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4.3m Women, Girls At Risk Of Female Genital Mutilation In 2024

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…urge govt, CSOs, traditional leaders, others to take action

By Gloria Ikibah

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to marks the 2025 International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) on February 6th, a group under the auspices of the African Civil Society Reference Group Inc. (ACSRG) has renewed its commitment to ending this harmful practice.

In a statement by the group on Thursdayin Abuja, it stated that over 200 million women and girls have undergone FGM, and 4.3 million more are at risk in 2024 alone. If urgent action is not taken, this number could rise to 4.6 million annually by 2030.

“FGM continues to violate the rights of millions of women and girls, stripping them of dignity, bodily autonomy, and freedom from violence.

“Despite being rooted in cultural and social traditions, FGM has no health benefits—only devastating consequences. It leads to severe complications, including infections, childbirth risks, psychological trauma, and even death. Beyond the physical harm, FGM reinforces gender inequality and limits opportunities for women and girls”, the statement read.

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The ACSRG also called on governments, civil society, traditional and religious leaders, healthcare professionals, and the global community to take the following decisive steps:

  • Enforce Stronger Laws – Governments must fully implement and uphold anti-FGM laws, ensuring accountability and promoting alternative rites of passage.
  • Empower Communities – Sustainable change begins within. Traditional leaders, parents, and youth must drive cultural shifts that protect girls while respecting traditions.
  • Expand Education and Awareness – Schools, healthcare institutions, and communities must prioritize education on the dangers of FGM, debunking harmful myths.
  • Support Survivors – Women and girls affected by FGM need medical, psychological, legal, and economic support to rebuild their lives.
  • Strengthen Regional and Global Efforts – FGM crosses borders; stronger cooperation among nations is vital to ending it.

“Eliminating FGM is a human rights priority that requires bold leadership, sustained advocacy, and collective action. ACSRG stands with survivors, activists, and policymakers, amplifying voices and pushing for policies that ensure every girl grows up free from harm, with the right to control her body and future.

“Now is the time for action. Now is the time for Zero FGM”, it added.

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BREAKING: PFIPC scam: Police nab Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi

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The controversial Director-General of the alleged invincible Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC, Adeniyi Adeyemi, has been nabbed.

According to TVC, his arrest came moments after Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a warrant for his arrest.

Adeyemi was billed to take his plea on an eight-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, relating to forgery, fraud, and impersonation.

Although the matter was listed as No. 12 on the court’s cause list, the defendant failed to appear for his arraignment, even though a lawyer, Mr. Genesis Francis, announced his appearance on his behalf.

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Tinubu Commissions Bwari Water Project, Pledges Clean Water for All FCT Satellite Towns(Photos)

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday, commissioned the Bwari Township Water Supply Network Project, declaring that his administration will extend potable water to all satellite towns in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as part of its Renewed Hope Agenda to decentralise development and improve living conditions in underserved communities.

Represented by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, at the commissioning ceremony in Bwari, the President described access to clean water as a fundamental right and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring that infrastructure development reaches every part of the nation’s capital.

“The Renewed Hope Agenda is not a slogan. It is a contract. It is a deliberate, calculated, and unyielding commitment to governance that works for the people,” Tinubu said.

He noted that previous administrations had concentrated development in Abuja’s city centre while satellite communities remained neglected, insisting that his government had resolved to change the narrative.

“For too long, the narrative of Abuja has been a tale of two cities a glittering centre surrounded by underserved communities. We said no. That era is gone. Nigeria belongs to all of us, and development must be decentralised,” he stated.

Tinubu said the newly completed 198-kilometre water pipeline network, constructed by China Geo-engineering Construction (CGC) Limited, would provide potable water to Bwari, Ushafa and surrounding communities by linking them directly to the Lower Usuma Dam treated water source.

He recalled that after reviewing the proposal submitted by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, he immediately approved the project to address years of dependence on untreated boreholes and streams.

“I gave him a direct order: ‘Go out there, mobilise the best, and fix it.’ Today, we are commissioning this massive, state-of-the-art 198-kilometre water pipeline network,” the President said.

According to him, the project will improve public health by reducing waterborne diseases, eliminate the costly reliance on private boreholes and create new economic opportunities.

Tinubu disclosed that more than 1,600 direct and indirect jobs were created during the execution of the project.

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He assured residents that the water expansion programme would continue across the FCT.

“Last year, it was the Lower Usuma Dam Phase II rehabilitation; last month, it was the Karu water network; today it is Bwari. Before our tenure is through, this water revolution will fully cover Kuje, Kwali, Gwagwalada and Abaji,” he pledged.

The President commended the FCT Minister for accelerating infrastructure delivery across the territory, describing him as “Mr. Project.”

“From boosting the FCT’s Internally Generated Revenue to executing 31 landmark projects simultaneously across the territory from roads to housing and now water you have proven to be a reliable champion of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Tinubu said.

He urged residents of Bwari to protect the facility from vandalism, stressing that it was built with public funds for the benefit of the people.

Earlier, FCT Minister Barr Nyesom Wike said the project fulfilled President Tinubu’s directive that modern water infrastructure should be extended beyond Abuja’s city centre to satellite towns.

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According to him, the Bwari project is the third major water intervention completed under the current administration after the rehabilitation of the Abuja city water system and the recently commissioned Karu satellite town water project.

“Since Mr. President came into office in 2023, he has provided water for the city centre, water for Karu and neighbouring communities, and today, water for Bwari. Let people know that we are not concentrating only on roads; we are making sure other sectors are also being touched,” Wike said.

The minister disclosed that the administration had now officially commissioned 50 major projects since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023 and announced plans to inaugurate another 10 projects before the commencement of election campaigns next year.

He attributed the pace of development in the FCT to the President’s unwavering support.

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“You can be a minister, but without the support of the President, it is difficult to perform. Mr. President has given the FCT all the support required to change the narrative, and we will not disappoint him,” Wike added.

In her vote of thanks, the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, described the Bwari Water Supply Network as another milestone in the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

She said the project would improve access to safe drinking water, enhance public health and restore confidence in government while reaffirming the administration’s commitment to expanding people-centred infrastructure across the FCT.

Also speaking, Acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda, said the project, originally scheduled for completion in December, had been substantially completed ahead of schedule.

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He noted that, beyond providing potable water to Bwari and neighbouring communities, the project generated significant employment opportunities during construction and would improve the health and well-being of residents through reliable access to safe drinking water.

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Final evacuation flight with 315 Nigerians from South Africa to arrive tomorrow

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315 Nigerian South African returnees are expected to arrive in the country on Wednesday, 15th July 2026, in a final evacuation move by the Federal Government.

This was revealed in a statement signed on Tuesday by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa.

The flight to be operated by AirPeace will depart South Africa at 1.30 AM with an estimated time of arrival at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, set at 6.30 AM.

The government had earlier conducted four evacuation flights, bringing home hundreds of Nigerians following the recent xenophobic attacks and security concerns in parts of South Africa.

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The Federal Government’s evacuation consists of Nigerians who indicated interest in returning home as a result of the attacks.

The previous batch brought in a total of 40 returnees.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians wherever they may be and expressed appreciation to all stakeholders involved in the evacuation exercise.

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