National

The Northwest region of Nigeria, spanning seven states (Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara) across approximately 216,065 square kilometers, faces significant challenges. Once a bastion of peace and commerce, the area has been severely impacted by insecurity, affecting five out of its seven states. This shift has transformed the region from a thriving hub of trade and agriculture to one grappling with safety concerns. Read Also: Rigasa Elders Renew Demand for Local Government Creation at Constitution Review Hearing Despite its vast untapped mineral resources the region remains impoverished. Approximately 80% of the population relies on farming, pastoralism, or small-scale entrepreneurship. For almost a decade Northwest region has been ravaged by increasingly violent criminal gangs, responsible for mass abductions, farm seizures, and widespread internal displacement. This escalating violence has fueled growing instability, affecting million people. Tasks Before NWDC:The Northwest Development Commission (NWDC) must remain resolute and focused on its core objectives, unwavering in its commitment to addressing the region’s challenges. The Commission objectives include: Promoting economic development, Improving infrastructure, Enhancing social services (education, healthcare) Other are fostering regional collaboration, Addressing security challenges, encouraging investment and reducing poverty and inequality Strict adherence to these objectives will undoubtedly enhance the lives of citizens in the Northwest region. To address these issues, the Northwest Development Commission (NWDC) must collaborate with stakeholders to enhance safety and stability. Foster economic growth through agriculture, commerce, and infrastructure development. Improve access to education, healthcare, and social welfare programs.By tackling these challenges, NWDC can help revitalize the region and improve the lives of its citizens There is a pressing need for the Northwest Development Commission (NWDC) to engage hold public town hall stakeholder meetings across the seven states. This will enable the commission to gain a deeper understanding of the needs and concerns of ordinary citizens in the region. Media enlightenment for the Northwest Development Commission (NWDC) could involve: public awareness campaigns, information dissemination on NWDC’s objectives and initiatives. Other community outreach programs, collaborations with local media outlets and new media engagement. This would help educate citizens about NWDC’s goals, progress, and impact, fostering transparency and trust. Recently, the Northwest Development Commission (NWDC) paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Kaduna State, His Excellency Senator Uba Sani, at the Government House in Kaduna. During the visit, Prof. Ma’aji highlighted the Commission’s priority areas. He emphasized NWDC’s commitment to collaborating with state governments to drive measurable progress in these key sectors. I am delighted to learn that the Commission will collaborate closely with the region’s governors to develop a comprehensive 10-year master plan aimed at driving integrated growth across the North-West. In my view, the commission’s courtesy visits to the governors, beginning with Kaduna State, are a step in the right direction. Dukawa write in from Abuja can be reached at abbahydukawa@gmail.com

The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) has announced that online applications for recruitment into the four paramilitary agencies, Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Federal Fire Service (FFS), and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), will commence on Monday, 14th July 2025. Secretary of the Board, Major General Abdulmalik Jibrin (retired), made this known in a statement issued Friday in Abuja on behalf of the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. Read Also: Federal Government Postpones Paramilitary Recruitment Exercise He urged applicants to beware of scammers, emphasizing that the recruitment process will be seamless, transparent, and strictly merit-based, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. Additionally, the CDCFIB approved the timeline for the 2025 Promotion Exercise, which is scheduled to begin in August and conclude by November 2025.

The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) has attributed the delay in the payment of June 2025 salaries for some federal civil servants to a technical network issue experienced during processing. In a statement issued on Friday, the OAGF confirmed that it is aware some federal employees particularly those with salary accounts at Zenith Bank Plc, have yet to receive their June salaries. According to the statement, an internal review uncovered that a “technical network glitch” disrupted the salary processing system, resulting in incomplete disbursement across several Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). Read Also: Kano Strengthens Social Protection Policy with Stakeholder Engagement “We deeply regret the inconvenience this unfortunate incident has caused and wish to assure all affected employees that immediate steps have been taken to resolve the issue,” the OAGF said. The Office acknowledged the anxiety and hardship caused by the delay, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring federal workers are paid promptly. It further explained that collaboration is underway with relevant service providers and stakeholders to rectify the problem and reprocess failed payments without further delay. “We appeal to all affected staff of the Federal Public Service to remain calm and rest assured that no effort will be spared in ensuring everyone receives their rightful salaries,” the statement added. The Accountant-General noted that efforts are ongoing to isolate the issue and expedite all outstanding payments. “The welfare of Federal Government employees remains a top priority of the Office,” the statement continued. “The OAGF remains fully committed to transparency, accountability, and efficiency in all payroll operations and welcomes continued engagement with stakeholders to enhance service delivery.”

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State says that nearly all suspected kidnappers and criminals arrested in the state over the past three years have been of Igbo origin.Speaking during a town hall meeting with Anambra indigenes in the diaspora, held at Metro Points Hotel in New Carrollton, Maryland, United States, the governor debunked the widely circulated belief that Fulani herders are responsible for the spate of violence and kidnapping in the South-East. Read Also: Fixing the Forgotten Crisis: Solutions to Nigeria’s Herders-Farmers Conflict “I have been in office for three years and three months. If we have arrested 100 criminals and kidnappers, 99.99% of them are Igbo youths,” Soludo stated. He described the previous assumptions as propaganda, adding that such misinformation had misled some Igbo youths into criminal activities, particularly kidnapping, which he said had become a “lucrative job” following the rise of internet fraud and drug trafficking. “Those behind these crimes are our own people. Igbos are the ones kidnapping Igbos. Most of the camps we’ve dismantled were operated by individuals from within the region,” he said. Soludo urged Anambra indigenes in the diaspora to return home, invest, and contribute their knowledge and resources to the development of the state. “Even people from other states now call it the ‘Anambra job’. They go to their villages, buy motorcycles, and come here to join the business. They get trained in the bush and operate kidnapping rings. But when they are caught, they blame the Fulani herdsmen,” he said. He admitted that he also once believed the false narrative that Fulani herders were the cause of insecurity in the state, saying: “I came in with that same belief that Fulani herdsmen were invading our land and that they were just waiting for the right signal to take over. So, we thought we were the liberators and chased them into the bush. “But no one asked how those claiming to be liberators survive in the forest for months. How are they feeding? How are they armed? “I want to be quoted clearly that 99.99% of all the criminals we have arrested in Anambra are Igbos. All the camps we’ve dismantled are operated by Igbos.” (The Cable)