News

EU Allocates N171m To Fight Malnutrition In North-East Nigeria

Published

2 years ago

July 27, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

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By Gloria Ikibah

The European Union has allocated €100,000 (over N171 million) in humanitarian assistance to help eliminate high levels of malnutrition in northeastern Nigeria.

The funding will help 160,000 people in the states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe and enable the Nigerian Red Cross to provide emergency assistance to reduce malnutrition, with a focus on malnourished children, as well as pregnant and lactating women. Support will include cash grants to mothers and caregivers of malnourished children to help them cover their dietary needs, as well as information activities such as community workshops on nutrition and feeding practices. In addition, it is also foreseen to distribute water purification tablets and to carry out hygiene campaigns, in order to prevent diarrheal diseases.

This funding is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

In northeast Nigeria, the severe malnutrition crisis has been exacerbated by ongoing conflict, displacement, and limited access to essential services. Most cases are coming from hard-to-reach locations and children under 5 are particularly vulnerable.

Background

The European Union and its Member States are the world’s leading donor of humanitarian aid. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity towards people in need around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent, and alleviate human suffering and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and man-made crises.

Through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid department, the European Union helps millions of victims of conflicts and disasters every year. With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the EU provides assistance to the most vulnerable people on the basis of humanitarian needs.

The European Commission has signed a €8 million humanitarian delegation agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), to support the Federation’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF). Funds from the DREF are mainly allocated to ‘small-scale’ disasters, those that do not give rise to a formal international appeal.

The Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) was established in 1979 and is supported by contributions from donors. Each time a National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society needs immediate financial support to respond to a disaster, it can request funds from the DREF. For small-scale disasters, the IFRC allocates grants from the Fund, which can be replenished by the donors. The delegation agreement between the IFRC and ECHO enables the latter to replenish the DREF for agreed operations (within its humanitarian mandate) up to a total of €8 million.

News

JAMB Releases Monday’s UTME Results

Published

1 hour ago

April 21, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has released the results of candidates who wrote the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, on Monday.
The spokesperson of the commission, Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

The statement directs affected candidates to the board’s standard result-checking channels.

According to the statement, candidates can access their scores by sending “UTMERESULT” to 55019 or 66019 via SMS, using the phone number with which they registered for the examination.
Monday’s UTME results are the latest in a series of daily result announcements that JAMB has been making since the 2026 UTME commenced on Thursday, April 16.
The examination involves over two million candidates sitting computer-based tests at centres across the country.

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Tinubu Makes Fresh Key Appointment In Government

Published

1 hour ago

April 21, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Fatima Suleiman Zuntu as the new Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA)

Her appointment is for an initial term of four years and is in accordance with the provisions of the National Biosafety Management Agency Act of 2015, which governs leadership appointments within the agency.

This was disclosed in a statement from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, issued by the Head of Information and Public Relations, Chris Ugwuegbulam.

The statement highlighted Dr. Zuntu’s extensive experience in public health administration and policy formulation, noting her involvement in several nationwide programmes, particularly in the health sector and public service delivery.

President Tinubu charged her to apply her expertise in advancing the agency’s objectives and contributing to national development.

The National Biosafety Management Agency is responsible for regulating modern biotechnology in Nigeria, ensuring that its application does not pose risks to human health or the environment.

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FG Reveals Identities Of Alleged Coup Plotters, Files Treason Charges

Published

1 hour ago

April 21, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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The Federal Government has finally revealed the identities of individuals who allegedly plotted to forcefully overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu.

The suspects include a former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, said to be at large in the charge.

Others are Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani.

In a 13-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026 filed at the Federal High Court on Tuesday, they were accused of plotting to levy war against the Federal Republic of Nigeria to overthrow President Tinubu.

The alleged offence is said to be contrary and punishable under Section 37 (2) of the Criminal Code.

The alleged coup plotters are scheduled to be arraigned on April 22, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The charge was filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.

The Federal Government accused the defendants of treason, terrorism, and failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.
The prosecution further alleged that the defendants had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others but failed to alert authorities.
The federal government is also prosecuting the defendants for terrorism-related offences under the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.