Category: Daily Trust

The British High Commissioner, Dr Richard Montgomery, on Thursday, demanded that the Anambra governorship election be conducted in accordance with Nigerian law and the constitution.

He disclosed this after concluding a two-day visit to Awka, Anambra State, where he engaged with key stakeholders ahead of the state’s gubernatorial election scheduled for 8 November 2025.

The High Commissioner met with Governor Charles Soludo, other gubernatorial candidates, the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, the state Commissioner of Police and civil society representatives.

The High Commissioner emphasised that the UK does not endorse any candidate or political party but remains focused on supporting the electoral process itself.

Key themes discussed during the meetings included technical and logistical preparations to support 5,720 polling units across the state, the security situation across the 21 local government areas of Anambra State, factors likely to affect voter turnout, and arrangements for observing the electoral process and polling day activities.

‘Our focus is solely on the electoral process itself – that it should be transparent, peaceful, inclusive and enjoy the confidence of the Anambra people. We do not endorse any particular candidate or political party.

‘I encourage all eligible voters to exercise their democratic rights and to engage peacefully in the election,’ he said.

The visit comes as part of the UK’s broader engagement with Nigerian democratic institutions in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections.

Chairman of Optiva Capital Partners, Franklin Nechi, has stated that Africa’s growing class of investors and entrepreneurs need more than just financial assets, stressing the importance of global access and opportunities that allow them to thrive beyond borders.

Nechi stated this during an interactive media session with select business editors in Lagos, where he reaffirmed Optiva Capital Partners’ leadership in the investment immigration and wealth management industry across Africa.

He described the company as ‘the bridge that connects African potential to global possibilities,’ noting that the demand for second citizenship and residency-by-investment programmes has become one of the defining trends in global wealth management.

‘Today, mobility is power. Access is wealth. The world rewards those who can cross borders, seize opportunities, and connect effortlessly with global systems of education, healthcare, business, and innovation,’ Nechi said.

According to him, Optiva Capital Partners identified early that African investors and entrepreneurs required more than financial assets.

They needed access to opportunity, safety, and choice,’ he said.

‘From a pioneering idea, Optiva has evolved into Africa’s leading investment immigration and wealth management firm, trusted by thousands of clients across the continent. Our vision has always been to empower Africans to live globally without borders,’ he added.

Nechi said the company’s leadership rests on three key pillars: credibility, partnership, and impact.

He explained that credibility means ensuring every transaction is guided by transparency and international best practices; partnership involves collaboration with governments, licensed programme administrators, global legal firms, and real estate developers across Europe, the Caribbean, and the Middle East; while impact is reflected in the life-changing outcomes for clients.

‘We are proud that Optiva Capital Partners is recognised today as the number one name in investment immigration in Africa, not by our claim alone, but by the trust and success of our clients and the recognition of our global partners,’ he said.

Nechi also described the global migration industry as a multi-billion-dollar sector that continues to grow as countries compete to attract investors and talent.

He reaffirmed Optiva’s commitment to ensuring Africans are active participants, not spectators, in this global ecosystem.

‘We believe this is the future, a borderless generation of Africans who can study, invest, and thrive anywhere in the world while still contributing meaningfully to their home economies,’ he added.

Members of the Joint Task Force (JTF), in a combined operation involving hunters and vigilantes, arrested two injured bandits and their doctors, setting their camps ablaze in the Aherin-Bunu community in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

This was disclosed by the State’s Security Adviser, Cdr Jerry Omodara (rtd), on Thursday.

Omodara stressed that the security agencies acted on an intelligence report, moved in and arrested two wounded bandits who were receiving treatment from local doctors in the settlements.

According to the state security adviser, the bandits had sustained gunshot injuries in the previous encounter with security forces in the communities of the area.

‘We received intel that two bandits were receiving treatment in a settlement in the Aherin-Bunu community in Kabba-Bunu LGA.

‘We swiftly deployed security personnel and arrested the two wounded bandits. We also arrested fake doctors treating them; anyone perpetrating, abetting, or collaborating with criminals will be dealt with, regardless of their status.

