Humanitarian Ministry Inaugurates Committee On Implementation And Institutionalization Of The Ministry’s Strategic Roadmap And Coordination Framework

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has aninaugurated the Committee on the implementation and institutionalisation of its Strategic Roadmap and Coordinating framework.
The Committee with members drawn from departments and Agencies under the Ministry was inaugurated by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Dr Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, mni, NPOM, in Abuja.

According to Rhoda Ishaku Iliya, Deputy Director Information, in a press release she signed on Friday, 20th January, 2023, stated that the Permanent Secretary said the Roadmap aptly themed “Mapping out a life of dignity for all ” was conceived from the mandate given to the Ministry on its establishment in August, 2019 which is “To develop humanitarian policies, coordinate National and International humanitarian interventions, ensure strategic disaster mitigation, preparedness and response and manage the formulation and implementation of fair focused social inclusion and protection programmes in Nigeria”.

He said in order to achieve this Mandate, the Ministry developed it’s Strategic Roadmap outlining its initiatives, action plans and strategies. This he said is contained in its seven (7) strategic pillars enumerated as follows: strengthening policies and Institutional Frameworks, Building Evidence-Based systems for Transparency and Accessibility, Enhanced Programme Delivery through Effective Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanism, Optimizing Funding and Resourcing Opportunities, Strategic Partnership, Collaborations and Disability Inclusion, Implementation of a robust Humanitarian Coordination system for improved strategic Communication & Governance and Mainstreaming of sustainable Development Goals and Integration of Social Initiatives and Investment Programmes.
Dr. Sani-Gwarzo said the Ministry in actualising the seven pillars of the Roadmap identified the need for an effective coordination and synergy of actions. For this reason he said a standardized Coordination Frameworks was developed to enable the Ministry to “Lead an Inclusive Innovative Future-Thinking Ecosystem (L.I.F.E), this Framework focuses on collaboration between the Ministry, its Agencies and programmes so as to have a central task of aligning all Independent Mandates to execute the overall Ministry’s vision which is “To create sustainable and inclusive systems that promote human dignity in Nigeria.
He said that the Roadmap was launched on 14th February, 2022 and the constitution of a Committee and Institutionalizing the strategic Roadmap and Coordination and Framework is long overdue because the document will help serve as a supportive blueprint for the Ministry and Agencies under its supervision in conceptualizing and driving all its activities, initiatives and programmes in line with the objectives of the National Development plan 2021-2025 of the Federal Government.
He urged all departments and Agencies under the Ministry to take the task of implementing the contents of the document seriously. He urged the members of the committee to move into action immediately, harmonies the work and put up a time line of action.
He also stated that the Ministry will be organising the first Nigeria International Humanitarian Summit on the 9th of January, 2023 and encouraged all stakeholders to key into the event.

The Director Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr.Peter Nwakpa, in his opening remarks said the Roadmap is a five year strategic plan of action built on seven pillars and developed to provide policy direction for the Ministry and its Agencies with the aim of achieving the Mandate, vision and mission of the Ministry in Coordinating the activities of the humanitarian sector.
He said the Roadmap is such an important document in the life of the Ministry that the Committee should give it all the desired attention, urging the the Committee to work seriously to achieve the aim and also do their best in achieving their target.
In an overview on the Strategic Roadmap by the Deputy Director (PRS), Hajara Ahmed, she said the Roadmap was born out of the National Development Plan which was launched in December 2021, by His Excellency Mr. President, and the roadmap is a follow up of that National Development Plan and it has specific strategic pillars.
She said “some may be aware and some may be seeing the document for the first time, the whole idea is for everyone to key in. As we are aware, the vision of the Ministry is to create sustainable and inclusive social systems that promote human dignity for all, that is why we’re all here to be able to achieve this vision.
The Implementation plan could be done according to the seven pillars so the coordination of this Implementation exercise will be done quarterly. I urge the members for full compliance because this is what is going to drive all the activities of the Ministry going forward”.
The Director General, National Senior Citizens Centre, Mrs. Emem Omokaro, PHD, in her contribution said she was privileged to have the document during the Launch and have studied it. she said it came at the appropriate time because they had just been inaugurated as an Agency and being newly inaugurated, the strategic Roadmap was very important to them.
She said they could not have started without using the document to develop the Agency’s specific strategic Roadmap that the document guided the Agency in developing it’s Roadmap.
In attendance were Directors of the Ministry, National Coordinator NSIP and Heads of Agencies of the Ministry.

