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Nigerian Girls Still Face Barriers To Equality, ActionAid Sounds Alarm

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Despite notable strides in gender advocacy, Nigerian girls continue to face significant challenges, including early marriage, gender-based violence, limited access to quality education, and societal norms that suppress their voices, according to ActionAid Nigeria.

Speaking at the commemoration of the 2024 International Day of the Girl in Abuja, Andrew Mamedu, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, emphasised the importance of recognizing the realities faced by young girls.

He highlighted the theme of the celebration, “Girls’ Vision for the Future,” as a reminder that girls are not merely passive recipients of change but active agents in shaping a better, more equitable tomorrow.

Mamedu cited alarming statistics from northern Nigeria, where only 47% of girls attend school in some areas, and child marriage and teenage pregnancy remain prevalent.

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He acknowledged the disproportionate impact of crises on girls, emphasizing that they are not victims but powerful forces for change.

“Research carried out in Jigawa and the FCT revealed that 60% of men believe educating girls leads to immorality, while others prioritize skill development or petty trade over formal education,” stated Mamedu. “These findings clearly show that girls are not prioritized, and that needs to change.”

ActionAid Nigeria, through its girl-led research initiatives in communities across Jigawa and Abuja, has witnessed firsthand how girls are confronting the issues that affect them.

These girls are not just identifying problems; they are leading the way in developing solutions, holding up a mirror to society, exposing its failures, and demanding their rightful place at decision-making tables.

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Favour Usman, a participant in the girl-led research, echoed the need for change: “Our theme today speaks to our reality as young girls who want to be heard, to lead, and to create change.

“It’s about imagining a future where girls are safe, empowered, and free to reach our full potential.”

Usman outlined specific demands for action:
1. Prioritise girls’ education: Providing scholarships, reducing school material costs, and ensuring accessible, affordable, and safe school environments.

2. Support menstrual health: Ensuring access to free menstrual health education and sanitary products to prevent girls from missing school or risking their health.

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3. Educate communities: Raising awareness about the importance of girls’ education, health, and safety through community leaders, parents, and girls themselves.

4. End gender-based violence: Strengthening laws and enforcement to protect girls from violence, creating safe spaces for reporting, and providing support for healing and recovery.

This International Day of the Girl serves as a call to action for all adults, leaders, and allies to listen to girls’ voices, prioritise their needs, and work alongside them to create a future where their vision for a safe, just, and equitable world becomes a reality.

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Insecurity! Troops arrest Bello Turji’s ally Bako, silence 211 terrorists in 7 days

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A suspected terrorist has been nabbed by the troops in the North West theatre of operation.

The arrested high profile and notorious terrorist was identified as Bako Wurgi. The terror leader is linked to the murder of the Sokoto Monarch and a staunch ally of wanted high profile terrorist Bello Turji’s.

In a statement made available to journalists on Friday in Abuja, the Defence Director Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba said the arrested terrorist leader, Bako Wurgi, eventually succumbed to gun shot injuries sustained during the fire fight.

According to General Buba, the terrorist leader Wurgi provided valuable intelligence to support troops operations before he eventually passed on.

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General Buba also disclosed that another two high profile terrorists identified as Hamisu Sale (aka Master) and Abubakar Muhammad were arrested during seperate operations conducted in North Central theatre of operation.

In his words, the duo are cooperating and providing valuable intelligence on the terror network.

The DHQ spokesman was deadpan when he said that, “Troops are on high alert and have increased readiness to protect the country from further terrorist aggression, particularly during the yuletide.

Accordingly, robust operations targeted at terrorist leadership are being conducted across the various theatres of operations.”

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He disclosed that during the week under review, troops neutralised 212 and arrested 272 persons.

The DHQ publicist informed that troops recovered 247 assorted weapons and 6,174 assorted ammunition.

Giving the breakdown, General Buba said 2 RPG UXO4, 110 AK47 rifles, 56 fabricated rifles, 36 dane guns and 2 FN rifles were recovered during the week under review.

Others include, 2 baretta pistols, 15 locally made pistols, 2 revolver pistols, 12 pump action guns, 2 double barrel guns, one single barrel gun, one RPG bomb, one RPG tube, 2 exploded RPG chargers, one PKM link, one link of GPMG and 70 AK47 magazines.

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Also recovered are 3,235 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,583 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 130 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm ammo, 400 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 92 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 107 rounds of 9mm ammo, 311 live cartridges, one FN magazine, 3 bandoliers, 5 baofeng radios, 8 vehicles, 51 motorcycles and 103 mobile phones amongst other items.

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Speaker Abbas Refutes Claims of Outstanding Land Payment to FCTA

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By Gloria Ikibah

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, has clarified reports alleging that his land title in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was revoked due to unpaid dues.

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In a press statement issued on December 20, 2024, the Speaker’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, affirmed that Speaker Abbas owns only one land title in the FCT and had fully settled the required payment in October 2024. This payment was made promptly after the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) issued public notices in the newspapers regarding outstanding obligations.

The Speaker described the inclusion of his name among defaulters as an error on the part of the FCTA and urged the agency to exercise greater caution in managing such matters.

He also called on the media to verify facts thoroughly before publishing reports, cautioning against the dissemination of misleading information that could tarnish his reputation.

The Speaker therefore appealed for restraint in circulating inaccurate.

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Wike gives final ultimatum to land owners to pay for C-of-O

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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has given owners of the 762 plots of land in Maitama II District, Cadastral Zone, A10, Abuja, a fresh two-week ultimatum to pay for their Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) or risk final revocation of their allocations.

According to a statement on Friday, by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the FCT Minister reiterated that the primary interest was not for people to lose their lands, but to get them to make necessary payments to the government.

The statement read: “It should be recalled that on October 5, 2024, list of 3,273 allottees/title holders that were yet to pay for their C-of-O were published. They were offered two weeks to pay their bills or lose their Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) titles. Out of the 3,273, a total of 2,511 complied, leaving 762.

Yesterday, notice of withdrawal of the R-of-O titles of the 762 defaulters was published.

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“Since then, many of the affected allottees have offered to pay, and since the primary aim of the government is to ensure payment, a two weeks grace has been given.

“Consequently, the 762 allottees and the 614 others with outstanding payment on C-of-O will have till January 3, 2025 to pay, or have their R-of-O titles withdrawn, pursuant to the provisions of Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978.

After January 3, 2025, there will be no further extension and withdrawal of the R-of-O titles of defaulters will be final.”

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