‘On the governor’s directive, the combined security forces demolished the camps, including a makeshift clinic, and destroyed the bandits’ farmland and farm produce,’ said Omodara.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused governors defecting from its fold of greed, selfishness, and covetousness, insisting that Nigerians will ultimately decide their fate in the 2027 general elections.

The opposition party maintained that it is not governors who make a political party, but the people, adding that those abandoning the platform that brought them to power would soon regret their actions.

Since the 2023 general election, four governors have left the PDP – Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta and Pastor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, while Peter Mbah of Enugu, and Douye Diri of Bayelsa followed the trend this week.

Even the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, have withdrawn their memberships, along with some key allies.

‘Defections driven by greed’

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary Ibrahim Abdullahi said the wave of defections is motivated by ‘greed, avarice, and selfishness.’

‘To the best of my knowledge and that of most Nigerians, you cannot find a compelling reason for a governor, especially one on a second term like in Bayelsa, to abandon the party that produced him,’ Abdullahi said. ‘You can’t find any justifiable reason other than covetousness, greed, and avarice.’

He insisted that the PDP remains strong despite its challenges. ‘Our party is in good stead. We have internal issues like every other political party, but we have addressed the major ones that could have afflicted our ability to serve as a credible opposition as we journey towards 2027,’ he said.

While the spokesman of Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri, Daniel Alabrah, could not be reached for comment, the Special Adviser to Enugu Governor Peter Mbah on Media, Dan Nwomeh, told Daily Trust that the PDP’s reaction was expected and understandable.

‘The governor has made adequate explanation on why he left the PDP; it’s all contained in his speech. We understand the PDP won’t be happy, but we can’t help it,’ Nwomeh said. ‘We can’t remain in a party where our voice doesn’t count. If you leave the PDP, they will find something to say, that’s politics.’

PDP unfazed, eyes Ibadan convention

Speaking further, Abdullahi said the party is unbothered by the defections and is instead focused on its forthcoming national convention in Ibadan, which he said would ‘change the face of the party’ and reposition it as a credible alternative ahead of 2027.

‘These few elements are driven by self-greed and the coercion and temptation of the ruling party,’ he said. ‘Other than that, there’s no reason for their action. To the PDP, it’s good riddance to bad rubbish.’

He said the departure of such figures offers the party an opportunity to ‘weed out terrible elements’ ahead of the convention.

‘Many Nigerians have been asking what could have prompted these defections because the PDP remains in good stead. There’s no rationale other than selfishness and greed,’ Abdullahi said.

He insisted that the defection of a few governors does not define the party’s fate. ‘It’s not about PDP or APC anymore; it’s APC versus Nigerians. Let them do whatever they can – we’ve seen worse temptations than this,’ he said.

Abdullahi dismissed claims by Governor Mbah that the South East has been marginalised within the PDP despite supporting the party for 27 years.

‘This is the same party that produced five Senate Presidents from the South East. Each of the states in the region produced a Senate President at one point. They also produced ministers in very notable ministries,’ he argued. ‘There was a time the PDP empowered the South East to the point where names like Okonjo-Iweala emerged globally. So, what exactly is he talking about?’

Abdullahi accused Mbah of failing to participate in party activities.

‘For four years that I have been in the PDP, I haven’t seen Peter Mbah attend any NEC or major party meeting in Abuja,’ he said. ‘If you claim the PDP has not provided leadership, as a governor you are the custodian of that leadership in your state. So, if leadership is lacking, it’s an admission of failure on your part.’

Abdullahi also took a swipe at former Enugu governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, accusing him of diminishing his political stature. ‘It’s disappointing that a former governor and former member of the National Assembly has reduced himself to a personal assistant, literally carrying bags for a sitting minister. That’s shameless,’ he said.

Governors being coerced – Ogidi

Also speaking, the South South Zonal Caretaker Chairman of the PDP, Elder Emmanuel Ogidi, alleged that the defecting governors were being coerced by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He told Daily Trust that both governors and party members were under intense pressure to abandon the PDP.