Obi Promises To Restructure Security Architecture in Kaduna during campaign

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi has promised to restructure the security architecture in order to tackle insecurity in the country if elected the president in the February 25 election.

He made the pledge on Wednesday as his campaign train landed in Kaduna State, two days after his appearance at the Chatham House in the United Kingdom where he discussed his policies with the London think-tank.

“Kaduna State today hosts our best and biggest military formation. Kaduna State is supposed to be most secured place in Nigeria but today, people can’t sleep in Kaduna State with their eyes closed. That is why Datti (Baba-Ahmed) and I will secure and unite Nigeria. We assure you security will come back here again.

“We have insecurity today not because the bandits are more formidable than government but because there is no leadership. We will restructure the security governance architecture. We will get more people into the security system. We will ensure that our security people are well cared for,” Obi said.

Obi also pledged to ensure that the security personnel are well taken care of by insuring their lives so that if anything happens to them on duty, their families will be well taken care of.

“We can no longer allow it when police people are killed, army people are killed and their families go and suffer, we will ensure that they are insured and their families are taken care of if anything happens to them,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor said under his watch as president if elected, the vast land in the northern region of the country will be turned into agricultural field, assuring that jobs will be created from there for the many youths who are unemployed.

Source: KPA

SDP Presidential Candidate To Speak At Nigeria Institute Of International Affairs

The Presidential Candidate of the Social Democratic Party(SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, will on Monday 23rd January, 2023 be speaking at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).

According to a statement signed by the Director-General of NIIA, Professor Eghosa E. Osaghae, the Ondo-born politician will be speaking on The World of Nigeria and Nigeria in the World: Foreign policy as Adjunct of Domestic priorities.

The event will hold at NIIA Ultra Modern Conference Chamber, Lagos at 2pm.

The Nigeria Institute of International Affairs aim is to provide a nursery of ideas on what direction Nigeria should take on international affairs.

The Institute is a specialized instrument of foreign policy formulation in Nigeria. It serves as an intellectual base upon which decision-makers rely for informed opinion and expert advice in order to make rational choices between contending policy options.

Troops Of Op. Forest Sanity Neutralize Bandits, Recover Arms Ammunitions In Katsina, Kebbi And Zamfara States

On 17 Jan 23, troops of Op FOREST SANITY depl at Danali in Danmusa LGA of Kastina State while on fighting patrol along Rd Maidabino- Danmusa encountered and engaged terrorists in a fire fight in which 2 x bandit were neutralized. Also two (2) Ak 47 rifles and three (3) MCs were recovered.

According to Major General Musa Danmadami, Director Defence Media Operations Defence Headquarters, in a press release on Thursday
19 January 2022, said, on 18 January 2023, troops of Op FOREST SANITY while on fighting patrol to Dunya in Danmusa LGA of Katsina encountered terrorists at Dangeza Village Tps engaged the terrorists in a fire fight and neutralized one (1), troops also recovered one ( 1 ) AK 47 rifle mounted on a motorcycle with two (2) magazines, and one (1) Baofeng HHR. Additionaly on the same day, troops conducted clearance operation to Malekachi, Munhaye, Awala, Mairairai, Kabari villages in Danko-Wasagu and Maru Local Government Areas of Kebbi and Zamfara States respectively. Troops made contact with terrorists at various locations and a fire fight ensued. Following the encounter, troops neutralized seven (7) terrorist , recovered four (4) vehicles and eight (8) motorcycles which were destroyed. Troops also recovered three (3) AK 47 rifles,  one (1) SMG, thirty two (32) rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition,one (1) Baofeng radio, two (2) laptops and ten (10) mobile phones amongst others items.

