By Gloria Ikibah

As part of the ongoing emergency response to the recent violence in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, officials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have intensified efforts to assess the situation and deliver humanitarian support to affected communities.

Teams from NEMA, working in collaboration with local partners, have begun the profiling of internally displaced persons (IDPs) across several temporary camps to ensure proper coordination of aid and essential services.

During a visit to the Bokkos Cottage Hospital, the NEMA delegation assessed the condition of victims receiving medical attention. 

According to Dr. Aring A., the hospital’s Medical Director, while a number of patients have been treated and discharged, those with more serious conditions have been referred to specialist hospitals. Sixteen individuals were still being cared for at the facility as of the visit.

Leading the operations was Head of NEMA’s Jos Office, Abdulrazaq Adebiyi, who also visited the IDP camp set up at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Bokkos. There, he was received by Reverend Father Andrew Dewan, who commended the agency for its prompt action. Many of the displaced persons also voiced their appreciation for the Federal Government’s support through NEMA.

In addition to the church-based camp, profiling is ongoing in other affected areas such as Manguna and Daffo, with relief efforts being tailored to the needs of the displaced.

Adebiyi noted that the Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has deployed emergency response teams in line with directives from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deliver immediate and effective assistance to victims of the attacks.

To further strengthen the on-ground operations, a senior delegation from NEMA’s headquarters has arrived in Jos to oversee the relief mission and coordinate ongoing interventions with the Plateau State Emergency Management Agency (PLASEMA) and other partners.

By Gloria Ikibah

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, has extended warm congratulations to the newly crowned Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Owoade, following his official coronation ceremony held on Saturday.

Naijablitznews.com reports that Oba Owoade ascends the historic throne as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo, taking over from the late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, who joined his ancestors in April 2022.

In a statement released through the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, Speaker Abbas hailed the occasion as a new dawn not just for the people of Oyo, but for the entire Yoruba nation. 

He called on the monarch to leverage his revered position to promote unity, peace, and cultural pride among his subjects.

Highlighting the traditional significance of the Alaafin stool in Yorubaland and within Nigeria’s broader traditional leadership structure, the Speaker encouraged the new monarch to serve as a stabilizing force and moral compass in society.

As a royal himself from the Zazzau Emirate in Zaria, Speaker Abbas reiterated his commitment to advocating constitutional recognition and formal roles for traditional rulers, describing them as essential custodians of culture and community development.

He wished Oba Owoade a reign marked by wisdom, progress, and enduring peace throughout his domain.

By Gloria Ikibah

He said: “Nigeria has taken decisive steps to meet the global demand for sustainable social development and justice. Our legislative achievements in recent years bear testament to our unflinching commitment. One of the key pillars of our strategy has been the establishment of regional development commissions. Over the past year, the Nigerian Parliament has enacted legislation to create four new regional development commissions.

“These bodies are dynamic institutions tasked with channeling resources where they are needed most, ensuring that policy interventions are tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities of each region. By decentralizing our development efforts, we are breaking away from the one-size-fits-all approach and ensuring that every region can chart its own course toward sustainable progress.

“We passed the Student Loan Act 2024 to open higher education to the underprivileged; established national commissions for Mass Literacy, Almajiri and Out-of-School Children, Nomadic Education, Refugees and IDPs, and Persons with Disabilities; strengthened healthcare by ensuring free emergency treatment for pregnant women and expanding health coverage via the National Health Insurance Authority; expanded health coverage, and created financial support systems.

“Advanced social inclusion with the Not Too Young to Run Act to unlock governance spaces for youth; we are considering five new gender equity bills to boost women’s representation, and have enhanced funding for the Ministry of Women Affairs for grassroots empowerment; and passed the Nigeria Startup Act 2022 and Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 to unlock digital opportunities for young entrepreneurs and tech innovators, especially women.”

“Complementing these initiatives are our progressive tax reforms, driven by our progressive reformer, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The recent tax reform bills, which emphasize a progressive taxation framework, are designed to ensure that those who benefit the most from our nation’s economic activities contribute their fair share, while vulnerable Nigerians are not overly burdened.

“These reforms are critical in generating additional resources to fund our expanding portfolio of social services and infrastructure projects. In essence, by strengthening the fiscal backbone of our government, we are better equipped to invest in the sectors that will lift our society as a whole.

“A cornerstone of our approach is robust parliamentary oversight. Effective oversight ensures that public funds are judiciously managed and that our social investments reach the intended beneficiaries. In Nigeria, we have strengthened our oversight structures, reinforcing transparency and accountability in all aspects of governance. This is essential not only to maintain public trust but also to ensure that every legislative measure translates into tangible improvements in the lives of our citizens.

“Inclusivity in governance remains a driving force behind our policies. As part of our commitment to social inclusion, we have embarked on a comprehensive strategy to ensure universal access to basic services. Over the past two years, targeted social investments by Nigeria’s federal executive have reached more than five million households. These initiatives are specifically designed to support the most vulnerable segments of our society, including older adults, persons with disabilities, and children. Our goal is clear: justice is achieved when every Nigerian—regardless of status—is given a fair chance at prosperity”, he said.

The Deputy Speaker further expressed worries that the continent of Africa was burdened by a huge debt profile that strains it public finances, making it difficult to realize the sustainable social development.

“The path to sustainable social development is not without its challenges, especially for Africa. The continent is burdened by a huge debt load that strains public finances and often limits the resources available for social investments. Can Africa optimize social development justiciably in the face of such financial constraints?

“This is a critical question, and while the debt burden presents formidable challenges, it must not be an excuse for inaction. Instead, it calls for innovative fiscal policies, debt restructuring, and, importantly, greater support from the global community”, he said.

He however assured that Nigeria’s journey towards social development and justice is defined by a steadfast commitment to human dignity, equity, and sustainable progress.

“Today, as we deliberate on parliamentary action for social development and justice, I call upon all members of this esteemed assembly to reaffirm our shared commitment to a new social contract—one that places people at the center of every decision and prioritizes robust oversight and accountability,” he added.