‘Even second-term governors are leaving, and we don’t know their reasons,’ he said. ‘Some of it is personal, but we know there’s coercion. They are being threatened seriously. Nigerians already know that the APC wants to turn the country into a one-party state that’s their ultimate goal.’

The APC and the presidency have severally denied any plot to turn the country into a one-party state, insisiting that the opposition parties are the architect of their own misfortune and that it is not the duty of the ruling party to help them fix their problems.

Ogidi, however, said despite the defections, the PDP remains focused on its upcoming national convention. ‘We are committed to going ahead with it. Ironically, some of those now leaving had worked hard for its success,’ he said. ‘But they were forced to abandon the party because they don’t want the convention to hold.’

Defecting governors cowardly, gutless – Udenta

Also reacting, Professor Udenta O. Udenta, founding national secretary of the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD), described the defecting governors as ‘cowardly, chicken-hearted, and gutless.’

He said many of them lack an understanding of ‘the genealogy of power’ and have no appreciation of how they rose to prominence.

‘For example, how did they climb to the top? Who mentored them? Who taught them the art and purpose of politics, power, responsibility, and accountability?’ he asked.

‘Take the case of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom I criticise quite often but objectively. You must give it to him that he prepared for power very deliberately. That’s why he can toy with some of these politicians with ease.’

Udenta said Tinubu, who as governor between 1999 and 2007 battled the PDP’s attempt to capture the South West, now appears to be ‘ordering governors and senators to abandon their parties and betray the people’s trust, and they are complying sheepishly.’

He noted that in some states, ‘commissioners now wear clothes with the president’s image printed on them,’ a trend he described as ‘the height of sycophancy.’

According to him, ‘Some of these governors flee from their parties citing internal crises, as if conflict is not a normal human condition to be managed and resolved. If you run away from your party because it’s in crisis, you’re unfit to lead.’

He added that ‘real politicians and real leaders dig in, make compromises, adjust, and remain resolute because they believe in something and are guided by moral clarity.’

Udenta argued that many of the defecting governors lack the courage to uphold the principles of federalism.

‘From Akwa Ibom to Delta and Enugu to Bayelsa, their mantra is that aligning with the centre brings prosperity. But they fail to grasp that federalism and separation of powers are not just theoretical ideals but practical administrative realities,’ he said.

He recalled how Tinubu, as Lagos governor, confronted former President Olusegun Obasanjo over federal encroachment on state powers between 1999 and 2007. ‘He had an activist mindset and bitterly contested power with successive PDP presidents. These new governors lack that courage,’ Udenta said.

He criticised Governor Mbah’s claim of PDP marginalisation, saying the South East benefitted immensely under PDP administrations. ‘With the exception of the presidency and vice presidency, the region held virtually every major national position – Senate presidents, deputy Senate presidents, speakers, SGF, chiefs of army staff, IGPs, CBN governor, finance minister, and chief economic adviser,’ he said. ‘Many even believe an Igbo man was the most powerful figure during Obasanjo’s eight-year presidency.’

The Enugu-born professor said the problem lies not in access to power but in what the South East elite did with it. ‘When their son, Peter Obi, ran for president in 2023 and came close to victory, did they rally behind him?’ he asked. ‘Today, the same decamped political nomads are asking him to step aside. That’s what I call cultural and political surrender – an abandonment of their people’s pride and historical identity.’

Udenta added that the PDP and other opposition parties might actually be ‘shedding unwanted baggage’ through these defections.

‘The PDP must reconstruct itself as the true party of the people, as it claimed in 1998 when it was founded – hence the motto, Power to the People,’ he said. ‘I’m not a member of the PDP, but as a patriot, I believe that Nigeria’s multi-party democracy is under severe threat from the current hybrid regime with its competitive authoritarian and illiberal mindset.’

He said patriots must ‘struggle hard to preserve opposition parties’ as a safeguard against democratic collapse. ‘Some governors are valiantly resisting the massive federal onslaught on the party and working day and night to save it. This is not the time to sit on the fence,’ he warned.