The military high command commends troops of Operation FOREST SANITY and encourages the general public to avail troops with credible and timely information on criminal activities.

Buhari to declare open PACAC’s conference in Abuja

By Emmanuel Daudu, Abuja

The fight against corruption has been the cardinal pillar of the Buhari-led administration since 2015 and the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, PACAC, has been at the forefront of the campaign.

Now that President Muhammadu Buhari is planning to hand over power to the next administration in a few months from now, PACAC says there is a need to take a holistic review of the fight against corruption in Nigeria so far.

The Executive Secretary of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, PACAC, Prof. Sadiq Isah Radda, said, it’s event which is coming up on the 26th of January, 2023, at the National Judicial Institute, Jabi, FCT with the theme: “The Fight Against Corruption: The Past, the present, and the Future”, would be declared open by the President, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to the Executive Secretary of the Committee, Prof. Sadiq Isah Radda, in a statement released by the Communication Officer Mr. Aghogho Agbahor, on Wednesday disclosed that the goal of the conference is to examine the present anti-corruption campaign. It further hopes for a critical evaluation of the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

Radda, giving a brief about the Committee said, it was established in August 2015, with the mandate to promote the reform agenda of the government on the anti-corruption effort and to advise the present administration in the prosecution of the war against corruption and the implementation of required reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
“PACAC is supported by a 7-member Technical Committee”.

Hunger Is The Root Cause Of Mental Imbalance – Don


By Queendaline Elo

A university don and founder of a non-profit organization known as The Mighty One Empowerment Foundation (TEMOEFA), Professor Barika Dominic Saro-Laka, has identified hunger to be responsible for mental imbalance in the society.


Speaking in an interview as a guest on globally syndicated 97 media stations powered by Dr. Bright Echendu of TSTV and anchored by Emmanuel Daudu on the theme “Zero Hunger: United Nations SDG Goal 2” yesterday, January 18, the development activist, described hunger as the world’s first potent killer, inducer of diseases, booster of crimes, and propeller of despondency and social frustration in the society.


He equated hunger with evil, as according to him, it permanently pushes down production, which is at its lowest ebb, thereby making the masses to suffer an untold dimension of hardship.
The professor harped on the necessity for enhancing policies and schemes that could enhance the realization of food sufficiency and food security for the well-being of humanity.


The humanist commended the efforts of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), ActionAid, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Clinton Foundation, and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) for helping people to feed well and live long.


He also lauded the various initiatives and interventions of the NIRSAL Microfinance Bank Limited, Bank of Industry, African Development Bank, Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL Plc), and the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) for aiding farmers and agro-allied entrepreneurs to produce more food and raw materials in Nigeria.

However, the activist called on the Federal Republic of Nigeria to increase budgetary allocations for these agencies to enable them play more active roles in order to reduce the high level of hunger in the country.


Continuing, Saro-Laka advised the United Nations to demand concrete evidence of steps taken and the results achieved in crushing down the high tide of hunger from delegations to represent different countries as it hosts the Zero Hunger Review Summit in New York this year.

He explained that majority of African citizens were the worst hit as their leaders are sitting on the fence and watching their citizens die as a result of minor and preventable diseases caused by hunger.
The activist urged African leaders to step up the fight against hunger by working to improve the living conditions of their people so as to justify their elections into various offices.


Professor Saro-Laka explained that the understanding of the harm, pains and agonies caused by hunger has often propelled his non-governmental organisation (NGO) to regularly distribute various food items and health accessories to abandoned and neglected needy individuals and groups such as widows, orphanages, physically-challenged persons, old people’s homes, leprosy centres, and lDP Camps while providing free training on agricultural extension services and planting techniques to rural farmers.


The visiting professor to HIPDET University, USA, and British American University, United Kingdom, also lauded the efforts of Theobarth Global Foundation and the World Sustainable Development Goal Organisation (WOSDEGO), in reducing hunger in the land, requesting individuals to engage in subsistence agriculture in order to complement the efforts of commercial farmers and cottage industrialists so as to meet the food supply needs of Nigeria’s large population.
He also advised the government to devote a certain percentage of the annual budget for the provision of machineries, fertilizers and equipment as well as for storage and processing facilities and insecticides to assist farmers attain maximum food production and sustainability in this sub-sector.


