Category: Daily Trust

Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 4.43 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, up from 4.23 per cent recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2025.

The Federal Ministry of Finance, in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, said the latest growth figure also represented an improvement over the 3.89 per cent recorded in the first quarter of 2026.

According to the ministry, the performance raised Nigeria’s real GDP growth for the first half of 2026 to 4.16 per cent, compared with 3.68 per cent in the corresponding period of 2025.

It said the figures indicated that the economy was experiencing sustained growth, with expansion becoming increasingly broad-based across different sectors.

The ministry said 27 economic subsectors recorded real growth of more than three per cent in the second quarter, compared with 23 subsectors in Q2 2025.

‘The strong Q2 2026 outturn lifted real GDP growth for the first half of 2026 to 4.16 per cent, up from 3.68 per cent in the corresponding period of 2025, a clear signal of sustained strengthening across the economy,’ it said.

It said the productive sectors were among the major contributors to the growth, with manufacturing expanding by 3.24 per cent in Q2 2026, more than double the 1.60 per cent recorded in Q2 2025.

Agriculture also recorded stronger growth, expanding by 4.39 per cent compared with 2.82 per cent in the corresponding period of 2025.

Services, which the ministry described as the largest driver of growth, grew by 4.60 per cent, up from 3.94 per cent in Q2 2025.

The ministry attributed part of the improvement in the economy’s dollar value to the relative stability and appreciation of the naira during the period under review.

It said the naira appreciated by more than 12 per cent between the first half of 2025 and the first half of 2026, contributing to an estimated 17 per cent expansion of the economy in U.S. dollar terms over the period.

According to the ministry, sustaining the trend alongside the government’s social programmes could strengthen dollar incomes, improve purchasing power and reduce poverty.

‘Given this momentum, Nigeria is well positioned to consolidate its standing among Africa’s largest economies and to advance toward the Government’s target of a USD 1 trillion economy by 2030,’ the ministry said.

It added that the International Monetary Fund had ranked Nigeria among the top 10 contributors to global real GDP growth in 2026, projecting the country to account for approximately 1.5 per cent of global growth during the year.

The ministry said continued macroeconomic stability, sustained growth in productive sectors and improved investor confidence could further accelerate the country’s economic expansion.

It projected that the combination of these factors could position Nigeria to become Africa’s largest economy by 2028.

The ministry, however, stressed the need for policy consistency and continued implementation of reforms to sustain the growth trajectory.

‘These results underscore the importance of sustaining our reforms and ensuring policy consistency as their benefits begin to reach households across the country,’ it said.

‘The Government remains focused on accelerating inclusive growth and translating these macroeconomic gains into shared prosperity for every Nigerian family.’

The Plateau State chapter of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has denied that any Muslim organisation is operating under the umbrella of Hisbah in Jos North Local Government Area of the state.

This follows a statement issued by the state government alleging the commencement of activities by the group, a development that has generated controversy within and outside the state.

Speaking to Daily Trust on Tuesday, the Secretary of JNI in Plateau State, Dr Salim Musa Umar, said no Islamic organisation in the state had announced plans to establish Hisbah in Jos North.

He said the controversy originated from social media platform where some individuals allegedly used artificial intelligence-generated images to create the impression that a Hisbah organisation had been established in the LG.

‘I want to assure the people that no Islamic organisation in Plateau has come out to say it wants to establish Hisbah. There is nothing like that. It has never been discussed and it is not part of what is being considered,’ Umar said.

‘The matter started on social media when some people appeared in uniforms created with the help of artificial intelligence, claiming that they had established Hisbah in Jos North. The information gained reaction and people began sharing it widely.

According to him, an organisation such as Hisbah cannot be legally established without enabling legislation passed by the State House of Assembly.

‘Hisbah cannot be established without a law from the State House of Assembly, and the government has not done that. Therefore, people cannot simply come out and claim that they have established Hisbah,’ he said.

