Category: Nigerian Tribune

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Friday inaugurated a N1 billion Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Digital Experience Centre at the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), Calabar, providing students with free access to laptops, desktops and other digital resources.

The facility, delivered through the Renewed Hope Initiative in partnership with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), is aimed at expanding access to digital tools, particularly for economically disadvantaged students who cannot afford personal devices.

Speaking at the inauguration of the centre at the university’s main campus in Calabar, Tinubu said the facility would provide students with opportunities to learn, create and develop digital skills without being constrained by lack of devices or unstable electricity.

According to her, the project is part of a nationwide initiative involving tertiary institutions across the country’s six geopolitical zones, with selected institutions benefiting from the pilot phase.

The beneficiary institutions include Ekiti State University; Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State; Kaduna State University; Kwara State University; UNICROSS and Taraba State University, among others.

In his remarks, Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, commended the initiative, describing the ICT Digital Experience Centre as a significant investment in the digital empowerment of students and the advancement of education in the state.

Otu said the facility would help bridge the digital divide among students while equipping young people with skills required to compete in an increasingly technology-driven global economy.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the TETFund Board of Trustees, Rt. Hon. Aminu Masari, said the centre was among six institutions nationwide selected as pioneer beneficiaries of the strategic intervention under the Fund’s 2024 activities.

Masari said the TETFund Board approved the establishment of an ICT Experience Centre in each of the six geopolitical zones at a total cost of N1 billion per zone, with UNICROSS hosting the South-South centre.

He said the centre was designed to equip students and lecturers with critical digital skills in Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics and software development, while exposing them to emerging technologies applicable to sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, security, media and mining.

According to him, the intervention was aimed at enhancing graduate employability, fostering innovation and preparing Nigerian youths to compete effectively in the global technology-driven economy.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, said the project reflected the Fund’s commitment to strengthening digital infrastructure in tertiary institutions and expanding access to technology-driven learning.

Echono acknowledged the role of the First Lady in supporting initiatives aimed at empowering young Nigerians, saying her commitment had provided encouragement for programmes of this nature.

He also commended the university management for its cooperation in delivering the project and urged it to ensure that the facility and equipment were properly maintained, secured and regularly upgraded.

He said TETFund would continue to support impactful initiatives that strengthen digital capacity in tertiary institutions, stressing that the centres were not merely infrastructure projects but platforms for creating opportunities for young people and advancing Nigeria’s vision of a knowledge-based and technologically empowered economy.

Echono added that the centre would provide students with access to modern digital resources while creating an enabling environment for research, learning and skills development.

He said the initiative would particularly benefit students without personal digital devices, thereby helping to reduce inequality in access to education and technology.

Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has apologised to soldiers, policemen, customs and immigration personnel over his controversial remarks at the Nigerian Bar Association’s 66th Annual General Conference.

VeryDarkMan made the apology in a video shared on Friday after reflecting on his speech at the conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he referred to the military, police, immigration and customs personnel as ‘unknown gunmen’ during a discussion on insecurity.

He said he realised that the comment was unfair to security personnel who were risking their lives to protect Nigerians, particularly soldiers fighting Boko Haram and other threats.

‘I don’t think I was fair to a lot of people, particularly the speech where I said that the military are the unknown gunmen, the police are the unknown gunmen, you know, the immigration, the customs.

‘I know exactly what I was trying to say because, I mean, I have evidence to back up my claim, but I wasn’t fair to a lot of people in that speech,’ he said.

VeryDarkMan explained that his criticism was directed at alleged corruption, sabotage and information leaks by some individuals within the security agencies, rather than the personnel as a whole.

He acknowledged, however, that the manner in which he made the point amounted to a generalisation that could undermine the sacrifices of security personnel who had died in the line of duty.

‘That speech was not fair, especially to the soldiers that are in the bushes fighting Boko Haram to protect our lands, to protect our lives, and to protect our families.

‘I don’t think it’s fair to say they are also the unknown gunmen, to be very honest, because these people have laid down their lives,’ he said.

Explaining the intention behind his remarks, VeryDarkMan said he wanted security authorities to pay attention to personnel allegedly working against their colleagues and the country.

‘My speech was not to discourage you. My speech was entirely to talk about the bad eggs in our security operative, our security forces, is to put attention on the bad eggs, so that the leaders in these security settings will look inward and to see that sometimes information are being leaked and their own people are sabotaging them,’ he said.

He said he accepted that his choice of words created the impression that he was accusing the entire security sector.

