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24m Nigerians to benefit from Human Capital Development initiative -FG
By Francesca Hangeior
At least that twenty-four million Nigerians will soon benefit from its Human Capital Development initiative that is among others, designed to improve education, healthcare, and skills training across the nation, the Federal Government has said.
The Deputy Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the HCD core working group, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, along with Acting Coordinator of HCD and Special Adviser to the President on NEC and Climate Change, Rukaiya El-Rufai disclosed this at a strategy validation stakeholder’s engagement workshop, both emphasized the government’s commitment to this programme.
According to them, the strategic investments in education, health, and skills development forms part of the moves by President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s intention to address the ‘japa’ syndrome.
The initiative is aimed at expediting targeted investments in people, fostering equitable economic growth across Nigeria.
Recall that in 2018, the National Economic Council launched the National Human Capital Development Programme with the goal of tackling poverty and promoting sustainable economic growth, emphasizing the importance of HCD.
Speaking with Journalists, Hadeija who noted the crucial importance of Human Capital Development (HCD), said that President Tinubu plans to build on the successes achieved by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Responding to a question on how this will curb “japa” (a Yoruba term meaning to leave for better opportunities), the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President who pleaded with Nigerians to participate in all HCD initiatives to help address their challenges, said “We live in a global setting, and with technology, the world is borderless. First of all, we can’t stop people from leaving Nigeria. What we will do is embrace the HCD initiative that creates opportunities for people to stay at home. This way, they don’t need to leave the country to earn a living. With the HCD initiatives, they can do that here in Nigeria.”
Hadeija who assured that by increasing access to quality education, enhancing healthcare services, and offering skills training and employment opportunities, many Nigerians will experience improvements in their lives, said, “Through collaboration, learning, and growth, we will shape the quality and effectiveness of the Human Capital Development Programme in building resilient healthcare systems, ensuring equitable access to education, and fostering an inclusive, future ready workforce.
” This workshop is an avenue to deliberate on and validate our strategies. This is the day to acknowledge that the solutions we seek lie within our collective wisdom and experience. By sharing insights, best practices, and innovative ideas, we can identify the most effective pathways to achieving our goals.
“It is through our combined efforts that we can create a comprehensive and sustainable framework for human capital development that will benefit generations to come.
“Through collaboration, learning, and growth, we will shape the quality and effectiveness of the Human Capital Development Programme in building resilient healthcare systems, ensuring equitable access to education, and fostering an inclusive, future ready workforce.”
In her remarks, the Acting Coordinator of HCD, Rukaiya El-Rufai who emphasized that Human Capital Development forms the cornerstone of sustainable economic growth and social progress, said that investing in people’s education, health, and skills not only improves individual well-being but also fosters innovation, productivity, and global competitiveness.
Rukaiya El-Rufai, “The HCD 2.0 target 24 million additional healthy (under-five-year-old children surviving and not stunted), educated (completing secondary school) and productive (youth entering the labour force) Nigerians by 2030.
“Our goal is ambitious yet achievable: to develop a comprehensive strategy that not only addresses the unique challenges we face but also leverages the vast opportunities available. This strategy must mainstream gender, ensuring equal opportunities for all, and incorporate climate change and climate action, recognizing the critical intersection between human capital and environmental sustainability.
“As we collaborate over the next few days, I encourage each of you to share your insights, challenge assumptions, and propose innovative solutions. Your expertise and experiences are invaluable, and together, we can craft a strategy that truly transforms lives and drives sustainable development.”
The workshop was attended by representatives from the Gates Foundation, the World Bank, ECOWAS, the Dangote Foundation, and the United Nations Development Program, among others.
The refinery announced the increase on Wednesday, hiking the the price from N1,200 to N1,275 per litre.
In the same way, coastal prices have gone up to N1,215 per litre.
This adjustment amid Brent crude trading at $114.80 per barrel marks a 3.15% increase.
