society
NEDC Under Goni Rated Most Transparent Agency in Nigeria
NEDC Under Goni Rated Most Transparent Agency in Nigeria
The West Africa Crisis Writers Network (WACWN) has crowned the North East Development Commission (NEDC) as Nigeria’s gold standard for transparency and governance excellence.
In a statement signed by Messr Agba James, the group said the recognition marks eight transformative years since the NEDC’s inception, from a region once shrouded in despair to a model of hope and progress under the stewardship of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Managing Director Mohammed Goni Alkali.
According to James, the NEDC stands out as Nigeria’s most transparent agency due to its rigorous commitment to open governance and accountability.
Under Goni Alkali’s leadership, the statement noted that the NEDC has implemented a robust framework that includes regular public reporting of financial expenditures, project timelines, and outcomes, ensuring that every naira spent is traceable and every initiative is measurable.
Furthermore, James said the NEDC’s track record is reinforced by its collaborative approach, partnering with state governments, federal agencies, and international bodies while inviting independent audits to validate its operations.
“Eight years ago, the Northeast presented a harrowing sight. Villages stood abandoned like ghostly relics, schools gaped with shattered windows and sagging doors, and hospitals fell silent where life once pulsed,” James said.
“The stark reality of over 1.5 million children denied education painted a picture of a region, once home to ancient empires, reduced to scattered communities and fading dreams.
“Yet, the resilient spirit of the Nigerian people ignited a turnaround that has captured global attention. Since its founding, the NEDC has evolved from an emergency response into a powerhouse of renewal, guided by the North-East Stabilisation and Development Master Plan (NESDMP) 2020-2030.
“This robust 10-year strategy, featuring 529 meticulously crafted projects across 11 pillars, has delivered over 700 completed initiatives across the six states.”
The statement added that under Alkali’s astute leadership, the Commission has woven together humanitarian aid, long-term development, and peacebuilding into a cohesive vision that is reshaping the region.
“The education sector stands as a shining example of this transformation. Confronted with the crisis of 1.5 million out-of-school children, the NEDC launched an ambitious reconstruction program, building 18 mega schools per senatorial district,” James stated.
“Ari Kime Primary School in Potiskum, now Nigeria’s largest, serves over 20,000 children with 12 new classroom blocks, staff quarters, toilets, a clinic, and solar streetlights—turning a symbol of neglect into a hub of opportunity.
“At Yobe State University, a 250-seat lecture theatre and upgraded computer centers elevate learning, while Taraba State University’s Institute of Entrepreneurship Skills Acquisition, Innovation, Research, and Digitalisation equips youth for the future.
“With specialised training for 600 Tsangaya and Islamiyya teachers and capacity-building for 100,000 educators, the NEDC ensures a lasting educational legacy.
“Healthcare has also seen a remarkable revival. The upgraded Borno Central Medical Store now ensures medicine reaches the needy, while new clinics, remodelled hospitals, and specialised facilities—like dental and eye hospitals, a malnutrition center in Kushere, and an ophthalmology institute at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital in Bauchi—offer renewed hope.
“The accident and emergency complex at Modibbo Adama Teaching Hospital in Yola and a 40-room labour ward at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital have become lifelines, supporting mothers and saving lives.
“Infrastructure projects have fuelled economic recovery, with the 32km Dabna-Garkida Road, Alkaleri-Futuk Road, and Zabarmari-Ngowom Road enhancing connectivity.
“Over 3,500 homes for low-income families provide safe havens, while 219 solar-powered boreholes and 13,505 streetlights illuminate communities.
“Agricultural support, including water pumps, herbicides, and cleared irrigation canals, has revived farmland, complemented by the multi-billion-naira cattle markets in Soro and Kukareta.
“The introduction of electric vehicles and buses signals a bold step toward sustainability. Security and governance have been bolstered with new police stations in Konduga and Bama, equipped barracks, and accommodations for personnel, fostering confidence in recovered areas.”
The group, however, urged Goni Alkali never to change his ideology, remaining transparent at all times.
society
Ramadan: Adron Homes Felicitates Muslims, Preaches Hope and Unity
Ramadan: Adron Homes Felicitates Muslims, Preaches Hope and Unity
Adron Homes & Properties Limited has congratulated Muslim faithful on the commencement of the holy month of Ramadan, urging Nigerians to embrace the virtues of sacrifice, discipline, and compassion that define the season.
In a statement made available to journalists, the company described Ramadan as a period of deep reflection, spiritual renewal, and strengthened devotion to faith and humanity.
According to the management, the holy month represents values that align with the organisation’s commitment to integrity, resilience, and community development.
“Ramadan is a time that teaches patience, generosity, and selflessness. As our Muslim customers and partners begin the fast, we pray that their sacrifices are accepted and that the season brings peace, joy, and renewed hope to their homes and the nation at large,” the statement read.
The firm reaffirmed its dedication to providing affordable and accessible housing solutions to Nigerians, noting that building homes goes beyond structures to creating environments where families can thrive.
Adron Homes further urged citizens to use the period to pray for national unity, economic stability, and sustainable growth.
It wished all Muslim faithful a spiritually fulfilling Ramadan.