‘In the absence of a radical ideological alternative, Nigerians must remain engaged in defending multi-party democracy, which the current regime seems determined to dismantle.’

Court restates order on PDP convention

Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Abuja has restated its earlier order directing parties to maintain the status quo in the suit seeking to stop the PDP’s national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Justice James Omotosho reiterated the order during Thursday’s resumed hearing, warning that he would issue consequential orders against any party that resorts to self-help.

The judge made the remarks after PDP counsel Chris Uche (SAN) complained that the order was hindering preparations and sought an accelerated hearing.

Justice Omotosho assured the parties that judgment would be delivered before the end of October ‘so that everyone knows their fate.’

‘The court must not be overreached. If such happens, I have the power to nullify any act done in defiance of this court,’ he said. ‘I assure you, the decision will be ready by the end of October.’

The judge fixed Monday, October 20, for definite hearing of the originating summons filed by three aggrieved party members – Hon. Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman), Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman), and Turnah George (PDP secretary, South South).

The plaintiffs, represented by Joseph Daudu (SAN), are seeking an order stopping the convention. The defendants include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); the PDP; National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu; National Organising Secretary Umar Bature; the National Working Committee (NWC); and the National Executive Committee (NEC).

At Thursday’s proceedings, both PDP National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) and Chris Uche (SAN) claimed to represent the party. Justice Omotosho directed them to file their papers so the court can determine who is the legitimate counsel.

He ordered all parties to exchange their processes by October 17 ahead of the October 20 hearing.

On Tuesday Chris Uche (SAN), who was representing the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagun, and National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), clashed openly in court over who has the authority to appoint lawyers to represent the party.

Damagun had informed the court that he had authorised Uche and five other Senior Advocates of Nigeria to represent the PDP in the case. Ajibade immediately objected, insisting that as the party’s legal adviser, only he has the statutory authority to appoint legal representation on behalf of the PDP.

Justice Omotosho had earlier attempted to mediate the disagreement by standing the matter down to allow both sides to reconcile, but the effort failed. The judge subsequently adjourned the case to Thursday for hearing. However, with both counsels still entering appearances for the PDP at the resumed session, it became clear that there was no resolution to the conflict, a development that observers have described as embarrassing for the party.

Professor Udenta O Udenta, a Founding National Secretary of the now defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) has described governors and other high-profile politicians are defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as ‘cowardly, chicken hearted and gutless.’

Since the 2023 general elections, at least four governors – Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Umo Eno, (Akwa Ibom), Peter Mbah (Enugu) and Douye Diri (Bayelsa) – have left the PDP.

Even though the Bayelsa State Governor is yet to announce his next destination, analysts are of the view that like others, he would join the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Aside from the governors, the Presidential candidate of the PDP in the last election, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has left the party, his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, has equally left.

Speaking on the development, Udenta said the governors lack the appreciation of the genealogy of power, or its ancestry, and how they rose to prominence in the first place.

‘For example, how did they climb to the top? Who mentored them? Who taught them the art and purpose of politics, power, responsibility and accountability? Those who abandon a party at the site of challenges are not fit to be called leaders.

‘Take the case of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who I criticize quite often, and in my view very objectively. You have to give it to him that he prepared for power very scrupulously, very deliberately and very intentionally. That is why he is toying with some of these politicians with casual ease and denying them the autonomy of political expression and practice which he exercised between 1999 and 2007 when he was an opposition governor, particularly when he led the charge against the PDP capture of South West in 2003.’

He said the President who as governor battled former President Olusegun Obasanjo is now making governors and the senators to abandon their parties, betray the people’s sacred trust and follow him.

‘And sleepily and cowardly, with their tails between their legs, some of them are obliging him. We even hear that in some states, commissioners wear dresses with the image of the President engraved on to them!

‘Some of these governors can give you any amount of reason to justify their perfidy, including for example that their party is in crisis, as if conflict is not a normal human condition you have to live with, deal with, transform and resolve. If you flee from your party because it is in crisis, you are not fit to be a leader, you are not fit to be followed and respected by the people.

