News
No territory under terror group, says Fed Govt
The Federal Government is not ‘sleepwalking into disaster’, the Presidency said yesterday.
In a reaction to an article by David Pilling in the Financial Times.
Presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu in a statement condemned the writer for describing the Nigerian government as “a government sleepwalking into disaster”.
The report claimed that President “Buhari has overseen two terms of economic slump, rising debt and a calamitous increase in kidnapping and banditry.
“The one thing you might have thought a former general could control. As said of India, Nigeria grows at night, while the government sleeps which is hardly surprising that some libertarian tech entrepreneurs want the government to withdraw and leave the private sector in charge.”
Shehu criticised the publication for leaving out the security gains by the government, adding that the Boko Haram terrorists have no territory at the moment under the Buhari-led government.
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The statement reads: “We wish to correct the wrong perceptions contained in the article ‘What is Nigeria’s Government For,’ by David Pilling, Financial Times (UK), January 31, 2022.
“The caricature of a government sleepwalking into disaster was predictable from a correspondent, who jets briefly in and out of Nigeria on the same British Airways flight he so criticises.
“He highlights rising banditry in Nigeria as proof of such slumber.
“What he leaves out are the security gains made over two Presidential terms. The terror organisation Boko Haram used to administer an area the size of Belgium at the inauguration; now, they control no territory.
“The first comprehensive plan to deal with decades-old clashes between nomadic herders and sedentary farmers – experienced across the width of the Sahel – has been introduced: pilot ranches are reducing the competition for water and land that drove past tensions.
“Banditry grew out of such clashes. Criminal gangs took advantage of the instability, flush with guns that flooded the region following the Western-triggered implosion of Libya.
“The situation is grave. Yet as with other challenges, it’s one that the government would face down.”
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News
OAU Investigates Death of Final-Year Student as Police Begin Probe
OAU Investigates Death of Final-Year Student as Police Begin Probe
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, is investigating the death of a final-year student of the institution.
The student, Oluwole Oluwosegun, was studying Materials Science and Engineering at the university.
According to the university’s Public Relations Officer, Olarewaju Abiodun, the incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon at the student’s off-campus residence around the Damico area of Ooni Layout, Ile-Ife.
After receiving the report, the university’s Quick Response and Security (QRS) Team went to the location. The team also contacted the Nigeria Police, after which officers from the ‘A’ Division in Moore, Ile-Ife, joined them at the scene.
The university later took the student to its Health Centre, where a medical doctor confirmed his death.
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Police Begin Investigation
Following the incident, university authorities handed relevant information and items recovered from the scene to the police to support their investigation.
The police have since begun inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.
Meanwhile, the university said it had informed the appropriate student affairs authorities to provide necessary follow-up, particularly regarding the welfare and emotional support of students affected by the incident.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Simeon Bamire also expressed condolences to the student’s family, friends, classmates and colleagues.
The university further encouraged students facing severe emotional distress, relationship difficulties, financial pressure or other personal challenges to seek help from trusted people and available university support services.
Professor Bamire reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to the welfare of its students and staff, stressing that no student should feel they must face overwhelming difficulties alone.
OAU Investigates Death of Final-Year Student as Police Begin Probe
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Education
Niger State Urges Local Communities to Protect Newly Completed Public Schools
Niger State Urges Local Communities to Protect Newly Completed Public Schools
Basic education officials deliver modern classrooms to help children learn safely, kicking off an ambitious statewide renovation drive.
State education leaders in Niger State are calling on neighborhood residents and parent groups to take good care of newly renovated primary schools.
On Wednesday, the head of the Niger State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Ibrahim A. Liman, reminded communities that public classrooms belong to everyone, warning that state funding can only make a lasting difference when local people watch over these shared spaces.
To prepare for handing over the keys, board officials visited Zango Primary School in Kontagora and Richard Lander Primary School in New Bussa. These two locations are the first to finish out of seven model schools currently under construction.

During their visits, team members inspected classrooms to make sure builders followed high safety standards, while encouraging neighbors to keep the grounds secure, tidy, and ready for pupils.
Furthermore, state officials explained that these building projects are part of a larger plan to improve early education across every community. Alongside these new classrooms, the board is starting repair work on about 400 primary schools throughout the state.
In addition to fixing desks and roofs, authorities are upgrading classroom teaching tools and supporting teachers. As a result, children across all backgrounds will have safe, welcoming spaces to learn and grow together.
Niger State Urges Local Communities to Protect Newly Completed Public Schools
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Health
Adamawa Health Officials Report 20 Deaths from Suspected Diphtheria Cases
Adamawa Health Officials Report 20 Deaths from Suspected Diphtheria Cases
Parents and caregivers are advised to seek early medical help and update childhood vaccinations as response teams expand outreach.
Health authorities in Adamawa State are responding to a diphtheria outbreak that has caused 20 deaths across 13 local government areas. Speaking on Wednesday, State Epidemiologist Jones Steven Kadabiyu confirmed that health workers have recorded 126 suspected cases throughout the state, with six patients currently receiving medical care in local hospitals.
Diphtheria is a serious bacterial illness that spreads through airborne droplets from coughing or close personal contact. It mainly affects the throat and airway, causing sore throats, mild fevers, swollen neck glands, and difficulty swallowing or breathing.
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Health officials emphasized that the biggest risk to patients has been waiting too long to visit a health center, as some families try informal remedies at home first before seeking professional medical attention.
The state government is working alongside health partners to track new cases, provide specialized antibiotics and treatments, and protect medical workers and family members.
Officials stressed that while diphtheria can affect people of any age, young children are the most vulnerable to serious complications. Parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to ensure their children are up to date on their routine vaccines and to visit the nearest clinic immediately if anyone develops throat swelling or breathing issues.
Adamawa Health Officials Report 20 Deaths from Suspected Diphtheria Cases
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