He urged the Plateau State Government to conduct thorough investigations whenever issues involving religion emerged particularly when such issues have the potential to generate tension among communities.

The JNI Secretary also appealed to social media users to refrain from creating or circulating content capable of causing misunderstanding and disrupting peaceful coexistence in the state.

Our correspondent reports that the controversy over the alleged establishment of Hisbah in Jos North has continued to generate debate among residents, both on social media platforms and community members.

The Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Football Association, Adam Mouktar Mohammed, has issued a strong call for structural reform, insisting that the next Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) must be composed strictly of individuals with proven knowledge and deep expertise in football administration.

Speaking in the wake of recent administrative shifts, Mohammed emphasised that Nigerian football has reached a critical juncture-one that requires seasoned technocrats rather than political placeholders.

He noted that managing football in the 21st century is a serious enterprise requiring a thorough understanding of governance, infrastructure development, and commercial investment.

‘The current system requires a comprehensive reset. We need strict screening criteria for candidates looking to lead our national football body,’ Mohammed stated, drawing from his nearly 30 years of experience in sports management.

‘Only stakeholders who possess proven administrative competence, structural vision, and a clear commitment to grassroots and facility development should form the next Executive Committee.’

Mohammed, who has successfully restructured the FCT League and is currently contesting for the influential position of NFF Chairman of Chairmen, pointed out that a lack of technical and administrative depth at the national level has historically crippled the growth of domestic leagues and youth academies.

He urged the football congress and voting delegates to look past sentiment and prioritise a merit-based selection process to align Nigerian football with global best practices.

The call for reform follows the voluntary resignation of former NFF President Ibrahim Gusau and his board members last week.

Their departures came after widespread public dissatisfaction over the recent failures of various national teams to qualify for major global tournaments.

The final blow to the Gusau-led administration was the Super Falcons’ historic failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The 10-time African champions had previously attended every edition of the tournament since its inception in 1991.

Prior to the board’s mass resignation, the 2026 NFF Elective Congress was scheduled for September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

The Yalwan Rugu-Rugu community in Tudunwada Local Government Area of Kano State was thrown into mourning on Saturday after three sisters drowned when the boat carrying them capsized in Tiga Dam.

The victims, Murjanatu, Atikatu and Bilkisu, popularly known as Amira, had gone to the farm with their brother, Usman Abdulhadi, also known as Abba, to help with the rice harvest.

Their father, Malam Abdulhadi Suleiman, 55, told Daily Trust that his daughters had completed the day’s work and were returning home when tragedy struck.

‘They went to the farm with their brother to assist him in harvesting rice. They successfully finished the work and boarded a boat to return home,’ he said.

According to him, the journey was proceeding normally until the boat reached the middle of the water.

‘Suddenly, the boat capsized. Their brother was the only man inside the boat, and he could not rescue all of them,’ the grieving father said.

He said people around the area made desperate efforts to save the girls.

Neighbours reportedly rushed to the scene with boats, but the rescue efforts turned tragic as the boats brought to assist also capsized.

‘People brought three boats in an attempt to rescue them, but unfortunately, the rescue efforts failed,’ he said.

A messenger was eventually sent to Yalwan Rugu-Rugu to alert residents about the tragedy and seek help.

The news spread quickly, and about 200 people reportedly mobilised to the scene in a desperate attempt to rescue the girls.

But by the time they were brought out of the water, it was too late.

The accident occurred at about 1pm on Saturday, while the bodies were recovered around 3:30pm, according to the girls’ father.

Malam Abdulhadi said he never imagined he would experience such a tragedy.

He said the death of his three daughters had left him devastated and the entire community in shock.

‘The village is silent now. Everybody is shocked because we have never witnessed this kind of tragedy in the history of our village,’ he said.

The father said he had hoped to see his daughters continue their education and eventually attend tertiary institutions.

‘I never expected that they would die at this time. I was expecting them to continue their education and go to higher institutions,’ he said.

