By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has urged Nigerians to offer robust support to the military as it intensifies efforts to address insecurity and create an enabling environment for trade and business across the country.

This appeal was made during the opening ceremony of the 45th International Trade Fair organized by the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (KACCIMA). The minister’s remarks were conveyed in a statement by his Personal Assistant on Media, Malam Mati Ali.

Alhaji Badaru emphasized the critical role of peace and security in national development, stating, “Peace and security are the cornerstones of development in any society. Improving the security situation will pave the way for enhanced economic prosperity.”
Reaffirming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to restoring peace and stability, the minister called on Nigerians to support the government through prayers and maintain confidence in the nation’s security forces.
He acknowledged their dedication as essential to sustaining progress in combating insecurity.
Badaru commended KACCIMA for its commitment to hosting the annual trade fair, describing such initiatives as vital to strengthening Nigeria’s economy.
He highlighted the importance of non-oil exports in achieving economic diversification, urging stakeholders to collaborate in harnessing the country’s export potential.
The trade fair, a platform for showcasing products and fostering business connections, aligns with national efforts to boost commerce and industrialization while creating opportunities for local and international partnerships.
The minister’s call underscored the critical link between security and economic growth, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to ensure a stable and prosperous Nigeria.

By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

Jigawa State has emerged as the state with the lowest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, recording a rate of 0.3% of its population, according to Alhaji Abdulsamad Salihu, State Team Lead of the Society for Family Health (SFH).

Speaking during the official handover of HIV/AIDS prevention and control programs from Heartland Alliance to the Society for Family Health, Salihu commended the commitment of the Jigawa State government, the State AIDS Control Agency (SACA), and other partners for their efforts in reducing the prevalence of the disease.

Salihu emphasized the importance of continuing targeted efforts with Key Populations (KP) to eliminate the spread of HIV and achieve the universal health target by 2030.

The program manager for Jigawa State SACA, Malam Ibrahim Almajiri, highlighted the significant impact of the Heartland Alliance’s three-year intervention in the state, which included health services and support for HIV/AIDS management. He noted that approximately 1,700 people are currently receiving life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART), a milestone made possible by collaborative efforts.

In his remarks, the state’s Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Action Committee on HIV/AIDS, Engr. Aminu Usman Gumel, expressed gratitude to Heartland Alliance for its contributions to combating HIV in Jigawa. He lauded the reduced prevalence rate, attributing it to the government’s commitment and teamwork with stakeholders.

Engr. Gumel assured the Society for Family Health of continued robust partnership and pledged the government’s support for their efforts to sustain and further reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Jigawa State.

The event marked a new phase in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Jigawa, with a renewed focus on achieving a disease-free state through strategic collaborations and community engagement.

By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

The effective implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) in Jigawa State is being hampered by poor funding and widespread poverty, according to observations by the state’s ACJA Compliance Level Actors.

This was highlighted during a two-day workshop on the ACJA 2015, organized by CLEEN Foundation with support from the MacArthur Foundation, at the Grand Ambard Hotel in Dutse.

Acting Executive Director of CLEEN Foundation, Peter Maduoma presented findings from research on compliance levels across eight project states. He emphasized the need for adequate budgeting, enhanced state capacity, and strategic advocacy to close the justice gap and ensure the effective implementation of ACJA provisions.

“The beauty of any law lies in its effective implementation by responsible agencies and public understanding of its benefits,” Maduoma said.
He noted that while the ACJA has been enacted across all 36 states, significant work remains to ensure its success.
The acting executive director noted that it will also take an overview of state capacity to facilitate the effective implementation of ACJA regime, Consider the Justice Gap and how to close them through State Capacity in the area of good and adequate Budgeting, and the critical role of Strategic Advocacy and Communication as a Tool for Policy Formulation and Change.

According to him, “For us in CLEEN Foundation, it is important that all the deliberations in this two-day workshop will lead to great improvement in the work we all have been doing in the advancement of the ACJA/L across the nation and particularly in our states”.

Explaining further he said, as at today the ACJA has been enacted as law across the 36 states of the Federation. However, it is not “Uhuru” yet because the beauty of any law or legislation lies in the effective and efficient implementation of its content by the agencies that have been saddled with that responsibility as well as the perception and understanding of the citizenry as to what benefits are derivable thereof for a better society.
The workshop brought together a broad range of stakeholders, including civil society organizations, media representatives, human rights groups, police, correctional services, legal professionals, and the state assembly. Participants identified key challenges and developed advocacy strategies to address them, with the aim of advancing the ACJA’s goals of fostering justice, peace, and societal development.