Ramadan Mubarak.
society
Underfunding National Security: Envelope Budgeting Fails Nigeria’s Defence By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Underfunding National Security: Envelope Budgeting Fails Nigeria’s Defence
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by saharaweeklyng.com
“Fiscal Rigidity in a Time of Crisis: Lawmakers Say Fixed Budget Ceilings Are Crippling Nigeria’s Fight Against Insurgency, Banditry, and Organized Crime.”
Nigeria’s legislature has issued a stark warning: the envelope budgeting system; a fiscal model that caps spending for ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) is inadequate to meet the country’s escalating security challenges. Lawmakers and budget analysts argue that rigid fiscal ceilings are undermining the nation’s ability to confront insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, separatist violence, oil theft and maritime insecurity.
The warning emerged during the 2026 budget defence session for the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) at the National Assembly in Abuja. Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC‑Kebbi North), chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, decried the envelope system, noting that security agencies “have been subject to the vagaries of the envelope system rather than to genuine needs and requirements.” The committee highlighted non-release or partial release of capital funds from previous budgets, which has hindered procurement, intelligence and operational capacity.
Nigeria faces a multi‑front security crisis: persistent insurgency in the North‑East, banditry and kidnappings across the North‑West and North‑Central, separatist tensions in the South‑East, and piracy affecting Niger Delta oil production. Despite declarations of a national security emergency by President Bola Tinubu, lawmakers point to a “disconnect” between rhetoric and the actual fiscal support for agencies tasked with enforcement.
Experts warn that security operations demand flexibility and rapid resource allocation. Dr. Amina Bello, a public finance specialist, said: “A static budget in a dynamic threat environment is like sending firefighters with water jugs to a forest fire. You need flexibility, not fixed ceilings, to adapt to unforeseen developments.”
The Permanent Secretary of Special Services at ONSA, Mohammed Sanusi, detailed operational consequences: irregular overhead releases, unfulfilled capital appropriations, and constrained foreign service funds. These fiscal constraints have weakened intelligence and covert units, hampering surveillance, cyber‑security, counter‑terrorism and intelligence sharing.
Delayed capital releases have stalled critical projects, including infrastructure upgrades and surveillance systems. Professor Kolawole Adeyemi, a governance expert, emphasized that “budgeting for security must allow for rapid reallocation in response to threats that move faster than political cycles. Envelope budgeting lacks this essential flexibility.”
While the National Assembly advocates fiscal discipline, lawmakers stress that security funding requires strategic responsiveness. Speaker Abbas Ibrahim underscored that security deserves “prominent and sustained attention” in the 2026 budget, balancing oversight with operational needs.
In response, the Senate committee plans to pursue reforms, including collaboration with the executive to restructure funding, explore supplementary budgets and ensure predictable and sufficient resources for security agencies. Experts warn that without reform, criminal networks will exploit these gaps, eroding public trust.
As one policy analyst summarized: “A nation declares a security emergency; but if its budget does not follow with real resources and oversight, the emergency remains rhetorical.” Nigeria’s debate over envelope budgeting is more than an accounting dispute; it is a contest over the nation’s security priorities and its commitment to safeguarding citizens.
society
Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin) Celebrates as She Marks Her Birthday
Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin) Celebrates as She Marks Her Birthday
Today, the world and the body of Christ rise in celebration of a rare vessel of honour, Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba, fondly known as Eritosin, as she marks her birthday.
Born a special child with a divine mark of grace, Rev. Mother Eritosin’s journey in God’s vineyard spans several decades of steadfast service, spiritual depth, and undeniable impact. Those who know her closely describe her as a prophetess with a heart of gold — a woman whose calling is not worn as a title, but lived daily through compassion, discipline, humility, and unwavering faith.
From her early days in ministry, she has touched lives across communities, offering spiritual guidance, prophetic insight, and motherly counsel. Many testify that through her prayers and teachings, they encountered God in a deeply personal and transformative way. Near and far, her influence continues to echo — not only within church walls, but in homes, families, and destinies reshaped through her mentorship.
A mother in every sense of the word, Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba embodies nurture and correction in equal measure. As a grandmother, she remains energetic in purpose — accommodating the wayward, embracing the rejected, and holding firmly to the belief that no soul is beyond redemption. Her life’s mission has remained consistent: to lead many to Christ and guide them into the light of a new beginning.
Deeply rooted within the C&S Unification, she stands tall as a spiritual pillar in the Cherubim and Seraphim Church globally. Her dedication to holiness, unity, and prophetic service has earned her widespread respect as a spiritual matriarch whose voice carries both authority and humility.
As she celebrates another year today, tributes continue to pour in from spiritual sons and daughters, church leaders, and admirers who see in her a living reflection of grace in action.
Prayer for Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin)
May the Almighty God, who called you from birth and anointed you for His service, continually strengthen you with divine health and renewed vigour.
May your oil never run dry, and may your prophetic mantle grow heavier with greater glory.
May the lives you have nurtured rise to call you blessed.
May your latter years be greater than the former, filled with peace, honour, and the visible rewards of your labour in God’s vineyard.
May heaven continually back your prayers, and may your light shine brighter across nations.
Happy Birthday to a true Mother in Israel — Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin).
More years.
More anointing.
More impact.
If you want this adapted for a newspaper page, church bulletin, Facebook post, or birthday flyer, just tell me the format and tone.
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