But amid his grief, Malam Abdulhadi said he had accepted the tragedy as Allah’s will.

‘I have submitted everything to Almighty Allah; I pray that He forgives them and grants them Jannatul Firdaus,’ he said.

The girls have since been buried according to Islamic rites.

‘We did everything possible to save them’

Malam Hussaini Saifullahi of Yalwan Rugu-Rugu, an uncle of the deceased who was at the scene when the incident occurred, said the family and members of the community made frantic efforts to save the girls.

‘We submitted everything to Allah because it is Qadar (destiny). We did everything possible to rescue them,’ he told Daily Trust.

He said several boats were deployed during the rescue operation, but the efforts did not produce the desired result.

‘Three boats came to assist in rescuing them, but unfortunately, the rescue attempts failed,’ he said.

Saifullahi expressed appreciation to members of the community who joined the rescue operation and attended the funeral prayers of the three sisters.

‘We’ve been receiving condolence messages from different people, and we appreciate everybody who came to assist us in the rescue efforts and those who attended their funeral prayers,’ he said.

The Chairman of Tudunwada Local Government Area and Chairman of the Kano State Local Government Chairmen’s Association, Hajiya Sa’adatu Salisu Soja Maijama’a, also confirmed the incident in a statement.

She said the tragedy occurred at about 2pm on Saturday when the boat conveying the girls capsized at Tiga Dam.

The council chairman extended her condolences to the family of the deceased and the people of the area, praying to Allah to forgive the victims and grant their families the strength to bear the loss.

However, the spokesperson of the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi, told Daily Trust that the service was not officially contacted by either the Tudunwada Local Government authorities or members of the community about the incident.

He said the agency only became aware of the tragedy after seeing an announcement by the local government chairman on social media.

Former Governor of Bayelsa State and immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has resigned his membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the party of abandoning the ideals upon which it was founded.

Sylva, a founding member of the party, said he could no longer remain in a party whose leaders, he alleged, had embraced the philosophy that ‘all is fair in politics.’

In a letter of resignation dated August 31, 2026 signed by him and transmitted electronically to the APC Ward 4 Chairman in Brass Local Government Area, his home ward, Sylva said his decision followed extensive consultations with his family, associates, colleagues and sympathisers.

He also copied the National Chairman of the APC, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Bayelsa State Chairman of the party.

The embattled former minister recalled his contributions to the establishment and growth of the party.

He, however, expressed sadness over what he described as the ‘thorough and unrecognisable’ abandonment of the ideals that initially attracted him and other Nigerians to the party.

‘As a founding member of the APC, and one who joined other well-meaning Nigerians in building the Party with sweat and money, it is deeply saddening to witness how the ideals we espoused have been so thoroughly and unrecognisably thwarted.

‘Moreover, I cannot, in all good conscience, continue to belong to a Party whose leaders believe that ‘all is fair in politics,’ and have consistently demonstrated that belief in practice.

The former minister also accused the APC-led Federal Government of disappointing the majority of Nigerians, expressing doubts about the possibility of reversing what he described as its failures.

He said he was consequently compelled to leave what he described as a ‘floundering ship.’

Sylva expressed confidence that Nigerians would use the next general election to alter the political direction of the country.

He accused the EFCC of increasingly behaving like an organ of the ruling party rather than an independent institution of state.

He said, ‘I am deliberately putting the EFCC in a copy of this letter because, of late, it has conducted itself more as an organ of the APC than as an institution of State.’

Sylva acknowledged that his resignation could expose him and his associates to increased scrutiny or investigation.

Sylva served as governor of Bayelsa State from 2007 to 2012 and later served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.

Daily Trust recalls that before now, most of the Sylva’s loyalists in APC had defected from the party to other opposition parties in the state ahead of 2027 general election, complaining of being schemed out from the party they laboured to build.