‘But by passing that speech, like I said, it seems like I was generalising and it’s not fair to the fallen soldiers,’ he said.

The activist subsequently addressed the Chief of Defence Staff and other security authorities, asking that his apology be conveyed to personnel serving in difficult and dangerous conditions.

‘So I will go further to say to the Chief of Defence Staff, Sir, I really want to apologise for that speech, and I don’t want to discourage your boys.

‘Please extend my apologies to your boys, to the ones that are in the bush protecting our lands,’ he said.

He extended the apology to the police, customs and immigration authorities and to relatives of security personnel who had died while serving the country.

‘To the families of these heroes that might have also felt offended by this speech, knowing fully well that their brother, their sister, their son, their husband fought and died for this country, I am really, really sorry,’ he said.

VeryDarkMan maintained that allegations of misconduct involving some personnel should not erase the contributions of officers who continue to serve the country.

‘Yes, a lot of bad eggs there, like I said, a lot of bad eggs, a lot of them are there.

‘A lot of corrupt generals, a lot of high-ranking police officers are corrupt, a lot of junior officers are corrupt, a lot of them are there. But there’s still a lot of more good people, a lot of more good people, and I know a lot of them,’ he said.

He said he was concerned that his earlier comments could have a negative effect on a soldier who encountered the video while serving in the bush.

‘Imagine a soldier fighting in the bush and he watches VDM’s video, and he’s like, ‘Ah, VDM is one of us now, unknown gunman.’ That would discourage him, to be honest,’ he said.

VeryDarkMan also pointed to his interactions with some police officers as part of his experience with the security sector, saying they had given him insight into some of the challenges confronting the force.

‘Me and police, we work steady. I give, sometimes I share police information, tell them, ‘Oh, this is what is happening here, please, can you intercept,’ he said.

He urged officers who were genuinely protecting Nigerians not to interpret his criticism as an attack on their service.

‘And please don’t be discouraged, please, please, don’t be discouraged.

‘We’re there behind you now, and we’ll always support you. You know, and we are part of this thing, security is for all of us,’ he said.

Despite the apology, VeryDarkMan said he would continue to speak against personnel he accused of sabotage, arms-related activities and leaking information to terrorists.

‘But then again, to the bad eggs, your days are numbered.

‘To all of you in the military that are sabotaging and causing deaths to your officers, your days are numbered,’ he said.

The latest development comes after VeryDarkMan’s appearance at the NBA’s annual conference attracted criticism, particularly over his comments about the security agencies.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, had rejected the defence of VeryDarkMan’s participation and argued that experienced speakers should handle specialised discussions at the conference.

VeryDarkMan later defended his invitation and explained the circumstances surrounding his appearance before mocking some of the backlash by appearing in a lawyer’s wig and gown in a video.

The Nigerian naira appreciated against the United States (US) dollar, trading at N1,315.6717 at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) official foreign exchange (FX) window on Thursday, September 3, 2026.

The data shared on the CBN’s official platform shows that the naira traded at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) rate of N1,315.6717 per dollar and closed at N1,322.5000 per dollar.

The currency, which traded at an NFEM rate of N1,326.6862 on September 2, 2026, appreciated by at least N11 after trading activities on Thursday.

At the parallel market, the buying rate remained the same while the selling rate increased by N5 when compared to the previous trading rate on Wednesday, September 2 , 2026.

According to Aboki FX , the Naira-to-dollar exchange rate at the black market on Thursday, September 3, 2026, was N1,395 and N1,405 per dollar for buying and selling rates, respectively.

Senator Ahmad Abdulhamid Malam Madori, representing Jigawa North-East Senatorial District, has flagged off the construction of a 1,200-capacity international-standard multipurpose conference centre in Hadejia, Jigawa State.

The project, located at the old prison premises in Hadejia, is expected to provide a modern platform for conferences, seminars, workshops, training programmes, professional engagements and other large-scale activities.

Speaking during the foundation-laying ceremony, the senator, represented by the former Deputy Speaker of the Jigawa State House of Assembly and Special Adviser to Governor Umar Namadi on Small Town Water Supply, Hon. Adamu Ibrahim Gira, said the project was part of efforts to deliver meaningful dividends of democracy to constituents.

He explained that the intervention was designed to upgrade Hadejia with modern facilities that would meet international standards and enhance the city’s capacity to host major events.

According to him, ‘This infrastructure intervention is aimed at strengthening the town’s capacity to host conferences, professional engagements, community programmes and other large-scale activities.’