‘But some are fleeing from their party because they lack what I have already described as the ancestry of power. You will notice that real politicians, real leaders, will dig in, reach compromises, make adjustments and remain resolute and focused because they believe in something, they are made of a sterner stuff and because they are guided by moral clarity. ‘

Udenta said many politicians can’t resist the pressure mounted on them to decamp from their parties because they don’t know the meaning of power and the responsibilities that come with it.

‘They lack an understanding of the logic of federalism and separation of power not as a theoretical exercise but as a practical administrative procedure which a certain Sen Bola Ahmed Tinubu understood clearly between 1999 and 2007 in his relationship with the President Obasanjo centre and in his activist mindset and bitter contestation of power with successor PDP Presidents from 2007 to 2015.

‘These governors lack the courage to tell Mr President that while I respect you as our president, you should respect us as the duly elected governors of our states and not your appointee. The case of Enugu state Governor who talks about the PDP marginalizing the Zone since 1999 is absurd because with the exception of the office of the President and the vice president the PDP gave the South Eastern political elite everything.’

Islam became the third most popular religion taught in Finnish comprehensive schools last year, according to data published by Statistics Finland.

In primary grades (years 1-6), 4.2 percent of pupils received instruction in Islam in 2024. The figure for lower secondary grades (years 7-9) was slightly lower, at 3.3 percent.

Since 2018, the share of Islamic education has risen by nearly two percentage points in the lower years and by one percentage point in the upper years.

‘Among primary school pupils, the share of those studying Islam is now two percentage points higher than those studying Orthodox Christianity. In lower secondary schools, the difference is 1.3 points,’ said Vesa Hämäläinen, senior statistician at Statistics Finland.

Despite these changes, the Evangelical Lutheran religion remains the most widely studied subject in the religion and ethics category.

In lower secondary schools, 82 percent of pupils still study the Evangelical Lutheran religion. In primary schools, the share has dropped to 77 percent.

Pupils studying secular ethics, known in Finland as ‘elämänkatsomustieto’ or worldview education, also increased in number.

Among pupils in years 1-6, 15 percent studied ethics in 2024. In years 7-9, the share was 11 percent.

‘Compared to 2016, the share of ethics students has more than doubled in both primary and lower secondary levels,’ Hämäläinen said.

(Helsinki Times)

Regional differences remain significant. In Uusimaa, the most populous region that includes Helsinki, both Islam and ethics are studied more than in any other part of the country.

One in five pupils in Uusimaa is a non-native speaker of Finnish or Swedish. This demographic shift is reflected in the distribution of religious and ethics education.

In Uusimaa’s primary schools, 9 percent of pupils studied Islam in 2024. The share studying ethics was 24.2 percent.

Kaduna Mining Development Company (KMDC) and the Kaduna State Govt would like to announce the discovery of a vast multi-metallic deposit of Gold, Lithium, Copper and Nickel in Kaduna State.

There is an inferred resource of 33MT Gold and 187 MT Nickel ore bodies. This discovery was made during the exploration for Tin in the pegmatite region of Gidan Waya, JEMAA local govt also leading to the inferred resource of 97MT of enriched ore bodies of tantalum, niobium with associated tin and tungsten.

This discovery was made by Kian Smith (Hyperlink- https://www.kiansmith.com) for the KMDC and Anka Metals (Hyperlink- https://ankametals.africa) JV. Based on the significant discovery after 2 years of exploration, KMDC would like to announce the creation of JEMAA Resource Project, the SPV to develop the asset. KMDC would also like to announce that JEMAA Resource Project has constituted a technical steering committee to oversee the drilling and resource confirmation.

The Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) – with the statutory role of providing relevant geological data for Nigeria-will be leading the technical steering committee of the JEMAA Resource Project in Kaduna State. The recent discovery of the multi-metallic deposit in Kaduna State, particularly the nickel, is of National and Geological interest. The NGSA welcomes the approach of the JEMAA Resource Project and the Kaduna State government for transparency in data sharing and their call for an independent resource verification process led by the NGSA. This collaboration will increase investor confidence in the Nigerian Mining sector and also enrich and update the geoscience information for the economic development of Nigeria via its mineral resources.

