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Over 3.7 million battling food crisis in northeast Nigeria – ICRC

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The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has raised concerns about a deepening food crisis in Nigeria’s northeast, revealing that more than 3.7 million people across the conflict-affected region are currently grappling with food scarcity.

Aliyu Dawobe, who serves as the ICRC’s spokesperson, disclosed this development in a press statement shared on Monday in Abuja, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He explained that a significant number of those facing hunger were once self-reliant farmers who lost access to their lands due to the protracted violence in the region.

The statement detailed how the ongoing conflict has displaced thousands of families, hindered access to arable land, and disrupted traditional food supply networks, leaving communities extremely vulnerable.

As the annual lean season takes hold, households are coming under growing pressure, said Diana Japaridze, Head of ICRC’s Maiduguri sub-delegation.

“This is the period when families must begin buying food, but many conflict-affected households simply can’t afford it.

They’re forced to drastically limit their intake,” she said.

She warned that the lack of food is driving a spike in malnutrition, especially among children under five, pregnant women, and nursing mothers.

“In response, the ICRC is supporting malnutrition stabilisation centres and offering community education programmes to help families care for vulnerable children.”

To combat the structural roots of food insecurity, the ICRC has introduced an agricultural support project designed to strengthen resilience and boost local food production. The program spans both rainy and dry seasons.

“The initiative supports both rainy and dry season farming and targets thousands of farming households.

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This year alone, more than 21,000 farming households have received seeds adapted to local conditions, along with planting tools to ease labour and improve efficiency,” Japaridze added.

As part of the aid, farmers received varieties of staple and vegetable seeds including rice, maize, tomato, and okra — aimed at enhancing food variety and nutritional quality in meals.

Additionally, training in sustainable agriculture is being provided to ensure that farmers continue to thrive independently even after ICRC’s direct intervention ends.

“At a systemic level, and in collaboration with the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), we recently repaired a vital water source to ensure continuous access for the council’s seed testing and greenhouse facilities,” Japaridze said.

Despite these interventions, she acknowledged that the lean season still poses a significant hardship for many farming families who are unable to meet their food needs.

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Build Nigeria from grassroots, not just Abuja, Lagos – Ex-presidential candidate

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Adewole Adebayo, leader of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, and its presidential flagbearer in the 2023 general election, has stressed that Nigeria’s long-term progress lies in nurturing safe, productive and self-sustaining communities at the grassroots.

Adebayo spoke in Numan, Adamawa State, at a reception organised in his honour following the conferment of a traditional title on him by the Bachama kingdom.

While addressing traditional rulers, community leaders and residents, he described the Bachama people as a vital component of the Nigerian project, noting that the destiny of the nation is inseparable from the wellbeing of its local communities.

“The development of this land is the development of Nigeria because Nigeria is not just an idea; it is the land and the people,” he said.

He portrayed Numan and its environs as a rich heritage placed in the care of its people, urging citizens to take collective responsibility for nurturing the land, ensuring fair access to resources and raising families in conditions of safety and dignity.

The SDP leader also raised concerns about what he termed the over-centralisation of governance, arguing that efforts to drive national development primarily from Lagos in the past and later from Abuja have yielded limited success.

“The only time Nigeria will truly work is when we build it from the communities,” he said, adding that the true measure of national strength should be seen in the safety of homes, the quality of education and the freedom of young people to grow without fear.

According to him, meaningful development must allow families to farm, rear livestock, educate their children and participate actively in the economy within their local environments.

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Drawing parallels with countries such as the United States, Germany and Russia, Adebayo said enduring national success is built by citizens who flourish in their towns and villages, supported by access to electricity, water, security and economic opportunities.

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FG spent billions on Conference Centre but primary schools remain shut in FCT – Peter Obi

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The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has expressed displeasure at the lingering strike by primary schools teachers in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

In a post on his official X handle, Obi said it is worrisome that the government spent billions of naira to renovate the International Conference Centre while primary schools in the nation’s capital remain on strike.

According to him, education is a cornerstone of national development.

He lamented that countless children remain out of school and those in school cannot attend because of insecurity or teachers’ strikes.

“This is particularly tragic in Abuja, the seat of government, where schools remain shuttered.

“This is the same Abuja where billions were squandered on renovating a conference centre for the president and Bus Terminals.

“One must question whether our leaders genuinely appreciate the vital role of education,” he wrote.

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Officers behind foiled coup knew consequences of their action – Defense Minister

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Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa, rtd, says military officers arrested over the foiled coup knew the consequences of their action and are ready to face the wrath.

Musa said this when he appeared on TRT World, a Turkish broadcaster, stating that the accused persons would receive a fair trial, with access to legal counsel of their choice.

According to him, families of the alleged coup plotters would be looked after by the government.

“They must have made up their minds when they decided to do this and must have considered their families.

“But even at that, the government is ensuring that their families are treated fairly.

“Their family members are not left alone. The government is making sure that their wives and children are looked after.

“The perpetrators already know the repercussion of their action, and I’m sure they are ready to face the wrath,” he said.

It was recalls that the 16 implicated officers, including a Brigadier-General and Colonel, were arrested in October 2025 by the defence headquarters, DHQ.

The DHQ, on January 26, finally confirmed that there was a plot to oust President Bola Tinubu.

According to the military, the plot uncovered in late September 2025 through joint intelligence from the army, Department of State Services, DSS, and Defence Intelligence Agency, DIA, allegedly involved plans to assassinate Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, and other top government figures, as well as arrest senior military leaders.

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