News

Flood: NEMA Launches National Preparedness, Response Campaign In Bauchi

Published

12 months ago

May 23, 2025

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has launched the 2025 National Preparedness and Response Campaign (NPRC) to mitigate the impact of flooding on communities in Bauchi state.

Speaking during the launching of the campaign on Friday, Mr Bitrus Samuel, Deputy Director, General Services, NEMA, said Bauchi was one of the most high risk states in terms of flooding, hence the sensitisation by the agency.

According to him, the campaign by NEMA was a strategic plan for preparedness and response to flooding in Nigeria in response to an early information warning by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

“The information they gave us is very important, so NEMA is being proactive based on that information.

“We want to draw out a disaster management implication of those predictions and we have called for a national coordination forum where key stakeholders decided that we take this information to the grassroots.

“What we have come to do here is to sensitise the people and that they are likely to experience flooding in this state as Bauchi is one of the high risk states in Nigeria.

“That is why we have come here to bring this message for them to take concrete actions using the stakeholders at the state level, using their structures at the local level,” he said.

He explained that the move was imperative as it equipped the communities with the better knowledge of how to avert and respond to the disaster, saying disasters are local as they start from the communities.

“If the community knows what they need to do before the disaster strikes them, they are better prepared and that is what we have come to do here,” he emphasised.

Stakeholders present at the launching of the campaign included; the representatives of the Nigerian Army, Police, Fire services, Civil Defence Corps, amongst others.

Similarly, the agency took the sensitisation to the most busiest Muda Lawal market as one of the communities previously affected by flood and fire.

Speaking to the market leaders, Mr Simon Katu, an official from NEMA, said the agency was in the market to give support to the preparedness the market people were making this year.

He explained that at the end of the engagement, there would be a behavioural change, improvement in response, understanding among stakeholders and communities so that in the event of disaster, the outcome would be minimal.

“We want the nation to be better prepared as disaster preparedness, management and response are not the work of the government only.

“We are saying that people should come out, volunteer, form community groups that will assist because self help helps before the government’s assistance,” he said.

Responding, Hajara Wanka, the state’s Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, said the state government had given the matching orders in ensuring adequate preparation and response in all the disaster prone communities across the state.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

20 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

42 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.

News

N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.

Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.

Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.

“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”

“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”

Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.

Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.

Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.