News
US honors 9/11 dead on 20th anniversary of attacks
America marks the 20th anniversary of 9/11 Saturday with solemn ceremonies given added poignancy by the recent chaotic withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and return to power of the Taliban.
Heart-wrenching commemorations will unfold at each of the three sites where 19 Al-Qaeda hijackers — mostly from Saudi Arabia — crashed packed airliners, striking the cultural, financial and political hearts of the United States and changing the world forever.
The memorials come with US troops finally gone from Afghanistan, but national discord — and for President Joe Biden, political peril — are overshadowing any sense of closure.
In a video posted on the eve of the anniversary, Biden urged Americans to show unity, “our greatest strength.”
“To me, that’s the central lesson of September 11th. It’s that at our most vulnerable, in the push and pull of all that makes us human, in the battle for the soul of America, unity is our greatest strength,” Biden said in a six- minute message from the White House.
t New York’s Ground Zero, where two pools of water now stand where the Twin Towers used to, relatives will read out the names of the nearly 3,000 people killed, in a four-hour-long service starting at 8:30 am (1230 GMT).
Six moments of silence will be observed, corresponding with the times the two World Trade Center towers were struck, and fell, and the moments the Pentagon was attacked and Flight 93 crashed.
Monica Iken-Murphy, who lost her 37-year-old husband Michael Iken in the World Trade Center, says this will be a “heightened” anniversary for many Americans.
But for her, as for many other survivors, the pain has never wavered.
“I feel like it just happened,” she told AFP.
A whole generation has grown up since the morning of September 11, 2001.
In the interim, Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden has been hunted down and killed. A towering new sky scraper has risen over Manhattan, replacing the Twin Towers. And less than two weeks ago, the last US soldiers flew from Kabul airport, ending the so-called “forever war.”
But the Taliban who once sheltered bin Laden are back ruling Afghanistan, the mighty US military humiliated. In Guantanamo Bay, accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other men continue to await trial, nine years after charges were filed.
Even the full story of how the attack came to happen remains secret. Only last week did Biden order the release of classified documents from the FBI investigation over the next six months.
– ‘Honor and memorialize’ -At Ground Zero, 2,753 people, from all over the world, were killed in the initial explosions, jumped to their deaths, or simply vanished in the inferno of the collapsing towers.
At the Pentagon, an airliner tore a fiery hole in the side of the superpower’s military nerve center, killing 184 people in the plane and on the ground.
And in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the third wave of hijackers crashed into a field after passengers fought back, sending United 93 down before reaching its intended target — likely the US Capitol building in Washington.
Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will stop at each of these places on Saturday to “honor and memorialize the lives lost,” the White House said.
In his video address Friday night, Biden urged Americans to come together as they reflect on the tragedy.
“Unity doesn’t mean we have to believe the same thing, but we must have a fundamental respect and faith in each other and in this nation,” Biden said.
The president had planned for this to be a pivotal day in his nearly eight-month-old presidency.
However, instead of presiding over a moment of unity, Biden will traverse a country angry about the messy Kabul evacuation, which included 13 US soldiers killed by a suicide bomber, and stung by the broader realization of failure and defeat.
For the relatives of victims, the anniversary, as always, is about keeping the memory of their loved ones alive.
“It’s like Pearl Harbor,” said Frank Siller, whose firefighter brother Stephen died at the World Trade Center.
“People who weren’t alive don’t have the same feeling about it as those who were alive. But America has never forgotten about Pearl Harbour and America will never forget about 9/11.”
Agency report
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
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
News
Blue Line Rail, Hospitals Get Boost as Lagos Approves ₦200bn Bond and Budget Reordering
Blue Line Rail, Hospitals Get Boost as Lagos Approves ₦200bn Bond and Budget Reordering
Following Governor Sanwo-Olu’s request, the state legislature approves expanded capital financing for the final months of the fiscal year.
The Lagos State House of Assembly has approved changes to the state’s 2026 spending plan to speed up work on key community infrastructure, including public transit lines, general hospitals, and flood prevention systems.
The decision came after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu requested a review of the budget to make sure government funds are directed where they are needed most during the rest of the year.
To support these priority projects, lawmakers agreed to raise the state’s infrastructure bond from ₦150 billion to ₦200 billion. Budget committee chairman Lukmon Olumoh explained that this financial adjustment will help contractors finish essential public facilities faster.
The revised funds will help extend the Blue Line train service between Mile 2 and Trade Fair Station, complete the new Massey Street Children’s Hospital, and finish the 280-bed General Hospital in Ojo.
The amended plan also sets aside funds for fixing potholes on neighborhood roads, clearing drainage channels to prevent flooding, and buying new service vehicles for sanitation and traffic teams.
Lawmakers emphasized that legislative committees will closely monitor how these funds are spent to ensure projects are delivered on schedule and within clear standards. Speaker Mudashiru Obasa confirmed that the approved bill has been sent to the governor to be officially signed into law.
Blue Line Rail, Hospitals Get Boost as Lagos Approves ₦200bn Bond and Budget Reordering
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