By Muhammad Nur Tijani

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the timely delivery of the Renewed Hope City housing project in Kano State, setting a six-week deadline for its completion.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, gave the directive on Friday during a routine inspection visit to the project site.

Speaking to newsmen after touring the facility, Dangiwa expressed satisfaction with the quality and pace of work, stating that the project was progressing in line with the approved specifications.

“The quality of construction is satisfactory and meets the required standards.

“The pace of work is also commendable and on schedule,” he said.

Dangiwa said the contractor has been given a six-week ultimatum to complete all outstanding works, with a view to inaugurating the project by the end of August.

“Our goal is to ensure the project is ready for commissioning by the end of August so that we can begin offering these units to interested Nigerians,” the minister said.

He added that although there have been some minor changes to the original design, all modifications were approved and within acceptable limits.

The minister commended the Kano State Controller of Housing for effective oversight and due diligence, which he said had contributed significantly to the progress recorded.

“We are highly impressed with both the quality and speed of the work. Most of the remaining tasks involve internal finishes and some external works like electrification and water reticulation,” Dangiwa added.

He also inspected another section of the site where a damage was observed on a portion of the tarred road.

The minister attributed the deformation to the use of the road by heavy-duty trucks, contrary to the original design intended for light vehicles.

He, then, directed the contractor to install metal barricades to restrict access to such vehicles and to repair the affected section before the project’s completion.

“The contractor has been instructed to prevent further damage by redirecting heavy trucks.

“They must also repair the affected road segment before the project is delivered. It was an oversight, but we are confident they will address it,” Dangiwa said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister was accompanied by the minister for state, Yusuf Abdullahi-Attah and some top ministry officials.

The Renewed Hope City project is part of the Federal Government’s broader initiative to bridge Nigeria’s housing deficit and provide affordable shelter for citizens. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Naomi Sharang

Former President of the Senate during Nigeria’s Third Republic, Sen. Ameh Ebute, has described the establishment of the North-Central States Elders’ Council (NCSEC) as a timely and commendable initiative.

Ebute said this at the council’s inaugural meeting in Abuja on Thursday,

He said that the NCSEC would play a key advisory role to the North-Central Development Commission (NCDC).

He said that the council would significantly contribute to the development of the North-Central region by guiding its implementation of policies and programmes across the zone.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NCSEC was created to serve as a strategic advisory body, supporting the vision, mission and objectives of the NCDC in facilitating sustainable development in the region.

“The North-Central Zone has long been left behind in many developmental strides.

“This council provides the necessary structure and voice to fast-track the progress we desperately need,” Ebute said.

He commended the initiators of the council and expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for establishing the NCDC, describing it as a bold step toward addressing long-standing developmental gaps in the region.

Chief Mike Onoja, a facilitator of the council, said that one of its immediate objectives was to formally express appreciation to Tinubu for creating the commission.

“We plan to pay a courtesy visit to the President to thank him. More importantly, we intend to partner closely with the commission to ensure that it delivers on its mandate,” Onoja said.

He emphasised the importance of collaboration with the governors of the six states within the North-Central Zone to ensure alignment and success in project implementation.

“We cannot make meaningful progress without the active involvement of the governors.

“Their input is critical in identifying and executing state-specific priority projects,” he added.

Also speaking, former Military Governor of Plateau, Retired Gen. Lawrence Onoja, described the Council as a non-partisan assembly of elders committed to the region’s progress.

“Though I am a member of the APC, this council is non-partisan. It is about our people.

“We want to ensure that the NCDC delivers on its mandate, and we will provide advice, guidance and oversight—not, as part of the management, but as stakeholders who care deeply about our region,” he said.

Also speaking, former Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, welcomed the formation of the council, calling it both timely and necessary.

“We have long hoped for the establishment of the NCDC, and we are thankful to President Bola Tinubu for making it a reality.

“This council will serve to support and encourage the President in furthering the development of our region,” she said.

Tallen emphasised unity as one of the council’s key values.

“Our strength lies in our unity. Regardless of tribe, religion or state, we must speak with one voice.

“The North-Central has suffered neglect for too long. It is time we came together for a common purpose — development,” she said.

NAN reports that the NCSEC comprises prominent personalities from the region, including former ministers, academics, captains of industry and retired military officers.

Its core mandate is to serve as a platform for guidance, strategic collaboration, and sustained development in the North-Central Zone. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman

By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom

Gov. Alex Otti of Abia State has described the growing crisis of malnutrition in Nigeria as a “silent emergency” threatening the nation’s stability and future.

He made the statement on Wednesday while declaring open a two-day workshop marking the commencement of the Nutrition 774 (N-774) Initiative in Abia State.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Office of the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, was inaugurated in Abia to tackle malnutrition and food insecurity, particularly among children and vulnerable populations.