Sylva’s running mate during the 2023 governorship election in the state, Joshua Maclver had earlier in the year defected from the party, and many others across the state.

Sylva is currently away from the country but being tried in absentia for allegedly financing a coup against the government of President Bola Tinubu.

He has since denied the allegation, maintaining innocence.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, disclosed that more than 40 of its personnel have been dismissed in the past two and a half years.

The commission revealed that they were sacked over their involvement in alleged corruption and financial malfeasance that could tarnish the image of the agency.

The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, who disclosed this in Abuja when he met with media executives and other journalists in Abuja, said more than five of them are currently facing prosecution.

According to him, the case files of others involved that are yet to face the wrath of the law were being prepared for prosecution.

He stressed that these were part of the efforts to ensure that personnel of the anti-graft agency maintained the highest standards of integrity while investigating and prosecuting corruption cases.

‘In the past two and a half years or three years of my service, I have asked them to dismiss over 40 staff on account of corruption and financial malpractice.

‘More than five of them are being prosecuted at the moment. You can follow those cases in court; they are public knowledge,’ the anti-graft agency boss told journalists.

The EFCC chairman said the commission had also introduced measures to strengthen accountability among its personnel, including a gift policy designed to regulate the acceptance and declaration of gifts by staff.

According to him, personnel would be required to declare assets valued above a specified threshold, including gifts received from relatives abroad.

He said the commission would determine the categories and value of gifts that its personnel could accept, stressing that the policy was aimed at ensuring that staff could account for their means of livelihood and standard of living.

Olukoyede warned that EFCC personnel could not effectively fight corruption while engaging in corrupt practices themselves.

He also disclosed that the commission had renamed its former Department of Internal Affairs as the Department of Ethics and Integrity, as part of efforts to strengthen internal accountability.

Olukoyede said the commission’s anti-corruption activities had also contributed significantly to revenue mobilisation, with federal and state tax recoveries amounting to approximately N288.1 billion during the period under review.

He said the figure comprised about N173.2 billion in federal tax recoveries and N114.9 billion attributed to state internal revenue services.

‘This is fiscal value recovered through enforcement of existing obligations, not through the imposition of new taxes,’ he said.

The EFCC chairman further disclosed that approximately N257.2 billion in naira recoveries were recorded for federal ministries, departments and agencies.

‘N1.23tn recovered in 3 years’

Olukoyede said the commission recovered N1.23tn, $684.48m, £373,905.78 and pound 9.34m between October 1, 2023, and June 30, 2026.

He explained that about N397.26 billion, representing 33 per cent of the naira recoveries, constituted direct recoveries for the Federal Government, while N836.34 billion, or 67 per cent, represented indirect recoveries made on behalf of ministries, departments and agencies, state revenue services, companies, individuals and foreign victims.

On the utilisation of recovered funds, Olukoyede said N661.32 billion and $492.37 million had been released to beneficiaries during the period.

He said the naira releases included about N325.35 billion paid directly to individuals and corporate bodies, while N335.97 billion was released to various MDAs, the Nigerian Revenue Service and state internal revenue services, among other beneficiaries.

The military high command on Tuesday revealed the reasons behind the reported withdrawal of United States troops from Nigeria.

It explained that the withdrawal did not signal a breakdown of bilateral security cooperation between both countries.

The Director, Defence Information, Samaila Uba, made this clarification while responding to questions from journalists at a security briefing organized by the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).

Daily Trust reports that the Commander of US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, had disclosed the withdrawal in July.

The United States deployed about 200 military personnel to Nigeria in February 2026 to support intelligence, surveillance and counterterrorism operations in the Lake Chad Basin.

The deployment came amid growing security cooperation between Washington and Abuja in the fight against ISIS and other terrorist groups operating in the region.

Giving an update during the briefing, the military spokesman said he had received numerous inquiries from journalists seeking clarification on the matter.

He noted that he had already prepared a statement and would use the opportunity provided by the forum to deliver it.