The technical steering committee also includes the leadership of Nigeria’s reputable geological firms, Geocardinal Engineering Services Limited and Fundamental Integrated Site Appraisal Services Limited (FISAS).

The Adamawa State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (ADSACA) says the state has recorded no fewer than 8,850 new HIV infections between 2022 and 2025.

Director of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation of the agency, Mr Abdullahi Adamu, revealed this on Thursday during a media engagement session on the HIV/AIDS responses by the state.

He said the interactive session was aimed at strengthening collaboration with the media in order to enlighten the public on HIV prevention and behavioural change.

Adamu reiterated that statistics disclosed that from 2022 to 2025, there has been an increasing number of HIV infections growing annually across the state.

‘In 2022, we recorded over 2,700 new infections; in 2023, over 2,500; in 2024, 2,227; and from January to June 2025, we have already recorded 1,423 new infections,’ he stated.

He expressed shock over the increasing number of new cases despite the availability of preventive measures, advising that there is a need for an urgent review of the existing strategies.

‘We need to restrategise and adopt new approaches that will strengthen public awareness and promote preventive practices.

‘We have preventive options such as abstinence, consistent condom use and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), but many people are not taking them seriously,’ he said.

The ADSACA director explained that no fewer than 40,000 infected people were currently receiving treatment, with about 93 per cent achieving viral suppression in the state.

He revealed that in 2024, about 400 HIV- related deaths were recorded.

The Professional Platform of Auto Dealers’ Association of Nigeria, an umbrella body of auto dealers in Nigeria, has said lack of unity among stakeholders had stalled the implementation of the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) also known as auto policy.

The body however said it has concluded plans to embark on the construction of a N350m secretariat which would serve as a hub to bring all auto dealership associations together to address the lingering challenges in the sector.

The association revealed this in Lagos yesterday during a press conference to announce the biennial award ceremony/N350m fundraising gala event scheduled for 16th of November 2025.

Chairman, Organising Committee of the programme, Igwe Amobi Moghalu who briefed the newsmen lamented that for a sector that contributes over seven per cent to the GDP, it is a shame that automobile dealership is still regarded and treated as an informal sector of the national economy.

Daily Trust reports that the auto policy which provides the regulatory frameworks for the auto industry development has been stalled over the past decade.

According to Moghalu, the auto policy has suffered because of the disunity among the auto industry players.

He said the association was committed to serve as a rallying force for other auto dealerships in Nigeria through its proposed secretariat which would serve as a hub for other auto dealers’ associations in Nigeria.

He reiterated that the body was committed to professionalising the auto dealership sector by bringing together all players under one umbrella.

According to him, auto dealerships should not be an all-comers’ affair with virtually everybody claiming to be players in the industry.

‘From mechanics to vulcanisers, plumbers to carpenters and all other artisans, everyone who had in the past successfully sold a vehicle assumes the toga of a car dealer.

‘A proper dealership should, apart from displaying vehicles in a showroom, provide after sales service, stock spare parts and other accessories and be capable of properly managing vehicle fleets for companies and big organisations,

‘Even individual buyers should have their service records domiciled in the service and vehicle history books of the dealer, just like your doctor has your medical records in his or her office. A proper dealership should be capable of informing its customers of the due date for the servicing of their vehicles.

‘Unfortunately for our country, most of the traditional dealerships were affected by trade liberalisation of the early 90’s such that most of them have closed shop or have greatly downsized their operations.’

He disclosed that at the forthcoming programme, the association, would apart from other awards, bestow the governor of the year award on Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State while other organisations like Samasun Motors, Royal C. Investment Company Limited, Crestline Logistics as well as the GMD/CEO of Adron Homes would be honoured.

Also speaking, the National Secretary of the association, Benny Chijioke said the group was committed to fostering unity and togetherness to collectively address the challenges facing the auto industry.

