N20.1m Insurance Payout: Borno Police Support Families of Fallen Officers

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

The Nigeria Police Force in Borno State has disbursed over N20 million to families of officers who lost their lives in active service, reaffirming its commitment to personnel welfare.

Borno State Commissioner of Police, Naziru Abdulmajid, approved the payment of N20,137,770.34 to nine bereaved families under the Inspector General of Police’s Group Insurance Welfare Scheme.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Daso, announced the development in a statement issued on Sunday in Maiduguri. He explained that the beneficiaries include next-of-kin and family members of officers who paid the supreme price while serving the nation with courage and dedication.

According to the statement, the insurance and welfare package is part of ongoing efforts by the police leadership to ensure that families of fallen officers receive financial support and stability in the aftermath of their loss.

Representing the Commissioner at the presentation ceremony, Deputy Commissioner Ibrahim Sumaila stressed that the well-being of officers and their loved ones remains a central priority of the Force. He described the insurance scheme as a reflection of the Inspector General’s compassion, transparency, and dedication to honoring those who sacrificed their lives for the country’s peace and security.

Sumaila urged the beneficiaries to make prudent use of the funds, particularly in supporting their children’s education, healthcare needs, and overall family welfare.

He also applauded the Inspector General for sustaining the Group Life Assurance Scheme, noting that it serves as a critical safety net for families left behind by fallen heroes.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Modu Ishaku conveyed heartfelt appreciation to the police leadership for the timely intervention, pledging that the families would utilize the support responsibly.

IOM, Lake Chad Basin Commission Seal Pact to Deepen Peace, Recovery Efforts

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

In a renewed push to restore stability in the troubled Lake Chad region, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening regional cooperation in peacebuilding, displacement management and long-term recovery.

The agreement was formalised in N’Djamena, bringing fresh momentum to joint efforts across countries affected by years of insurgencies and humanitarian crises, including Chad, Niger, Nigeria, and Cameroon.

According to IOM, the new partnership provides a structured framework for both organisations to collaborate more closely under the Regional Strategy for Stabilisation, Recovery and Resilience (RSSRR) for areas impacted by Boko Haram violence in the Lake Chad Basin.

Speaking of development, IOM Regional Director Sylvia Ekra described the MoU as a significant step toward promoting lasting peace, security and sustainable development in the region.

“The agreement will enhance coordinated actions aimed at achieving durable solutions for displaced persons, promoting socio-economic recovery, strengthening governance, and fostering regional cooperation,” she said.

Ekra acknowledged that while the Lake Chad Basin is frequently portrayed as a zone of conflict and mass displacement, it also holds enormous potential for cooperation and shared prosperity across West and Central Africa.

She noted that the renewed partnership would improve alignment between regional strategies and operational activities on the ground. By combining reliable data, political will and coordinated interventions, she said, both institutions aim to reinforce frameworks that promote stability, safe mobility, and long-term resilience.

The Lake Chad crisis remains one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies. Years of violent conflict, compounded by climate change and environmental degradation, have forced millions from their homes. By December 2025, food shortages and shrinking livelihoods have left more than 6.4 million people displaced or otherwise affected.

Ekra stressed the need for sustained investment that combines humanitarian response, development planning, and peacebuilding initiatives to address urgent needs while laying the foundation for lasting solutions.

Under the agreement, IOM and LCBC will deepen cooperation at both strategic and operational levels. The collaboration will support evidence-based policymaking on human mobility, enhance cross-border coordination, assist in the implementation of territorial action plans, and promote climate-resilient economic initiatives across the basin.

In his remarks, LCBC Executive Secretary Ambassador Mamman Nuhu expressed appreciation to IOM for the strengthened partnership, noting that the collaboration would help tackle displacement challenges and improve the safety and security of lives and property throughout the region.

The new accord signals a shared determination by both organisations to transform the Lake Chad Basin from a symbol of crisis to a model of recovery, resilience, and regional solidarity.

FAO empowers small-scale farmers to boost food security, employment in N’East

By Tada Juth, Maiduguri

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has stated that efforts are being intensified to further strengthen food security and employment and rebuild resilience among the vulnerable communities in the northeast region of Nigeria.

Speaking on Thursday, during a field visit to the Gongulong insurgency-affected community on the outskirts of Maiduguri, Borno State, FAO’s Senior Emergency and Rehabilitation Officer, Dunja Dujanovic, said, “The empowerment of small-scale farmholders’ interventions is an integrated agricultural project that has been transforming people’s livelihoods since 2019.”

According to her, the agricultural integrated initiative comprises crop production and aquaculture.

She stated that the combined agricultural practices will enable the affected communities to jointly cultivate and harvest food crops, while other farmers engage in fish farming to supplement their families’ protein intakes.

Besides food security in the region, Dujanovic added, “After producing the fish, they are sold to private sector investors and other food processing centers, where fish is used as a key ingredient in fortified porridge aimed at preventing severe acute malnutrition (SAM) among children.

She explained that the intervention forms part of FAO’s three-year emergency and resilience plan of action in Nigeria, which aligns with the organization’s global strategy to reduce acute hunger worldwide.

Dujanovic noted that Nigeria remains one of FAO’s top priority countries due to the rising scale of food security challenges.

She emphasised the importance of coordination among government institutions, development partners, and other stakeholders to ensure that investments are aligned and sustainable solutions are implemented.

Recent engagements in Abuja and at the state level, she stated, have focused on identifying practical, agriculture-driven solutions capable of transforming the food crisis and narrowing the food security gaps.

She added that the current focus is on scaling up agricultural pilot initiatives and strengthening partnerships with donors and international financial institutions.

She highlighted the value addition as a critical component of the strategy, explaining that developing stronger agricultural value chains would help create jobs for youth and women while tackling unemployment among youth and women.

Dujanovic added that FAO’s efforts align with the government’s broader goal of creating 21 million jobs and lifting 35 million Nigerians out of poverty.