Uba, a Major-General, described the move as a routine adjustment tied to specific operational objectives rather than a termination of bilateral defence relations.

‘The Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to clarify that the reported withdrawal of about 200 United States personnel should not be interpreted as a breakdown or termination of the Nigeria-United States security partnership,’ the military spokesman said.

He said the defence relationship between Nigeria and the United States remains ‘strong, enduring, and mutually beneficial.’

According to him, the deployment of US personnel was linked to specific operational and counter-terrorism missions, making the drawdown part of the evolving nature of military cooperation.

He added that key aspects of the partnership, including intelligence cooperation, military training and information sharing, remain in place.

‘Our cooperation with the United States is designed to strengthen our capabilities through intelligence sharing, training, technical assistance and other forms of professional military cooperation,’ he said.

The military spokesman maintained that responsibility for defending Nigeria rests primarily with Nigerian security forces, while foreign partnerships are intended to enhance local capabilities.

He noted that the Nigeria-US security partnership has continued to produce valuable results in combating terrorism and other transnational security threats, adding that cooperation in areas of mutual interest would continue.

Uba also urged journalists and the public not to misinterpret the troop drawdown.

‘We equally call on the media and the Nigerian public to avoid interpreting a routine or mission-specific adjustment in foreign military presence as evidence of a collapse in Nigeria’s security cooperation or national defence capability,’ he said.

Governor Dauda Lawal has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Sarkin Zamfaran Zurmi, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Bello Sulaiman.

The traditional ruler passed away on Monday at the Federal Medical Centre, Gusau.

In a statement signed by his spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, Governor Lawal described the Emir’s passing as a profound loss to his family, the Zurmi Emirate, the traditional institution, and the entire people of Zamfara State.

‘I am deeply saddened by the passing of His Royal Highness, Alhaji Bello Sulaiman, Sarkin Zamfaran Zurmi.

‘His death is a great loss to Zamfara State. He will be remembered for his service to his people, his contributions to the traditional institution, and his commitment to the peace and progress of our state.

‘On behalf of the Government and good people of Zamfara State, I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, the Zurmi Emirate Council, and the entire people of Zurmi Emirate.

‘I pray that Almighty Allah forgives his shortcomings, rewards his good deeds, grants him Aljannah Firdaus, and gives his family and the people of Zurmi the strength and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.’

The death of Architect Kabiru Ibrahim Faskari in Istanbul, Turkey, has ended the remarkable journey of a Katsina-born professional who successfully crossed the boundaries of architecture, business and agriculture to become one of Nigeria’s influential advocates for farmers and agricultural development.

The late Faskari, a former National President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), died at the age of 67 following reported complications from prostate surgery.

At the time of his death, he was serving as Chairman of the Nigeria Agriculture Business Group (NABG), where he remained actively involved in promoting agricultural development, food security and greater private-sector participation in Nigeria’s agricultural economy.

Sources close to Faskari said that beyond the positions he held and the titles attached to his name, he represented a generation of Nigerian agricultural leaders who understood farming not merely as a rural occupation, but as a business capable of transforming the country’s economy.

He was widely regarded as a symbol of modern agriculture during his lifetime.

Born in 1959 in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, Faskari began his professional journey in a field entirely different from the one that would eventually bring him national prominence.

He attended Government Secondary School Katsina, before proceeding to the Katsina College of Arts, Science and Technology in Zaria for his Advanced Level education. He subsequently studied Architecture at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, where he obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees between 1978 and 1983.

After completing his National Youth Service Corps programme in Owerri in 1983/84, he pursued a career in architecture and later established Kebram Associates, a consulting firm, in 1987. The firm eventually became closely associated with his identity, earning him the nickname ‘Kebram’ among his peers.

His accomplishments in architecture eventually earned him recognition as a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects.

