NEWS
ADF Spreads Palliatives To 10 States
The 2025 Food Intervention Programme of the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) has spread to 10 states.
Biztellers reports that some of the states already touched by the annual initiative include Kano, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Niger, Lagos, Abuja, Katsina, Borno and Gombe.
A statement from the ADF in Lagos on Monday has it that more states are to receive their deliveries this week.
It averred that “Over one million Nigerians from the 774 Local Government Areas will receive a 10kg bag of rice each from the Aliko Dangote Foundation, in a programme which is worth N16 billion. The hunger-alleviating initiative was flagged off in Kano by the Chairman of the Foundation, Aliko Dangote, for the 2025 intervention process.”
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Chief Executive Officer of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, Zouera Youssoufou, noted that the Food Intervention Programme is in its second edition, and described it as a way of supporting governments’ efforts and giving back to Nigerians, especially the needy and the vulnerable in the society.
Youssoufou, while fielding questions from journalists on the sideline of the flag-off in Kano, said the exercise reflects the concerns and compassion of Alh Dangote on the plight of the poor and vulnerable Nigerians.
On her part, a Trustee of the Foundation, Mariya Aliko Dangote, said the intervention is part of the Foundation’s response to the current economic challenges in the country, adding that it is expected to create some relief for the poor families.
Representative of the Foundation during the flag-off in Bauchi State, Ahmed Hashem, assured that the Foundation would not rest on its oars, adding that 25,000 bags of 10kg rice were delivered in the State.
Bauchi State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajiya Hajara Yakubu Wanka, explained further that each of the 20 LGAs will receive 500 bags of the rice, while 10,000 bags would be allocated to mosques and churches, considering that the Christians are also observing the annual Lenten fasting period, while the remaining 5,000 bags will be shared to some critical stakeholders.
During the weekend, the Deputy Governor of Niger State, Yakubu Garba, commended the Foundation, adding that 30,000 bags of 10kg rice were delivered to the State.
He assured that beneficiaries would be carefully selected by a government committee for the distribution of the food items.
Similarly, in Nasarawa State, Governor Abdullahi Sule expressed profound gratitude for the 30,000-bag donation from ADF, saying that the distribution would commence immediately to ensure timely relief for the people.
The Emir of Keffi, Dr. Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, also lauded the intervention, offering prayers for continued prosperity for the Dangote Industries Limited.
In his remarks, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, had applauded Dangote’s many initiatives to ameliorate Nigerians’ sufferings and praised him for showing compassion for the needy.
Dr. Hamzat, who received the ADF delegation led by its Trustee, Hajiya Mariya Aliko Dangote and Managing Director of the Foundation, Youssoufou, on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, expressed gratitude for the Foundation’s consistency in spreading love and charity across Lagosians, which he described as one of the important aspects of the Ramadan and Lent season.
Sanwo-Olu said the gesture of distribution of 80,000 bags of 10kg rice shows that the leadership of the Foundation prioritise the welfare of the people beyond the pursuit of profit and accumulation of wealth.
The Governor said, “Aliko Dangote is a Nigerian that has chosen to be different. You have choices but you have made the right one, which is caring for the vulnerable. I appreciate Mr. Aliko Dangote for extending his kind gestures to the people at the bottom of the pyramid, and we are grateful for supporting us in government. There is a lot of global disruption in various parts of the world, and it is a tough time to be in a position of leadership.”
According to the Group Chief Branding and Corporate Communications Officer, Dangote Industries Limited, Anthony Chiejina, the distribution of food items by the Foundation is being coordinated through state governments to ensure that the nationwide assistance reaches the intended beneficiaries effectively.
“This monumental intervention reinforces the Aliko Dangote Foundation’s dedication to humanitarian service, offering much-needed respite to millions grappling with economic hardship across Nigeria,” Chiejina said.
A swift response by the Kwara State Fire Service helped avert a major disaster after a fire outbreak destroyed a laundry shop attached to an eight-room residential building in the Tanke area of Ilorin, Kwara State.
The incident occurred at about 3:58 a.m. on Tuesday at Assu-Luxury Quarters, off University Road. Although the laundry shop was gutted by the blaze, all residents of the building escaped unhurt, while firefighters successfully prevented the fire from spreading to the residential apartments and nearby properties.
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The Public Relations Officer of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, confirmed the incident in a statement, explaining that the affected property comprised eight residential rooms and a laundry shop, with only the laundry section sustaining damage.