The theme of the workshop is “Strengthening Capacity to Drive Action for Nutrition Delivery.”

Otti expressed deep concern over alarming malnutrition statistics, describing them as evidence of a long-ignored national threat.

“This goes beyond nourishment; it is about saving our future by addressing a critical threat to the physical and cognitive development of our people,” he said.

He commended the Federal Government for its “timely and holistic response” to the challenge and also commended the N-774 team for their dedication and strategic coordination.

“This programme stands out for its multi-stakeholder and community-focused design.

“Its broad governance framework acknowledges both urban and rural realities and creates the right ecosystem for effective implementation,” he added.

Otti reiterated that the Abia State Government was fully committed to the success of the N-774 initiative, noting its alignment with the state’s broader agenda on health, education, and family welfare.

“Since 2024, we have allocated 35 per cent of our annual budget to health and education, as our children’s development is a foremost priority,” he said.

He also used the platform to advocate for increased investment in agriculture, warning that the fight against malnutrition would fail without addressing insecurity, inadequate rural infrastructure, and poor farmer support.

“Nigeria is too blessed to be facing this scale of food crisis. We must fix our agricultural value chain to truly combat hunger,” Otti emphasised.

He noted that sustainable nutrition required job creation, youth empowerment, and stable food prices.

“There is a direct link between malnutrition and poverty, insecurity, and unemployment. N-774 must be implemented as part of a broader economic and social reform,” he said.

The governor pledged to collaborate with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) to drive the initiative across communities in Abia.

He also promised to establish the necessary structures and appointments to ensure full implementation.

Otti urged all stakeholders to commit to long-term solutions that addressed not just hunger but also the root causes of malnutrition.

In her address, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, Dr Uju Anwukah, who also serves as the Focal Person on Nutrition at the Office of the Vice President, described malnutrition as a national emergency.

She emphasised that the crisis could only be resolved through political will, coordinated strategies, and action from all levels of government and society.

She stressed that the Federal Government alone could not solve the problem and urged traditional rulers, local government leaders, and grassroots actors to actively support the initiative.

Anwukah also urged state governments to integrate nutrition into agriculture, education, and health policies, stressing that local ownership was vital for sustainable impact.

Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr Kingsley Anosike, described the newly formed Abia Nutrition Council as a “dream team” expected to lead the initiative from policy to implementation.

He affirmed the state’s readiness to tackle child malnutrition and improve its national nutrition performance.

He encouraged participants to engage fully in the workshop and focus on identifying key drivers of nutritional success in the state.

Also speaking, the representative of the Isiukwuato Traditional Rulers Advisory Council, Eze Faraday Chinekwe, emphasised the importance of nutrition in societal growth.

“Whatever we gain from this workshop will be taken to the various autonomous communities by the traditional rulers present, and we will integrate it into our way of living,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Abiemwense Moru

By Aderonke Ojediran and Mercy Omoike

Lagos State has inaugurated about 150 40-feet trucks to ease food logistics in and out of the state.

The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, inaugurated the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered trucks at the launch of the N500 billion ‘Produce for Lagos’ Offtake Guarantee Fund and Programme on Wednesday in Lagos.

The News Agency Nigeria (NAN) reports that the trucks would transport food from across the country to Lagos in order to reduce post-harvest losses in the country.

Sanwo-Olu described the initiative as part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to foster the achievement of food security in the country.

“Lagos is Nigeria’s food market and we consume over 50 per cent of the food that is traded in the Southwest part of the country.

“We have a food economy that is valued at over N6 trillion, it is also noted that Lagos loses 50 per cent of its food largely due to poor storage and inefficient transportation.

“It became clear that we must organise our food systems to feed our people well.

“The ‘Produce for Lagos’ programme will help to create logistics support and it will help to connect directly to the Lagos dynamic food economy.

“That is why we are launching Ecolog logistics trucks through the Lagos State Food Systems Infrastructure Company,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The governor added that the trucks, when in operation, would help to create a new agriculture ecosystem.

“We are going to launch about 150 40-foot trucks that will serve as a step or test for the smooth movement of food.

“The trucks are all CNG powered that can travel to all parts of the country on a full tank and return back to Lagos without refuelling at any petrol station.

“These trucks are first of its kind and it is a big initiative for us as a country and as a state.

“So, for us the N500 billion is just a tip, and as you see that some of our friends in private sector are beginning to show interest.

“What we are doing here is that we are creating a whole new agricultural ecosystem, one that will rise from the demands of today and tomorrow, to combining our policy that will be well focused, creating a financial model that will outlive us.

“And building infrastructure that will live even for generations that are coming behind us and ensuring that we have a robust database that everybody can work on,” Sanwo-Olu said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma