Category: News

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Nentawe Yilwatda, has revealed that the federal government is using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to identify poor Nigerians living in urban slums, as part of efforts to expand the national social register and improve the reach of anti-poverty programs. Speaking on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme on Friday, Yilwatda said the updated social register now covers both rural and urban communities, growing from 13 million to 19.7 million individuals. “To help someone, you must first know them. You can’t support people you can’t identify. That’s why we started by validating the social register,” Yilwatda explained. He said AI, combined with satellite imagery, telecoms data, and financial access records, was used to locate urban slums, identify phone users in those areas, and verify their economic status. The minister noted that the federal government is targeting 15 million households — about 75 million Nigerians — through various anti-poverty interventions, including conditional cash transfers. Addressing the issue of food poverty, Yilwatda highlighted that 42% of Nigerians, or approximately 80 million people, face challenges in accessing sufficient food. The federal government aims to reach 75% of these households with support, including cash transfers of N75,000 per household. “While that figure might seem small to someone in the city, it has a significant impact in rural communities. Studies with the World Bank and civil society partners have shown that 18% of recipients started nano or small-scale businesses with this support, 82% used it to improve food security, and 52% paid school fees for their children,” Yilwatda said. He also pointed to broader structural efforts, including N1.5 trillion in loans for farmers through the aggregate bank, student scholarships, and measures to stabilize food prices and reduce inflation. Yilwatda stressed that while humanitarian aid remains important, the government’s focus is shifting towards long-term solutions that lift people out of poverty entirely. “Poverty alleviation reduces the pain; poverty reduction moves people out of poverty entirely,” he said.

News Reporter: Kamal Yalwa At least 151 people have been confirmed dead, and thousands more displaced following devastating floods in Mokwa, Niger State, central Nigeria. The disaster struck after relentless rainfall from Wednesday night into Thursday, leaving a trail of destruction, heartbreak, and uncertainty. Authorities from the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) disclosed on Saturday that search and rescue operations are ongoing, with many bodies recovered as far as 10km (6 miles) downstream from the worst-hit areas. The actual death toll could be much higher, with many still missing. Al Jazeera’s Ahmed Idris, reporting from Mokwa, highlighted the grim reality, stating, “When officials give you a figure, the real toll could be two, three, or even four times higher.” The floods have displaced at least 3,018 people, with 265 houses completely destroyed. Residents, many now homeless, are left combing through rubble and muddy waters, searching for loved ones and salvaging what little remains. President Bola Tinubu, in a condolence message, assured Nigerians that search and rescue operations were underway, supported by security forces. He also directed the immediate deployment of relief materials and temporary shelters to assist affected families. “We lost everything, the families. We don’t have anywhere else to go, the property has gone,” Mohammed Tanko, a local resident, told Al Jazeera. Another survivor shared: “I escaped with only my nightdress. Right now, I can’t even identify where our home used to be.” The exact cause of the floods remains unclear, but residents speculate a possible dam failure upstream. Authorities have not confirmed this, but the volume and force of the water caught many unprepared, overwhelming homes and communities. As families mourn and search teams continue their grim task, the tragedy in Mokwa has once again underscored the vulnerability of rural communities in Nigeria to extreme weather events and the urgent need for improved flood management and disaster preparedness. For more updates on the Mokwa floods and ongoing rescue efforts, visit [news platform link].

By: Kamal Yalwa Today was a poignant reminder of the joy and sorrow that often accompany the world of sports. After a series of engagements at the London Business School, I had the honour of attending the Unity Cup match between Nigeria and Jamaica at the Brentford Stadium in the United Kingdom. The match ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw and was eventually decided by a penalty shootout, with the Super Eagles of Nigeria emerging victorious. Beyond the result, it was a profound celebration of unity, culture, and the indomitable spirit of Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora. Sitting among fellow Nigerians and friends of Nigeria, I saw firsthand how sports can bridge divides, uplift communities, and ignite a collective sense of hope for a brighter future. I commend the organisers for reviving this important event and using it as a platform to showcase our rich heritage and the extraordinary talent of our young athletes. Congratulations to the Super Eagles for making us proud. Yet, as we celebrated, tragedy struck elsewhere. News broke of a heartbreaking accident involving members of the Kano sports delegation returning from the just-concluded National Sports Festival in Ogun State. Reports indicate that 22 lives were feared lost in the tragic road accident. This devastating news casts a shadow over the day’s celebrations and reminds us of the fragility of life. As we continue to support initiatives that promote unity and national pride, let us also pause to reflect on the lives lost and extend our deepest condolences to the families who now mourn. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims, the National Sports Commission, and the Government of Kano State during this profoundly difficult time. May the souls of the departed rest in peace.