A new study by the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) Programme has revealed widespread encroachment, poor maintenance and infrastructural decay in many Nigeria’s grazing reserves and stock routes, labelling the conditions as key factors fuelling farmer-herder conflicts across the country.

The findings were presented during a dissemination workshop held in Kano as part of efforts to deepen understanding and promote evidence-based interventions to resolve one of the country’s most persistent conflict drivers.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Ukoha Ukiwo, the SPRING Team Leader, said the four-year UK-funded programme was launched in May 2024 to support peacebuilding and climate resilience efforts across Nigeria.

‘A significant component of the programme involves supporting the resolution and prevention of violent conflicts, many of which stem from competition between farmers and pastoralists over land and water in pastoral regions of Northern Nigeria,’ he said. Dr. Ukiwo explained that SPRING conducted an in-depth study in early 2025 across 13 states in North-Central Nigeria to assess the status of grazing reserves and stock routes, examine state policies, and recommend strategies for sustainable management.

‘Nigeria has a total of 415 grazing reserves covering 3.8 million hectares. Of these, 141 are gazetted and 274 remain ungazetted. Many are now encroached upon by farmers and developers, while infrastructure such as boreholes, veterinary centres, and roads built under past projects have deteriorated beyond use,’ he stated.

He added that although the reserves and routes remain a critical mechanism for reducing conflict, neglect and poor governance have rendered many of them ineffective.

According to the study, while states such as Kano and Gombe have taken proactive steps to rehabilitate reserves and reduce encroachment, others have shown indifference or open resistance to the idea, particularly in the southern regions.

The report urged states to demonstrate renewed commitment by gazetting reserves, improving data accuracy, and prioritising the rehabilitation of existing infrastructure.

Also speaking, Pirmah Rimdans, Conflict Adviser at the British High Commission, said the SPRING Programme aims to strengthen peace and resilience by addressing underlying drivers of violent conflict through research and collaboration.

‘We know that one of the major issues fuelling conflict in Nigeria is the farmer-herder crisis. To adequately address it, we must first understand it,’ she said.

‘Our researchers have examined agricultural and pastoral practices, grazing reserves, and stock routes to understand how they feed into conflict. This dissemination session in Kano allows us to validate these findings with local stakeholders.’

She added that the engagement was critical to ensuring that interventions are ‘evidence-based and driven by shared understanding’ among state and community actors.

Representing the Kano State Government, Umar Musa Gano, Head of the Pastoral and Rural Management Section at the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, said the state has made significant progress in addressing farmer-herder tensions.

‘We have minimal farmer-herder crises in Kano due to the government’s commitment to protecting grazing reserves, stock routes, and watering points.

‘There is an existing Grazing Reserve Law that prevents encroachment, and the government has reinforced it with new rules and council efforts to sustain these facilities,’ he said.

Gano noted that the state recently established a Livestock Development Ministry to drive policy coordination and research-based planning for livestock production.

He advised other states to emulate Kano’s proactive approach by creating dedicated livestock development agencies and investing in research.

On his part, Abdulqadir Sambo, SPRING’s Regional Manager for the Northwest, said the engagement was not to prescribe ready-made solutions but to stimulate conversations based on research findings.

‘In the Northwest, traditional stock routes that pastoralists used for decades have been overtaken by farms, leading to competition and conflict.

‘Our goal is to bring together government officials, civil society, and pastoral groups to examine these realities and jointly develop practical, peaceful solutions,’ he said.

The SPRING report recommended improved data management on grazing reserves, prioritisation of infrastructure rehabilitation, and stronger policy dialogue between state governments and pastoralist communities.

It also urged collaboration with states that have shown willingness to reform, such as Kano, Yobe, Gombe, and Nasarawa, and called for socio-economic surveys before any new physical interventions.

Dr. Ukiwo concluded that revitalising and maintaining grazing reserves and stock routes remain key to mitigating farmer-herder conflicts and promoting peace, stability, and climate resilience across Nigeria.