The facility is designed as a multifunctional centre comprising a 1,200-capacity main conference hall, a 682-square-metre main hall, stage and auditorium seating, 12 accommodation rooms, VIP lounge, mini conference room, reception courtyard, entrance porch, prayer and ablution facilities, offices and other functional spaces.

Madori said the conference centre was one of several development projects being facilitated under his constituency representation in Jigawa North-East Senatorial District.

He said the projects were in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and aimed at addressing some of the infrastructure and socio-economic needs of the people.

The senator also highlighted other constituency interventions, including projects relating to security, education and water supply, saying his priority was to ensure that his representation translated into tangible benefits for the people.

He assured the people of Hadejia that the conference centre would be completed within five months and made available for use.

The Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Adamu Abubakar Maji, represented by the Galadiman Hadejia, Alhaji Usman Abdulaziz Zakar, commended the senator for initiating the project.

He described the centre as a people-oriented intervention that would provide Hadejia with a modern venue for conferences, seminars, capacity-building programmes, community engagements and other important activities.

The emir called on other elected representatives to emulate initiatives capable of delivering lasting benefits to their constituents.

He prayed for the successful and timely completion of the project, noting that the conference centre would add to the growing number of development interventions attributed to Senator Madori across the Jigawa North-East Senatorial District.

Also speaking, the Deputy Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Jigawa State, Hon. Abdullahi Dukuma, commended Madori for supporting development priorities that complement the 12-point agenda of the state government under Governor Umar Namadi.

Dukuma described the project as an example of development-oriented representation and reaffirmed the party’s commitment to initiatives aimed at improving the welfare and socio-economic prospects of the people.

The Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), on Friday donated two patrol vehicles to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to strengthen security around railway infrastructure, passengers and operations across the state.

The vehicles were formally presented to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NRC, Dr Kayode Opeifa, at the Mobolaji Johnson Train Station, Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos, on Friday.

The vehicles will support the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) commands attached to the railway corporation, particularly in carrying out patrols and responding swiftly to security incidents along railway corridors.

Speaking at the presentation, Opeifa said the intervention would significantly improve the mobility of security personnel and enable them to respond more quickly to crime scenes and emerging security threats.

He said the presence of patrol vehicles would also help prevent criminal activities by increasing security visibility along railway corridors.

According to him, regular patrols would send a strong message to individuals planning to vandalise railway infrastructure or commit other crimes that security personnel could respond at any time.

Opeifa added that the vehicles would boost the morale and confidence of security officers attached to the railway system while strengthening their ability to protect passengers and critical railway assets.

He expressed appreciation to the Lagos State Government and the LSSTF for the intervention, noting that the latest donation builds on previous support provided to the NRC.

The NRC chief executive also disclosed that the corporation was looking forward to receiving more support, noting that security remained critical to the safe and efficient operation of the railway system.

He further acknowledged other security efforts by the Lagos State Government, including interventions through the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), saying the combination of these efforts would provide stronger security coverage around railway infrastructure.

In a gesture of support for the security trust fund, Opeifa also donated N500,000 to the LSSTF to further support its activities.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the LSSTF, Dr Ayodele Ogunsan, said the intervention was part of the fund’s commitment to extending security support to the railway sector.

Ogunsan said the LSSTF had traditionally supported security operations across the air, waterways and land transportation sectors and was now paying greater attention to railway security.

He stressed the importance of securing railway facilities, particularly as more Lagos residents increasingly rely on rail transportation.

In his words, ‘We are telling Lagosians, especially the users of our rail, that the Lagos State Security Trust Fund is also beaming a searchlight on it. We want to make sure that everybody who uses all our railway stations believes that the place is also very safe.’

Ogunsan explained that the LSSTF operates largely through voluntary donations from individuals, private sector organisations, Lagos residents and government interventions, rather than regular subvention from the state government.

He therefore appealed for continued contributions to enable the fund to provide further equipment and support to security agencies.

He disclosed that the two vehicles presented to the NRC were valued at more than N50 million each, stressing that the assets must be properly managed and deployed strictly for security operations.

Ogunsan specifically charged the Nigeria Police Force and NSCDC personnel to take ownership of the vehicles and ensure that they were used for patrols and other authorised security duties.

He warned against converting the patrol vehicles to personal or official administrative vehicles, stressing that such misuse could undermine future support from the security trust fund.

He said the LSSTF has a monitoring unit responsible for tracking the use and condition of vehicles provided to security agencies, adding that agencies that fail to properly manage donated assets could lose access to further interventions.