“Governments, at all levels, through their various implementing and regulatory agencies must adopt discreet selection processes to prevent fraudsters tagged “handbag farmers” from getting access to soft loans meant for actual and active farmers so that the huge resources being deployed in this direction can be tangibly felt”, he pleaded.

COAS Commission Ultra Modern Gymnasium, Swimming Pool In 3 Division


….Pledges Nigerian Army Commitment to Improve Sporting facilities for Personnel

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya commissioned a state of the art gymnasium and swimming pool at Headquarters 3 Division Nigerian Army. He said the edifice will complement the Government efforts at providing qualitative sporting facilities for personnel of the Nigerian Army (NA).

Gen Yahaya who was represented by the Chief of Standard and Evaluation Army Maj Gen S Muhammed commended the General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN for conceiving the project and ensuring it completion within his tenure in office as GOC.

He charged the personnel to make sporting activities a hubby in order to improve their competitiveness in sport competitions. Adding that his decision to support the improvement of supporting activities in all Nigerian Army Barracks is premised on the resolve to make sporting activities a tremendous source of joy and energy to troops and members of their families.

He further said the facility is significant to the health and fitness of personnel as well as assisting troops preparing for combat competitions to train for a successful outing.

The Chief of Army Staff further commended the GOC for his visionary leadership and laudable achievement achieved during his tenure and wished him success as he goes to take over as the Theatre Commander Operation HADIN KAI.

Speaking earlier during the welcome address, the General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN welcomed all present and disclosed that the Chief of Army Staff laid the first block on which the Gymnasium and Pool was built and thanked him for his continuous support to 3 Division.

Also speaking during the brief, the Deputy Director 3 Division physical Training Lt Col AA Olatoye said the gymnasium which has the male and female sections is equipped with 6 treadmills of 7 horse power, 6 electric exercise bike, 2 multipurpose machine, 4 total crazy body massagers, a leg press, a hip abduction machine, 2 sauna rooms amongst others. While the pool which is 4 feet deep at the shallow end and 8 feet deep at the deepest end is equipped with a water heater, underwater lights, and it’s pavilion has a 170 spectator capacity.

The Commander 3 Division Garrison Brig Gen MO AGI while delivering the Vote of Thanks said the building of the gymnasium will not only improve troops welfare but also enhance competence in the field.

Highlights of the event was the tour of the facility, swimming demonstration by Private Joy Ogbolu, presentation of gifts and group photographs.

Major General GM Mutkut Assumes Command AS GOC 8 Division/Commander OPHD

…as outgoing GOC charge troops to remain committed in the fight against banditry

The newly appointed General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division Nigerian Army (NA) and Commander Joint Task Force Northwest Operation HADARIN DAJI (CJTF NW OPHD) Major General Godwin Mutkut has assumed office on 17 as CJTF NW OPHD and GOC 8 Division on 18 January 2023. He takes over command from his predecessor Major General Uwem Bassey who commanded the Division and OPHD for 17 months.

In his farewell address to troops during a Regimental Parade organized in his honour at the 26 Battalion parade ground to bid him farewell, General Bassey charged the troops to remain committed to the fight against banditry. He said he is highly optimistic that the structure put in place in the Division Area of Operation will in no doubt assist troops in decimating bandits from their various enclaves to bring peace to the region. He commended the troops for their doggedness and conduct during various operations conducted.

General Bassey cautioned troops to remain apolitical and be professional in their conduct during the coming general election. Troops should desist from fraternizing with politicians so that they could not be lured into electoral misconduct to smear the good image of the NA, he stressed. He urged personnel to give all the necessary support to Major General Mutkut so that he can deliver all assigned tasks expected of him. He, therefore, wishes General Mutkut a successful tour of duty.