Ironically, agriculture later became the field through which his voice was heard most prominently across Nigeria. He ventured into agriculture not as a temporary business interest, but as a means of survival and livelihood. Within a short period, he built businesses around the sector’s value chain, establishing Kebram Farms Limited in 2001 and later Kebram Agritrade Limited in 2008.

His agricultural interests covered poultry production, crop farming and agricultural trade. Through these ventures, he gained first-hand knowledge of the realities confronting Nigerian farmers, including the rising cost of inputs, difficulty accessing finance, insecurity, market challenges and the persistent struggle to make agriculture profitable.

The welfare of rural farmers became one of his major concerns.

Unlike many commentators in the sector who spoke about agriculture from government offices and conference halls, Faskari’s advocacy was rooted in practical involvement in farming and agribusiness.

He understood the frustrations of farmers and regularly spoke about policies needed to increase food production, make farming more sustainable and profitable, and attract more investors into the sector.

According to a Kano-based poultry farmer, Alhaji Aminu Gayos, a single meeting with Faskari sparked his interest in poultry farming.

Gayos explained that Faskari introduced him to poultry farming, adding that his growing influence in the agricultural sector eventually propelled him into national leadership.

‘I never thought in my life I would be a poultry farmer, but I was fortunate to meet him in Kano during a workshop, and we got talking. He brought to my knowledge what it takes to be a successful poultry farmer.

‘When, between 2008 and 2012, Faskari served as President of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), I wasn’t surprised. He was so helpful during a period when the industry faced major challenges, ranging from the high cost of feed and disease outbreaks to competition from imported products,’ Gayos said.

Gayos said that while Faskari was PAN president, he emerged as one of the prominent voices defending the interests of poultry farmers, particularly during the bird flu outbreaks in Nigeria.

He added that Faskari’s leadership style also established him as a familiar figure in national discussions on food production and agricultural policy.

Similarly, the Kano State chairman of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Abubakar Haruna Aliyu, said that during Faskari’s tenure as National President of AFAN, the umbrella body for Nigerian farmers, the association experienced greater unity among its various arms.

He said Faskari occupied a position that placed him at the centre of agricultural policy discussions for more than a decade.

‘No doubt, his tenure as AFAN president was a period when agriculture increasingly became central to Nigeria’s economic and food security policies.

‘He was the catalyst that made the sector vibrant and attractive at a moment when the country was confronted with rapid population growth, rising food prices, insecurity in farming communities and repeated calls for Nigeria to reduce its dependence on imported food.

‘It will interest you to note that late Faskari consistently argued that farmers needed more than promises, as he pushed for interventions that frequently focused on access to affordable financing, quality agricultural inputs, improved infrastructure, security for farming communities and policies capable of making agriculture attractive as a business.

‘Indeed, the agricultural sector has lost a rare gem. May Allah forgive all his shortcomings,’ Alhaji Abubakar said.

Many farmers who worked with Faskari over the years regarded him as a bridge between farmers, government and the private sector.

Even after his tenure as AFAN president, he remained deeply involved in the agricultural sector and continued to serve as a voice for farmers.

He later became Chairman of the Nigeria Agriculture Business Group, where he continued to advocate greater private-sector participation and policy reforms.

During his lifetime, he held several other important positions, including Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria. He was also associated with several agricultural trade and business organisations, reflecting his belief that Nigeria’s agricultural future depended on stronger collaboration among farmers, businesses and government.

According to a tomato farmer in Jigawa State, Alhaji Adhama Abdul Ringim, Faskari’s approach to agriculture was broader than farming alone, as he viewed the sector as a complete value chain, from production and processing to transportation, marketing and trade.

Ringim said that perspective made Faskari an important voice in conversations about how Nigeria could achieve food security while creating jobs and building a competitive agricultural economy.

For many farmers in Katsina State, Faskari’s death represents the loss of one of the state’s prominent sons whose influence extended far beyond its borders, as he carried the identity of his home state into national and international agricultural discussions.