The LSSTF chief executive also described the partnership with the NRC as a continuing one, promising closer collaboration to identify and respond to security needs within the railway environment.

Representing the Commissioner of Police, Railway Police Command, DCP Yahaya Usman thanked the LSSTF for the vehicles, saying the intervention would improve the command’s ability to conduct timely patrols and respond to incidents along railway corridors.

Similarly, the representative of the NSCDC Commandant, ACC Adedayo Adedeji, appreciated the LSSTF for the donation, noting that the vehicles would enhance patrol operations and contribute to efforts to curb vandalism along railway corridors.

The event culminated in the formal handover of the 2 patrol vehicles to the security agencies attached to the Nigerian Railway Corporation.

Former Rivers State governor and Vice Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has said Atiku Abubakar will restore electricity subsidy if elected president in 2027.

Amaechi made the statement on Thursday while visiting wards across Omuma Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he delivered the campaign message of Atiku, the ADC presidential candidate.

He said the electricity tariff regime under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration had significantly increased the cost of electricity for consumers following the removal of subsidy.

Amaechi cited his own electricity bill as an example, saying what he previously paid as N500,000 per month had risen to N4 million.

‘My house electricity bill was N500,000; now I pay N4 million. Atiku said if he comes, I will go back to N500,000. No more Band A and B because government will subsidise it,’ he said.

The former governor also criticised the removal of petrol subsidy, blaming the policy for higher transportation costs and rising food prices.

‘He (Tinubu) just held microphone and didn’t care. He just said remove subsidy. Since he removed subsidy, transportation increased, food prices increased – tomatoes, corn, everything,’ Amaechi said.

Amaechi further attributed the worsening economic conditions to insecurity, particularly its impact on farmers and food production.

He said insecurity had prevented many farmers from accessing their farms, a situation he linked to reduced food production and higher food prices.

‘Insecurity also increased. You no even fit go farm, and government doesn’t care. Atiku said he will bring back subsidy. If Atiku brings back subsidy, everything will come down,’ he said.

The Exceptional Leadership and Integrity Promotion Initiative (ELIP-Initiative), a non-governmental organisation, has generated about 1,500 demands from citizens for consideration in the Jigawa State Government’s 2027 budget.

The Executive Director of ELIP-Initiative, Comrade Isah Mustapha, disclosed this during citizens’ budget town hall meetings organised across the three senatorial districts in collaboration with the Jigawa State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.

Mustapha said the annual consultation was designed to allow citizens and other stakeholders to contribute directly to the formulation of the state’s budget.

He said representatives from all the 287 political wards participated in the exercise, with each ward expected to identify three priority projects or interventions for consideration in the 2027 budget.

According to him, between 1,200 and 1,500 inputs were generated from the consultations, with participants sensitised on the need to distinguish between genuine community needs and wants and focus on interventions that would have direct impact on the people.

He said the consultations focused on human capital development, health, education, empowerment, environment, water and sanitation, stressing that government must prioritise projects based on available resources.

Mustapha warned that an unrealistic budget could frustrate development efforts and undermine citizens’ confidence in government, particularly where projects captured in the budget were not implemented because revenue projections were overstated.

‘When citizens see projects in the budget that are not implemented, they may assume that the money has been siphoned. This is one of the conversations we are having,’ he said.

He said projections under the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) indicated about N570 billion, while expected revenue was approximately N560 billion, stressing that the figures called for caution in determining the size of the 2027 budget.

The executive director said consultations were ongoing with the Planning Board and State Executive Council to ensure that the 2027 budget reflected the state’s financial capacity.

He added that the 2027-2029 Medium-Term Expenditure Plan was already available, urging the government to concentrate scarce resources on projects with the greatest impact instead of spreading funds thinly.

‘We need strategic prioritisation of our spending,’ Mustapha said.

He explained that the inputs generated from the town hall meetings would be analysed according to ministries, departments and agencies, as well as constituencies, before being forwarded for consideration in the budget process.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Hon. Babandi Umar Gantsa, represented by the Director of Budget, Malam Auwalu Muhammad, said citizens’ participation remained an important component of the state’s budget process.

Muhammad said the engagement was anchored on the constitutional responsibility of government to promote the security and welfare of the people while harnessing available resources for their prosperity and wellbeing.

The meeting was also used to present the 2025 budget performance, which showed that Jigawa spent N491.619 billion out of the N756.3 billion approved expenditure, representing 65 per cent implementation.