In his inaugural address, General Mutkut promised to sustain and build upon the legacies of his predecessor while urging commanders and troops to brace up for the enormous task ahead especially as the nation is about to witness the general election. He stated that troops under his watch would not relent on their oars until all criminal elements within the region had been flushed out from their enclaves and forced to embrace peace.

Major General Mutkut commended his predecessor Major General Bassey for his remarkable achievements and purposeful leadership in restoring peace and stability in his Operational Area of Responsibility.

Similarly, General Bassey introduced General Mutkut to His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Dr Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III. The Sultan commended General Bassey for his resilience efforts in stabilizing the security challenges within the Division Area of operation that covers Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi States. He, therefore, wishes General Bassey a successful tour of duty in his new place of assignment. He welcome General Mutkut and urged him to intensify operations and destroy and clear the ruminants of bandits hibernating in the forest. He stressed that traditional rulers will continue to pray and render all the necessary support for the NA to bring lasting peace to the Northwest Zones.

The highpoint of the events was signing the handing and taking over notes of OPHD and 8 Division, presentation of the 8 Division flag and OPHD, decorating the General Mutkut with 8 Division insignia and OPHD, presentation of handing and taking over notes, regimental parade, lowering and hoisting of 8 Division flag and OPHD for the outgoing and incoming GOC/ CJTF OPHD, address to officers and soldiers among others.

Prince Adewole Adebayo Speaks At Ecwa Meeting, Promises Righteous Leadership


The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo has promised that his leadership will be one that will do the work of Christ through politics, as he urged Christian leaders to raise Christians who will represent Christ in politics.


Prince Adebayo made this known on Tuesday 17 January during his speech at the Extra Ordinary ECWA General Church Council meeting in Jos, Plateau State.
He noted that the role of the church remains to bring light where there is darkness, feed the hungry, and take care of the sick and vulnerable.
He said, “So I plead with you, we can be sure that we will do the work of Christ, not only for Christians and non-Christians, and that when we go out, everything we do, everything we say will be a form of evangelism through politics, and we will not disappoint, but look out for the flock of which we belong”.


The SDP presidential candidate further pointed out that the church should be concerned about the kind of government in power because it is dealing with civic problems, in other words, doing Caesar’s work.
“The government has a major role to play in the life of the church; in addition to that, government has a long, a serious role to play in the life of members of the church, and many of the problems that are been brought to clergymen are not problems of the spirit, they are not problems of spiritual growth, neither horizontal growth or vertical growth of the church. They are problems of a failure of the civic space”.
“When Christ said, let’s give unto Caesar what is Caesars and let’s give unto to God what is God’s, that’s right. But in Nigeria today, the church is also doing Caesar’s work. The church is protecting itself, the church is augmenting education, the church is doing so many other things, which means that somehow the church should be concerned about the kind of government we have”.


He said the church can send Christians to government to represent it and behave in a Christ-like manner.
“The church can also, send people to government to represent the church and behave in the manner in which we are raised in the church. That is the reason why people like us thought we should enter into politics. It is not for the power. The power is not important. What is important is the purpose.
“One Christian in the Ministry of Finance can change the history of Nigeria; one Christian as Minister of Education can change the history of Nigeria, so we must look for Christians who have a prayerful attitude and good character so that when they move into the state house, the tabernacle of  Christ will move with them”.
In his response, the ECWA President Rev. Dr Stephen Baba Panya thanked Prince Adebayo for being a part of the gathering and for bringing this kind of message to the assembly.
“It can be sure that it is not regular for this kind of conversation, there are many people who know about Christianity, but they don’t know God and they are certainly non-Christians.
“We are thankful for the message that God has used you to bring to us. It is for us to come down to pray that God’s public news shall be sold out. And we are so grateful too, to have the presidential candidate of SDP in our home.
“And that today this has told us in much detail that and we know that this one is not just near the kingdom, he is a child of the kingdom”.
Prince Adebayo was accompanied by his entourage – Hon. Minister Solomon Dalung, D.G Adebayo Presidential campaign, Chief Godwin Osigbeme and Sen. Ugochukwu Uba. members of the presidential campaign council.