For Abba Katsina, a former international media practitioner, Faskari’s success reflected the contributions of many Katsina professionals who have made their mark in public service, business, education and other sectors of Nigeria’s national life.

‘Late Faskari was always concerned as farmers in many communities continued to face difficulties accessing their farmlands, while rising production costs and insecurity combined to threaten food production. Advocacy for a way out for grassroots farmers had always been his priority,’ Abba said.

Perhaps the most enduring legacy of Faskari will not be found only in the organisations he led, but also in the conversations he helped sustain about the future of Nigerian agriculture and the welfare of farmers.

His journey-from an architect trained at Ahmadu Bello University to the leader of some of Nigeria’s foremost farmers’ organisations-demonstrated how professional expertise could be successfully combined with entrepreneurship and public advocacy.

For decades, he spoke for farmers who often had limited access to the corridors of power. He gave Nigerian farmers a voice.

He was an architect by training, an agribusinessman by practice and, ultimately, one of Nigeria’s enduring voices for the Nigerian farmer.

May his soul rest in peace!

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), on Tuesday, alleged that many civil society organisations now masquerade as helpers of vulnerable Nigerians to traffick unsuspecting youth from rural areas.

It also said many faith-based Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) were culpable in the menace, insisting that they usually target communities ravaged by farmers -herders crisis.

The Head of Press and Public Relations of NAPTIP, Vincent Adekoye, stated this at National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Abuja, venue for joint press briefing of security spokesmen.

Adekoye explained that human traffickers have shifted focus from female gender have started trafficking male young persons, adding that their modus operandi have changed to using technology to recruit trafficked persons.

‘We want to alert Nigerians on this gender shift in human trafficking, and the technology-driven cyber-enabled nature of human trafficking.

‘And again, we, through our operations, also discovered that traffickers also now masquerading under the umbrella of Civil Society Organizations and moving to communities that are already distressed; moving to communities where you have farmer-herder crises, and promising parents that, ‘Oh, we will take your children back to school,’ under a fake back-to-school project.

‘And from there, they harvest children, move them, and just about two weeks ago, in an operation we carried out in Onitsha, Anambra State, we recovered four children who were who were removed and trafficked from Kajuru in Kaduna in 2023,’ he said.

He said agency recovered some of them inside a high-rise building, and one of those children also was recovered from a nurse at a Federal Medical Centre in Onitsha.

‘And lastly, we have continued also to ensure that we want to profile the Civil Society Organizations in Nigeria. My DG has asked me to convey to them, leadership of the CSOs in Nigeria to do an in-house cleansing.

‘Because these are people that are known to the community. Some of them are community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, and non-governmental organizations.

‘So, the people are familiar to them, so they take advantage of the vulnerability of the community-those who have been ravaged already-and they walk to them and take the children away.

‘As at last count, we have recovered 118 of such children from those that were trafficked from Nasarawa and from Benue, and three other states within the North Central.

‘So, we are appealing to Nigerians to be watchful. When you see them, please contact NAPTIP,’ the senior government official told journalists.

He further warned that human traffickers have now moved to the cyber space (social media) recruiting victims to Asia countries for hard labour.

According to him, the agency recently rescued 16 young boys from Thailand who were lured with lucrative job offers.

‘Now we have other countries around the Asian corridor And what is the promise? The promise is that they will earn good living. And for those of them who have been without job for a while, it’s a stolen opportunity for them.

‘Some of them even testify that they got the job, and they offer everything for them, right from the issuance of the travel documents, right from the transportation, to get them tickets, they give them VIP treatment on arrival at the destination country.

‘So, from beginning, it looks so real to them that they have no reason at all to doubt. So, the agency has been inundated of recent with calls from some of them who are stranded.

‘Just in July, we rescued about 16 of them from Thailand. When you hear their story, your emotion will corrupt you of what they pass through. Some of them couldn’t survive. Those who survived have a narrow escape from death,’ he said.