By: Kamal Yalwa President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to indigenous content and infrastructure development as he commissioned the first phase of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, alongside several other major road projects across the country. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony in Lagos on Saturday, Tinubu directed the Minister of Works, David Umahi, and other key officials overseeing national projects to enforce strict compliance with regulations on local content, skills transfer, and Nigerian participation. The President also issued a stern warning to estate developers and contractors building illegally on federal land without approvals. He declared that such property owners would no longer receive compensation for violating setback laws and urban development regulations. “Let me warn all developers that the Federal Government will enforce building setbacks, and developers without approvals will not be compensated. We have gazetted and published these setbacks, and enforcement will follow in full,” Tinubu said. He commended Engineer Ronald Chagoury for his role in preventing the Atlantic Ocean’s encroachment on Victoria Island and Ikoyi, praising the bold intervention that helped avert a disaster. “I said we would do it, and we did. We averted a disaster greater than a tsunami in Victoria Island and Ikoyi,” Tinubu stated. The President also urged Nigerians to remain patient with his administration’s economic reforms, noting early signs of recovery in the foreign exchange market and the gradual drop in food prices. “I want to appeal to all Nigerians that hope is here. Our economy is recovering,” he assured. He expressed gratitude to the Minister of Works, David Umahi, the Federal Ministry of Works staff, contractors, and Lagos residents for their support. The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a 700km project spanning the coastal areas of Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River States. The commissioned Phase I, Section I stretches from Ahmadu Bello Way to Eleko Village Area in the Lekki Peninsula. Other projects commissioned by the President include: President Tinubu emphasised that these projects reflect his administration’s resolve to improve national infrastructure, boost economic activities, and ease transportation for Nigerians. “These projects demonstrate our commitment to strengthening connectivity, boosting trade, and building an economy that works for all Nigerians,” Tinubu said.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has strongly criticised a recent report by Amnesty International, describing it as lacking in context and failing to recognise the significant achievements of the Nigerian Armed Forces in combating insecurity across the country. The DHQ said the report, which accused the government of failing to protect citizens from relentless attacks by armed groups and bandits, was based on “sweeping generalisations” and “unverified statistics.” Amnesty International had claimed that at least 10,217 people were killed and 672 villages destroyed in the past two years, with Benue State accounting for the highest casualties at 6,896 deaths, followed by Plateau State with 2,630. However, in a statement on Friday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, refuted the claims, insisting they misrepresented the security situation and ignored the asymmetric nature of the threats Nigeria faces. Kangye highlighted that under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the Armed Forces have neutralised over 5,000 insurgents and bandits, liberated 350 communities previously under terrorist control, and rescued over 1,200 kidnapped civilians. He added that the sustained military presence in volatile areas like Zamfara, Plateau, and Benue States has enabled displaced persons to begin returning home safely. Kangye dismissed Amnesty’s claim that 6,896 people were killed in Benue as “humongous and misleading,” saying the military’s records show 693 deaths in the state during the review period. The DHQ also pointed to successful operations in Zamfara, where over 2,000 military offensives were conducted, resulting in the rescue of 687 abductees, the neutralisation of 1,500 terrorists, and the destruction of several bandit enclaves. Kangye urged Amnesty International and other civil society groups to be cautious in their reporting and to recognise the complex socio-political realities the military confronts in restoring peace across Nigeria.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, has said many Nigerians blame the President for the country’s challenges because they suffer from a “short memory” and often forget the state of the nation before Tinubu assumed office. Speaking during an interview on Arise TV on Friday, Onanuga argued that critics of the administration fail to consider the economic and structural problems Tinubu inherited when he took office in May 2023. According to him, Nigerians are too quick to forget the fuel shortages, foreign exchange crises, and heavy subsidy debts that plagued the nation prior to Tinubu’s emergence as President. Onanuga recalled that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) had significantly reduced fuel imports due to the federal government’s failure to settle over ₦4 trillion in unpaid subsidy claims. He noted that the fuel scarcity witnessed during the 2023 elections forced Tinubu to announce the removal of the subsidy on his first day in office, a decision aimed at reviving the oil sector and stabilising fuel supply. Defending the controversial reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration, including the subsidy removal and foreign exchange unification, Onanuga insisted these were necessary measures to correct systemic imbalances and ensure long-term stability. He urged Nigerians to give the President credit for tackling issues that previous governments avoided, emphasising that the administration’s actions have started yielding positive results, despite the initial hardships. Onanuga concluded by highlighting the government’s commitment to transparency and its efforts to ease the burden on citizens, pointing to the steps taken to stabilise the forex market and attract investment into the economy.Tools