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Mohammed Lauds NEDC’s Humanitarian Intervention In Bauchi State

Published

4 years ago

March 17, 2022

Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, on Thursday, applauded the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) for execution of viable projects through its humanitarian intervention in the state.

Mohammed made the commendation during a stakeholders’ consultative meeting on the North-East Stabilisation and Development Master Plan (NESDMP) organised by the commission in collaboration with the state government.

“Let me use this opportunity to appreciate the commission for embarking on the construction of 500 mass housing project in the state and the rapid intervention in provision of primary schools across the 20 local government areas of the state.

“I want to also express my sincere appreciation to NEDC for providing food and non food items for distribution to indigent people of the state.

“The provision of COVID-19 medical relief items to the state by the commission is also appreciated,” he said.

The governor, who was represented by Mr Hashimu Yakubu, Special Assistant on Special Duties, said the state government accorded premium to the stakeholders’ meeting and, therefore, gathered highly important personalities in the state to attend.

This, he said, would avail the commission the opportunity to brainstorm with critical stakeholders in the state towards formulating a master plan that would be the pride of all.

In his remarks, the Managing Director, NEDC, Mr Mohammed Alkali, said that NEDC was established by President Muhammadu Buhari as a direct response to the devastation caused by the insurgency in the the North-East.

Alkali said the commission was charged with the responsibility to recover, stabilise and develop the region, among others.

He explained that the master plan shall contain programmes and schemes that would promote and facilitate the physical and socio-economic development of the North-East, as well as estimate the time and cost of implementing the programmes and schemes.

According to him, The NEDC consultation of Critical Stakeholders in Bauchi State, was for a State-wide Consultative Meeting on the draft of the 10-year Stabilization and Master Development Plan of the NEDC.

He added that the meeting was to allow for meaningful interaction and inputs from the stakeholders on the various aspects of the plan before its final adoption as a workable blueprint for the wholesale development and rehabilitation of the North East region ravaged by insurgency.

“Today’s joint consultative meeting with all representative groups of stakeholders in the state will be followed by finalisation of a draft master plan that will eventually be presented for validation.

“The essence of having these diverse stakeholders under one roof here, therefore, is to harness their individual and collective inputs to enrich the process and align with inclusiveness and bottom-up policy of the NEDC.

“The proposed 10-year NESDMP consists of 10 Pillars, which will encompass the relevant aspects of Policies and Programmes of Bauchi State Government and those of other Partners,” he said.

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IYC Expresses Displeasure Over Okpebholo’s Neglect Of Edo Ijaw

Published

1 hour ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

Leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Western Zone, have expressed displeasure over what they described as the “persistent marginalisation of the Ijaw political class, traditional institutions and the ongoing abandonment of Ijaw communities,” by the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led Edo State government.

The IYC, in a statement jointly signed by Comrade Nicholas Igrama, Barr. Ebi Olowolayemo and Comrade Tare Magbei, Western Zone Chairman, Secretary and Information Officer respectively, lamented that despite the “massive support Ijaw people gave to Okpebholo across the five Ijaw clans in the state,” not a single appointment has been given to the Ijaw speaking people in the state.

The statement which was made available to newsmen in Benin on Tuesday, said that the “conspicuously absent of Ijaw man or woman in the State Executive Council,” gives credence to their claim.

The IYC, while stating that “we state this not out of bitterness or entitlement, but as a call for fairness, equity, and justice,” emphasized that “despite our enormous contributions to the state’s treasury through natural and human resources, Edo Ijaws remain conspicuously absent in the State Executive Council.”

The statement reads: “It is important to remind the Governor that the Ijaw nation mobilised massive support across the five Ijaw clans in Edo State to ensure his victory at the polls.

“Our voice was loud, our mobilisation was firm, and our votes counted significantly toward the success of this administration.

“Regrettably, one year after, this government has not deemed it necessary to appoint a single individual from the Ijaw extraction, nor has it addressed the glaring infrastructure deficit in our communities and also left our traditional issues unattented to.”

The statement noted that “the Ijaw areas are the bedrock of the state’s oil wealth, the same wealth that qualifies Edo State as an oil-producing state and entitles it to the 13% derivation fund. Yet, there is no visible reflection of this revenue in our communities.”

“We state this not out of bitterness or entitlement, but as a call for fairness, equity, and justice.”

The IYC, therefore, urged the governor to “have a rethink so it doesn’t take to another form of agitation in the state where we contribute.”

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EPL: Arteta Gives Update On Havertz, Saliba, Gabriel, Others

Published

3 hours ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta has provided the latest update on four of his players ahead of his side’s Premier League clash with Brentford on Wednesday.

The four players are Kai Havertz, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães and Leandro Trossard.

Arteta’s side will host Brentford in a Premier League tie at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.

Arsenal head to the game following a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in their last game over the weekend.

“Kai Havertz is still weeks away,” Arteta said at his pre-match press conference as quoted by Fabrizio Romano on Tuesday.

“We are all desperate to have him. I mean, it is a player that, personally, I love so much for what he brings to the team – his character, his personality. I see him suffer, being outside.

“Gabriel Magalhães is doing very well, but it will take weeks to see him back.

“For William Saliba and Leandro Trossard, hopefully it’s a matter of days.

“For Saliba, this one is very bizarre injury… but hopefully it will be a short time out.”

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BREAKING: Tinubu Nominates New Defence Minister

Published

5 hours ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has nominated former Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa, rtd, as the new Minister of Defence.

In a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu disclosed Musa’s nomination as the successor to Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, who resigned on Monday.

Musa served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025. He won the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012.

Born in Sokoto in 1967, Musa received his primary and secondary education there before attending the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria.

He graduated in 1986 and enrolled at the Nigerian Defence Academy the same year, earning a Bachelor of Science degree upon graduation in 1991.