Recall that the Brent crude has increased to $115 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate rose to $103 per barrel on Wednesday.
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Unbelievable: Police say officer who publicly executed handcuffed Delta man was under “spiritual attack”
The Nigeria Police Force has claimed that the extrajudicial killing of a handcuffed suspect by Officer Usman Nuhu in Delta State to potential spiritual forces, a statement that has sparked widespread outrage and disbelief across the country.
“I will start with the issue at hand, which is a very sad issue.
” There is no explanation for this. I don’t just get what was wrong with that policeman (Mr Nuhu),” Bright Edafe, the spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, said in an interview with Channels TV on Wednesday.
“Police cannot attribute problems to spirituality, but that may not be far from it. Because that’s the only explanation one can give to what he did,” Edafe added.
The shocking statement comes days after a viral video sighted showed Officer Usman Nuhu executing a handcuffed suspect in broad daylight along the Warri–Sapele Expressway in Effurun, Delta State.
The victim has been identified as Mene Ogidi, a young man who had been apprehended for allegedly attempting to waybill a parcel containing a Beretta pistol with four rounds of ammunition.
In the graphic video, the handcuffed suspect was seen begging for his life, shouting, “I will talk! I will take you to the person who gave me the waybill!”
Despite his pleas, Officer Nuhu was seen taking a magazine from a fellow policeman, inserting it into his AK-47 rifle, and shooting the suspect at close range. The victim died instantly.
The police spokesperson’s suggestion of a spiritual explanation has been met with widespread condemnation from human rights activists, legal experts, and ordinary Nigerians who view it as an attempt to deflect responsibility from the officer’s actions.
Many have pointed out that the police force had already condemned the killing and transferred Officer Nuhu to Force Headquarters in Abuja to face the Force Disciplinary Committee for summary disciplinary measures and prosecution.
The Inspector-General of Police had also extended condolences to the family of the deceased and assured them that justice would be served.
However, the latest statement from the Delta Command appears to contradict the earlier stance of the Force Headquarters, raising questions about whether the police are seriously pursuing accountability or seeking supernatural excuses for extrajudicial killings.
The police have nabbed two suspected human trafficking operatives in connection with the alleged removal of the womb of a 19-year-old girl in a disturbing case of gender-based violence and organ trafficking.
Commissioner of Police, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, made the disclosure on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, during the Command’s first quarter press briefing, where he outlined operational achievements from February to date.
According to a report filed on April 3, 2026, at about 5:30pm., a woman from Ekpan community in Uvwie local government area raised alarm after her teenage daughter returned home in a visibly deteriorated state of health.
The victim, who had been residing with her father in Okpaka, reportedly visited her mother in Ekpan, where concerns about her condition prompted questioning.
In her account, the 19-year-old disclosed that in September 2025, she and two friends were introduced to a woman identified as Blessing Mongo, 47, who allegedly linked them to another suspect, Esther, 32.
The suspects reportedly facilitated their movement under the pretext of travelling to Ivory Coast.
The victim alleged that shortly after arriving in Ivory Coast, she was injected with an unknown substance and subsequently taken to a hospital.
Upon regaining consciousness, she discovered that her abdomen had been surgically treated.
She further claimed that she was later returned to Nigeria and abandoned in Lagos before finding her way back to Delta State.
Following the report, police operatives arrested two suspects, Blessing Mongo and Esther, while investigations commenced.
The case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a more detailed probe.
Medical examination conducted as part of the investigation reportedly confirmed that the victim’s womb had been removed without her consent, raising serious concerns over an alleged organ trafficking operation.
Police authorities confirmed that the two suspects remain in custody as investigations continue, with efforts ongoing to apprehend other individuals linked to the case.
The police assured the public that justice would be pursued and urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, particularly those involving human trafficking and exploitation.
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Unbelievable: Police say officer who publicly executed handcuffed Delta man was under “spiritual attack”
Police nab suspects over alleged removal of 19-yr-old girl’s womb
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