The presentation showed that actual revenue stood at N550.656 billion against the projected N756.3 billion, representing 73 per cent performance.

Federal Account Allocation contributed N254.595 billion against N325.7 billion projected, while internally generated revenue stood at N89.608 billion against the N141.333 billion target.

Aids and grants recorded 100 per cent performance, with N47.977 billion realised, while no revenue was obtained from the N79.25 billion projected from loans.

Other revenue sources generated N82.691 billion against N62.039 billion projected, representing 133 per cent performance.

On expenditure, personnel costs recorded 97 per cent implementation, with N88.825 billion spent out of N91.257 billion budgeted. Overhead expenditure stood at 79 per cent, with N52.37 billion spent out of N66.137 billion, while debt servicing recorded 96 per cent implementation.

Capital expenditure recorded 58 per cent implementation, with N344.351 billion spent out of N588.84 billion budgeted.

Infrastructure received N156.049 billion, of which N119.192 billion was spent, while education recorded 59 per cent implementation, with N62.293 billion spent out of N105.412 billion budgeted.

The health sector achieved 72 per cent implementation, with N30.881 billion spent out of N43.613 billion allocated.

Agriculture received N26.346 billion out of N60.057 billion budgeted, while N7.515 billion was spent on water projects from the N13.245 billion allocation.

Stakeholders at the meetings urged Governor Umar Namadi to adopt realistic revenue projections and strategic spending in the 2027 budget to prevent project abandonment and loss of public confidence.

The participants also kicked against the proposed N1 trillion budget size for the state, arguing that the 2027 budget should be anchored on Jigawa’s actual revenue-generating capacity and prevailing financial realities.

The Federal Government has commenced a comprehensive review of complaints alleging unprofessional conduct, dereliction of duty and illegal collection of levies by some officials of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, Ogun State, with a warning that anyone found culpable will be sanctioned.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Kunle Salako, disclosed this on Friday at the flag-off and distribution of Advanced Life Support (ALS), Basic Life Support (BLS) and tricycle ambulances to selected health facilities in Ogun State under the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS).

Salako, who said his office had received several complaints in recent months and also encountered media reports on alleged unprofessional practices at the FMC, said the allegations would receive the attention of the ministry.

‘Unfortunately, in the last few months, my office has been inundated with several complaints and has also come across some reports in the media that alleged unprofessional practices, dereliction of duty and illegal collection of levies against some officials of this centre,’ he said.

He added that anyone found culpable after investigation would be sanctioned in accordance with the Civil Service Rules, stressing that the measure was necessary to sustain public confidence in the hospital.

The minister, however, commended health workers who continued to discharge their duties diligently and maintain high ethical standards.

‘When patients visit or are brought to our hospital, the minimum they expect from us is professional medical care, support, clear communication and respectful treatment,’ Salako said.

He assured diligent health workers that their efforts would not go unrewarded, urging them to maintain professionalism in the discharge of their responsibilities.

Earlier, Salako said the Federal Government had acquired 145 tricycle ambulances, six boat ambulances, 15 BLS ambulances and 79 ALS ambulances, alongside laptops, printers and communication devices, as part of the first phase of efforts to strengthen emergency medical services nationwide.

Ogun State, he said, received three ALS ambulances, one BLS ambulance and nine tricycle ambulances for deployment to Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital and selected high-volume, remote secondary and primary healthcare facilities.

He said the intervention was designed to move emergency care beyond the provision of ambulances to a coordinated system linking transportation, trained personnel, communication, referral pathways and definitive hospital treatment.

According to him, emergency medical services remain critical to reducing preventable deaths and disabilities arising from road crashes, obstetric emergencies, strokes, heart attacks, drowning and industrial accidents.

The minister also disclosed that under the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative, NEMSAS had supported more than 48,000 women to access free emergency obstetric care and more than 4,000 women to receive free caesarean sections in NHIA-empanelled facilities.

He said the intervention had contributed to a 17 per cent reduction in maternal deaths and a 12 per cent reduction in newborn deaths across 172 high-burden local government areas.

Salako said the success of the ambulance programme would depend on proper deployment, maintenance, trained personnel, monitoring and accountability by state and local authorities.

He warned beneficiary facilities against abusing the ambulances, stressing that they must be used strictly for emergency medical services.

‘Let me emphasise that these ambulances are not hearses for moving corpses or for going to the market to purchase goods, including drugs and other hospital consumables,’ he said.