According to him, firefighters responded promptly to the emergency, bringing the fire under control by about 4:25 a.m. before concluding the operation at approximately 4:42 a.m.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have been caused by an electrical power surge, possibly from a pressing iron left switched on for an extended period.
However, the fire service said investigations are still ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident.
Reacting to the development, the Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, urged business owners, particularly laundry operators, to adopt safer electrical practices.
He advised operators to switch off electrical appliances immediately after use and never leave them unattended while powered.
Muhammed also stressed the importance of conducting routine electrical inspections, using standard electrical appliances, and installing surge protection devices to minimise the risk of fire outbreaks.
The Kwara State Fire Service reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property through prompt emergency response and sustained public awareness on fire safety.
The Federal Government has approved the most comprehensive overhaul of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) since its establishment 53 years ago, introducing a civilian leadership structure, a redesigned uniform, and several reforms aimed at making the scheme more relevant to Nigeria’s economic and youth development goals.
The approval was granted during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on Monday in Abuja.
A major highlight of the reforms is the replacement of the military leadership of the NYSC with a civilian operational head, while the military will continue to provide security support for corps members across the country.
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To pave the way for the implementation of the reforms, the FEC directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to amend the NYSC Act and other relevant regulations to provide legal backing for the changes.
Announcing the development, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, described the overhaul as the first holistic review of the NYSC in its 53-year history.
According to him, the reforms are designed to transform the scheme into a skills-driven, productivity-focused institution that aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy.
The reforms include a technology-driven call-up process, risk-sensitive deployment to enhance the safety of corps members, and a redesigned six-week orientation programme with greater emphasis on leadership, entrepreneurship, digital skills, and specialised career pathways.
The government also approved skills-based primary assignments that match corps members’ academic qualifications and career aspirations, improved orientation camp standards through a national grading and certification system, a new graduation ceremony to replace the traditional Passing Out Parade, and a redesigned NYSC uniform aimed at promoting professionalism and national pride.
Olawande said the reform process began in 2025 following extensive consultations involving the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, the Federal Ministry of Education, and the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination before receiving final approval from the Federal Executive Council.
He described the reforms as an investment in Nigeria’s youth, expressing confidence that the changes would make the NYSC more impactful and better positioned to equip young Nigerians with practical skills for the future.
Established in 1973 after the Nigerian Civil War, the NYSC was created to promote national unity by deploying graduates to states outside their regions of origin for one year of compulsory national service.
The latest reforms represent the first comprehensive review of the scheme since its creation.
The Ogun State Government has explained the cause of the recent gas emissions that sparked panic in some schools across Ijebu-Ode, attributing the incidents to natural underground geological activity rather than spiritual causes or security threats.
The clarification was made during a stakeholders’ meeting in Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area, where the Commissioners for Environment, Ola Oresanya, and Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, met with parents, school administrators and development partners to provide updates on the government’s investigation.
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According to Oresanya, scientific investigations identified methane and sulphide gases escaping through underground fractures along established fault lines as the source of the emissions.
He explained that the affected communities are located along the Ifewara-Zungeru Trans-Atlantic fault line, which stretches from Mojoda through Ijebu-Ode and extends into Osun and Niger states.
He said findings linked the fault line to the locations where the gas emissions were recorded, including the affected schools. Oresanya noted that the area was historically forested and largely uninhabited before missionary schools were established there.
The commissioner disclosed that laboratory analyses are ongoing to determine whether the gases are thermogenic or methanogenic in origin.
He also revealed that the state government is investigating the possibility that Ijebu-Ode may sit on significant natural gas deposits beneath the affected communities.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, urged residents to remain calm and adhere to safety precautions whenever gas emissions occur.
She advised residents to cover their noses with wet handkerchiefs instead of face masks and encouraged anyone requiring urgent medical attention to contact the state’s emergency health line, 08112000033.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbadu, assured parents that the affected schools would only reopen after consultations with relevant stakeholders and the completion of necessary safety assessments.
The Head of the Department of Earth Sciences at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Prof. Philip Ikhane, also appealed for calm, advising residents to minimise activities such as borehole drilling and quarry blasting, warning that such activities could worsen the effects of the existing fault lines.
The Ogun State Government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property, urging residents and school authorities to promptly report any future gas emissions while investigations continue.
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