Author: NewsDesk

By Rakiya A.Muhammad Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ibrahim Dadi Adare, has expressed the state government’s commitment to empowering youths and women. “It is one of Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto’s nine-point agenda, and therefore, he is fulfilling the promise by empowering them through skills acquisition, through training and training of them, so the Ministry of Local Government is spearheading that,” he asserted. Hon. Adare reassured the people of their unwavering resolve to implement initiatives and schemes that have a tangible impact on the well-being of individuals across diverse sectors. “Government procured medicaments and will distribute them to…

By Rakiya A.Muhammad The Sokoto state government plans to reinstate mobile healthcare services in rural areas and free medical care targeting pregnant women and children. Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ibrahim Dadi Adare, disclosed this while speaking with the RM Times and described the initiatives as significant. “During the administration of former Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, there was free medical care for pregnant women/children and rural mobile care programmes. We advised the government to bring back such programmes because they are laudable and important,” he stated.  He explained that rural mobile healthcare services involve deploying ambulances with…

By Rakiya A.Muhammad United Nigeria Airlines will begin scheduled flight operations to Kano and Sokoto, with the inaugural flight planned between December 1 and December 2, 2023. Chief Operating Officer (COO) of United Nigeria Airlines, Mazi Osita Okonkwo, who disclosed this, said support infrastructure was on the ground at the airports to facilitate the operations. According to him, the Kano and Sokoto offices of the airline would operate at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport and the Sultan Abubakar International Airport. He said the expansion of flight services to Kano and Sokoto, with a further vision for Edo, Plateau, and…

… Failed Promises, Dashed Hopes Increase Pains of Banditary Victims BY TUNDE OMOLEHIN, SOKOTO/NIGERIA Nigerian refugees and internally displaced persons including women and children across Sokoto border communities have continued to suffer hunger, malnutrition and rejection in the society while the Nigerian government looks aside.  In recent times, several Humanitarian bodies have alarmed the high rate of mortality among women and children while surviving refugees are facing an uncertain future as they have remained unproductive in many camps after fleeing from their communities. Stakeholders in the health emergency sector confirmed an extraordinarily high number of children under-five years with malnutrition…

Rakiya A.Muhammad Sokoto state government has confiscated over 1,200 jerrycans of cooking oil from the Sokoto Central Market and intercepted five trucks loaded with the commodity on their way to the state capital. Commissioner for Health, Sokoto State, Hajiya Asabe Balarabe, who disclosed this in Sokoto, said the moves followed an intelligence report of health problems developed following the consumption of cooling oil suspected to be adulterated. She said the State Ministry of Health verified the report, which led to the confiscation and that the intercepted items were under the custody of the security agencies. “As a responsive administration, the…

… These initiatives are changing the narratives By Rakiya.Muhammad Khadija Ibrahim, a fifth grader at Wesley School Sagamu, Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria, possesses a comprehensive understanding of the benefits of maintaining a healthy diet and is familiar with several aspects of nutrition. “I’m glad I have the groundwork to make smarter, healthier decisions about my diet and lifestyle,” says an enthusiastic Khadija who came first in the Nestle for Healthier Kids Nutrition Competition. The triumphant pupil raves about the premium on “good nutrition and healthy lifestyles.” “I am enthusiastic about possessing the knowledge and understanding to facilitate informed decision-making around nutrition…

… Inside Internally Displaced Persons Haunted by Bandits, Abandoned by Govts BY TUNDE OMOLEHIN, SOKOTO/NIGERIA “Living in refugee camp in another country is unpleasant”, says Zainab Alhassan, a widow who has been helping women mostly victims of bandit attacks to return back to Sabon Birnin in Sokoto state. Sabon Birnin, is one of the Sokoto’ border communities with Niger Republic and most affected by the incessant attacks from armed bandits since 2018.  In a roll, the refugees who were eight in number- mostly young women are seen ushered into Zainab’s compound to get some palliatives. The women were identified as…

… How Conflict In Northwest Inspires Victims ‘Dual’ Citizenship BY TUNDE OMOLEHIN, SOKOTO/NIGERIA Mariam Abubakar, a mother of six is one of the thousands Nigerian Refugees from Sabon Birnin and Isa communities of Sokoto state who were seeking asylum after being displayed by armed groups mostly referred to as bandits. She lives in Guidan Kare, a settlement most dominated by most Nigerians who now see the francophone country as a second home due to relative peace. Guidan Roujun, a suburb of Tahoua region, Niger Republic, where many Nigerians were currently hosted as refugees after fleeing their ancestral homes in Nigeria…

Recently, the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) through its Promoting Democratic Governance Project convened both journalists and civil society organizations across the northwest states, to brainstorm on issues of good governance and public accountability. SHAFA’ATU SULEIMAN reports. Over the years, the media have been globally acknowledged as the watchdog of the society while members of the civil society organizations have taken up the role of monitoring and evaluating issues that are essential for democracy, good governance and accountability within the society. Like most democratic countries, it is believed that both the media and civil society organizations have propelled Nigeria…

The Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago has said climate change challenges are partly responsible for the spate of insecurity being witnessed in the country. Governor Bago stated this on Friday in Minna, the Niger State capital at a retreat on climate change organised by the Niger State Government for the House of Representatives Press Corps. Represented by the Niger State Deputy Governor, Yakubu Garba, Bago described climate change as one of the biggest problems confronting the nation today. He said, “In Nigeria, it (climate change) is a matter of concern to governments and experts because it is happening at a…