He urged the Ogun State Government and beneficiary facilities to provide complementary funding for operations and maintenance to ensure that the vehicles remained functional and available when emergencies occur.

Salako further said the Federal Government was working towards addressing the fragmented regulatory framework governing first responders and emergency management in the country, in collaboration with the National Assembly.

He said NEMSAS would continue to work with relevant federal agencies, state governments, private sector operators, security agencies, health facilities and emergency workers to develop a unified system connecting emergency dispatch, pre-hospital care, transportation and receiving hospitals.

He said the ultimate objective was to establish an emergency medical system that was accessible, responsive, coordinated, equitable, resilient and sustainable across Nigeria.

The Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR) has appointed Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State as its National Patron in recognition of his contributions to the development of the Nigerian Hajj industry and his consistent efforts to safeguard the state’s Hajj slots.

Governor Namadi’s appointment was announced during the faith-based civil society organisation’s recent post-Hajj lecture, held in Abuja.

Speaking on the governor’s appointment, IHR National coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammed, said the decision reflected the organisation’s recognition of Namadi’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims and his support for the development of Hajj operations.

Muhammed said the appointment was also in line with IHR’s core objectives of advocating for and protecting the interests of Nigerian Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, as well as reporting on and educating intending pilgrims about the pilgrimage.

‘We align ourselves with His Excellency because of his trademark commitment to providing assistance to Jigawa pilgrims since his assumption of office and his extraordinary interest in catering to the welfare of Nigerian Hajj pilgrims,’ Muhammed said.

According to the IHR coordinator, Namadi’s appointment is intended to strengthen collaboration between the CSO and stakeholders committed to improving the welfare, experience and overall interests of Nigerian pilgrims.

Receiving the plaque on behalf of the governor, Director-General, Jigawa State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Ahmed Labo, thanked IHR for the recognition, saying Namadi accepted the appointment with a full sense of responsibility.

‘His Excellency feels elated with the appointment given to him to serve as patron of the Independent Hajj Reporters of Nigeria. He has accepted the appointment with a full sense of responsibility and promised to assist you in meeting the stipulated goals set by the association.

‘What we are witnessing today will energise all those involved and stimulate others to follow suit,’ Labo said.

He disclosed that since the inception of the Namadi administration in the state, the governor had provided financial support to the state pilgrims’ board to safeguard the Hajj slots allocated to Jigawa State.

He added that Namadi had also sponsored sufficient numbers of Islamic scholars, medical personnel and other support staff to assist pilgrims during Hajj.

According to him, the measures were designed to enable Jigawa pilgrims to perform the pilgrimage with relative ease and comfort.

Labo further highlighted the governor’s special welfare initiatives for pilgrims, including the provision of lunch, which he said was not available to pilgrims in some other areas.

He also said the state government provided Sallah gifts to all Jigawa pilgrims to cushion the effect of the Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) provided to them.

The Federal Government has commended the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), led by Pastor Enoch Adeboye, for donating $265,850 towards the evacuation of 500 distressed Nigerians from South Africa.

The donation, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will fund the purchase of 500 one-way tickets for Nigerians seeking to return home amid renewed xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa.

The ministry, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, on Thursday, described the intervention as a demonstration of the RCCG’s compassion, solidarity and commitment to the welfare of Nigerians facing difficult circumstances abroad.

It said the gesture also demonstrated the impact that collaboration between faith-based organisations and public institutions could have in addressing humanitarian challenges.

The Federal Government commenced the ongoing evacuation of distressed Nigerians from South Africa on June 10, 2026, following a new wave of xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other foreign nationals.

The ministry disclosed that 1,640 Nigerians have so far been brought back to Nigeria, with the Federal Government sponsoring the return of 1,385, while the evacuation of the remaining 255 was supported through philanthropic donations.

It added that 202 Nigerians are currently awaiting final screening by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs before their evacuation to Nigeria.

The Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and the Consulate General in Johannesburg remain open and are working with Nigerian community associations and other established channels to assist citizens who wish to return home as a result of the attacks.

The ministry said the Federal Government remained committed to addressing xenophobia and Afrophobia against Nigerians through sustained engagement with the South African authorities.

It also recalled that President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON, raised concerns over recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa during the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, held on August 30, 2026, in Luanda, Angola.

The government called on private organisations, philanthropists, faith-based organisations, development partners and other stakeholders to support efforts aimed at protecting the welfare of Nigerians in the diaspora.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed appreciation to the RCCG for its contribution, saying the donation would support the safe return of 500 distressed Nigerians to the country.