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NGO Empowers 2100 Farmers With Solar Pumps

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No fewer than 2100 smallholder farmers were empowered with Solar Renting Pumps and mobile subscription-based rental services in Jama’are, Gadau, and Zaki environs in Bauchi State by Energy Assured in a bid to ease their work and reduce expenses as well as other logistical services to help them modernize their profession.

The project, according to a statement signed by the Organization’s Chief Executive Officer Mr Ibrahim Aboki and issued to Newsmen on Wednesday said is part of USAID’s $4 million intervention on its COVID-19 food security challenge, where 32 Nigerian grantees get funding to assist in the improvement of the country’s agricultural system to a better and modernize the system where Energy Assured as one of the sub-grantees flags off the program in Bauchi State.

The statement revealed that the project has six major aims as follows:

“Increase food and agriculture system productivity and enhance efficient production along the value chains to unlock agricultural production that has been limited by COVID-19’s impact on food production, processing, and distribution in Nigeria”.

“Increase income for Base of the Pyramid (BoP) women and men in both rural and urban areas”.

“Provide youth-led and mid-stage companies the technical assistance and capital they need to sustainably scale solutions to meet the requirements of the Challenge”.

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“Promote climate and environmental resilience as well as biodiversity through the sustainable, holistic management of natural resources and ecosystems”.

“Develop and promote innovative and local food-based models, including the local production, processing, and marketing of highly nutritious foods to prevent and/or treat wasting/acute malnutrition”.

“Promote socially responsible marketing/advertising to increase demand for safe, nutritious foods and other nutrition-related commodities and services”.

The statement further said that “part of the project, Energy Assured carried out a preliminary survey to understand the farmer’s perception on water sources, paid advocacy visits to farmers cooperatives; state and local governments agricultural agencies, performed a roadshow (demonstration) for 2100 smallholder farmers to see how real the solar system works, conducted radio campaigns on environmentally sustainable practices, training of 150 smallholder farmers in good agronomy practices, procured 45 solar pumps and rental services of pumps for 2100 smallholder farmers.

The statement called on Bauchi State Government to direct the state’s ministry of agriculture to engage the empowered smallholder farmers in the state and help them in sustaining the initiative.

Some of the recommendations made by the organization includes:

“Other renewable energy stakeholders in the country should give out solar pumps as a loan to be repaid through flexible payment options for smallholder farmers for them to benefit from the initiative”.

“USAID should, as part of scale up strategy, connect all the grantees with other investors to ensure sustainability of the project”.

“Considering the high demand of the solar pump from smallholder farmers, we recommend other social enterprises/start-ups to also venture into this business model, so that the high demand will reduce”.

“There is need for more intervention into this, specifically sourcing of reliable and affordable water and good agronomy practices to assist smallholder farmers to get improved and cultivate according to modern ways”.

“Awareness campaigns on the use of modern technology especially this model should be intensified by the state government and other relevant organisations working in the area of agricultural value chain”.

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Murder: Family of Slain Teenager Plans Protest, Legal Action Against Kaduna Govt

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29 days after ‘AHMED MUSA’ was brutally killed in Government Technical College Malali Kaduna, family of the deceased planning to go to court to demand justice and adequate compensation for the unfair treatment meted to them.

In a statement on Monday, jointly signed by the deceased father Comrade Musa Mohammed (Moonlight), and the members of the family.

They stated that the incident was a “reflection of how insecure and unsafe” Nigeria has become for young people striving for a better future.

The family demanded “an expedited, transparent, and decisive legal process” to ensure justice is served, warning that they “will resist any attempts at political interference or compromise.”

Among their demands, they called on the state government to acknowledge that “students are no longer safe in their communities. If young people can be killed in such gruesome circumstances, what hope is left for the future of Nigeria? a formal apology from the kaduna state Government and comprehensive compensation for the family.

We demand Five Hundred and Sixty Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira (N560,300,000), as compensation from kaduna state government.”

“We think the time has come for the Kaduna State Government and all who are on the side of humanity to respond to the cry for remediation of the family and relations of the deceased student.
That is why we will go to court.”

“Also, we warn kaduna state government, that if they didn’t meet up with our demands we will be forced to mobilise the full strength of the masses movement across kaduna State in protest.

“This is about the fundamental right to life that every Nigerian student deserves. We will not sit idle while students are hunted and butchered.

Recall, the father on a petition dated 24th February 2025which was addressed to the executive governor of Kaduna state through the honorable commissioner of education, appealing for comprehensive investigation to un-cover those behind his son death, and whoever is found to have a hand in the death of his son should be punish accordingly.
And also demanded from kaduna state government adequate compensation for negligence being the custodian of the deceased Ahmed Musa.

In another development, the Chief Magistrate court of Kabala Doki in Kaduna State has adjourned the Ahmed Musa murder Case again, against 4 kaduna state vigilance service (KADVIS) personnel on charges of criminal conspiring and negligence which cause the death of Ahmed Musa.till 17th April 2025 because the witness and the prosecutor are absent in the court, because the witness and the prosecutor are absent in the court.

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Rivers Assembly Initiates Impeachment Of Gov. Fubara, Deputy

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Rivers State House Of Assembly has passed a resolution raising impeachment allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu

The Assembly mandates Clerk to publish in national dailies, letter of allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Sim Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu pursuant to Section 188 of 1999 Constitution (as amended)

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Amnesty International to NYSC: Stop threatening corps member who criticised Tinubu

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Amnesty International has condemned officials of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for allegedly sending threatening messages to a corps member who criticised the President Bola Tinubu-led administration over rising inflation and economic hardship.

Daily Trust had reported how the corps member in a widely circulated video shared on Tiktok expressed frustration over the deteriorating economic conditions in Nigeria.

 

She openly tackled President Tinubu, calling him a “terrible leader,” and questioned what steps the government is taking to ease the suffering of citizens.

After her video gained traction, the serving corps member claimed she began receiving threatening messages, allegedly from NYSC officials.

 

She shared another video in which she was receiving calls from an NYSC official.

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In the video, the official could be heard saying, “Are you normal? Keep quiet and bring down the video you posted.”

Reacting, Amnesty International, in a post on X, said instead of threatening her, the authorities “should be prioritizing addressing the country’s economic woes.”

“It is perfectly within her right to express discontent peacefully. Instead of threatening her for her opinions on rampant inflation, the authorities should be prioritizing addressing the country’s economic woes.

“Millions of people in Nigeria are facing extreme poverty. So far, the authorities have failed to put in place effective mitigation measures, leaving millions of people without the hope of getting out of the economic challenges and enjoying their human rights.

“The Nigerian authorities must stop responding with violence and threats to individuals and groups who express dissenting opinions — in utter disregard for Nigerian constitution and international law. Holding and voicing dissenting views is not a crime,” the human rights organisation said.

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