also intimated the public on the meeting with the African Development Bank, stating “We had an elaborate meeting with the African Development Bank regarding NAG 2.0 – the Nigeria Agricultural Growth Scheme — which targets the Northwestern states,” Governor Radda stated.
The Governor continued that the forum is on the eve of implementing this program, which will address agricultural development and value chain enhancement within the region.
Governor Radda also announced that discussions with AfDB covered the Special Agro-Processing Zones (SAPZ) phase 2 implementation strategies and the livestock development plan for the region, noting that “While the first phase included Kaduna and Kano States, all five Northwest states will be beneficiaries in the second phase.”
Governor Radda equally stated that the forum interfaced with the IRS on the renewable energy especially solar and CNG for sustainable and economic growth of the region, expressing readiness to tap from the available resources at the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) for the benefits of the region citizenry.
In a move to strengthen regional coordination, the Forum confirmed Ms. Maryam Musa Yahaya as its pioneer Director General. Ms. Yahaya brings into the new role her wealth of experience of engagement with international development partners as well as her working relationship with the State Governments at the Nigeria Govenors Forum (NGF) Secretariat.
“Each state governor has designated a focal person to coordinate development partner programs within their respective states,” stated Governor Radda.
“We have unanimously agreed to work together on economic development, agricultural advancement, addressing the challenge of out-of-school children, poverty alleviation, and youth employment,” Governor Radda emphasized.
“These are the focus areas of our various state administrations in the Northwest,” the Governor stressed.
Governor Radda concluded by affirming the Forum’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s initiatives, stating that “the whole Northwest State Governors are in support of the efforts of Mr. President and his initiatives to provide economic prosperity to our country Nigeria.”
President Bola Tinubu has assured all 774 fellows under the newly launched National Health Fellows Programme of automatic employment after their one-year tenure.
“You are hired,” Tinubu declared during the programme’s launch at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, on Thursday.
In April 2024, Tinubu approved the National Health Fellows Programme, a key initiative under his Renewed Hope Agenda to enhance accountability and efficiency in healthcare delivery.
The fellows, who have been undergoing training since February 27, 2025, under the Sector Wide Approach coordination office, will spend the next year monitoring Primary Healthcare Centres across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
The President’s announcement followed a call by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, for federal, state, and local governments to integrate the fellows into the workforce to advance Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria.
Tinubu hailed the fellows as pioneers of a new era in primary healthcare as Pate highlighted their crucial role in supporting the FG’s plan to expand PHCs from 8,809 to 17,618 by 2027.
The Defence Headquarters has stated that reports from the Nigerian military provide a more accurate account of counter-terrorism efforts in the country than those from external sources.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, stated this on Thursday while fielding questions on the 2025 Global Terrorism Index, which was released on March 5.
The index ranked Nigeria sixth globally, with a score of 7.658, moving up from eighth place in 2023 and 2024. It also recorded 565 terrorism-related deaths in Nigeria in 2024.
Using a family analogy, Kangye argued that information from the family head should be deemed more credible than reports from outsiders.
“Something is happening in my house. I am the head of the house. I have children, I have a wife, and then Kuma Shi (someone else) is reporting what is happening in my house to me. Which one would be more correct? The one I tell you as the head of the house or the one Kuma Shi is reporting from outside?” he asked.
He urged the media to verify and correct any misleading narratives about Nigeria’s security situation, adding, “I’m not countering what they put out there, but as observers, you should be the ones to give the correct version of what is happening in Nigeria.”
On the sit-at-home order in the South East, Kangye noted that fear still keeps many residents indoors on Mondays.
He, however, reassured that the military is actively working to restore normalcy and rid the region of IPOB/ESN fighters.
“Who gave the order? IPOB/ESN criminals. Because of what was happening in the South East, Operation Udo Ka was set up—just like Operation Hadin Kai in the North East.
“The past three commanders in the region have been doing very well. They continue to encourage people to go about their normal business, but in some areas, locals stay home out of fear of being attacked. The commanders are working hard to free the South East from IPOB/ESN influence,” he said.
President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a sustainable and globally competitive financial system to allow Nigerian banks and other financial institutions to thrive.
The President, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, made the statement on Wednesday during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new state-of-the-art headquarters of First Bank of Nigeria at Eko Atlantic City in Lagos State.
Shettima disclosed this in a statement posted on X.com on Wednesday.
The statement read, “President #officialABAT has said that his administration is working assiduously to create a system that is sustainable and globally competitive, enabling Nigerian banks and other financial institutions to thrive.
“He noted that government policies under his administration are driven by the reality that the nation no longer has the luxury of time to postpone its economic transformation.”
Tinubu who noted that banks can only prosper under a thriving economy, however, pointed out that everything his administration does—and sets out to accomplish—rests on the cooperation and capacity of financial institutions.
“Banks are the engines of economic growth, and we owe it to them to champion a system that guarantees sustainability and global competitiveness.
“Our expectation is for our banks to excel, expand beyond our shores, and earn their place among the world’s most viable and profitable enterprises,” he was quoted as saying.
According to the report, a host of prominent dignitaries and political leaders including the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the Chairman of FBN Holdings, Femi Otedola, and former Senate President Bukola Saraki, and governors were among the distinguished guests who attended the event on Wednesday.