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Niger: Tinubu approves N2bn to rebuild flood-hit homes in Mokwa

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved immediate release of N2bn to begin the reconstruction of homes destroyed by the recent devastating flood in Mokwa, Niger State.

This was made known by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on Wednesday during his tour of the affected communities in Mokwa town, Mokwa Local Government Area of the state.

While consoling the victims, Shettima assured them that the federal government would work on their concerns.

“The president specifically instructed me to come to Mokwa to commiserate with the people over the tragedy that befell the town. His heart is with the grieving people of Mokwa.

“All issues raised will be addressed by the federal government in collaboration with the Niger government,” he said.

Shettima added that President Tinubu had also directed that the Ministers of Environment and State for Agriculture relocate temporarily to Niger State to ensure speedy intervention of issues under the ACRSAL project, especially on the flood drainage matters in the town.

Besides approving the funds for reconstruction, Tinubu assured of donating 20 trucks containing food items to be shared with the real victims of the disaster in an arrangement to be worked out with the village head of Mokwa.

The Vice President also praised the Deputy Governor of Niger State, Mr. Yakubu Garba, and the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for their prompt and continued action to support the victims.

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Heavy rainfall may trigger flooding in Northern states – Ministry

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The Federal Ministry of Environment has warned that many parts of Northern Nigeria may experience heavy rainfall that could lead to flooding between July 16 and July 20, 2025.

The warning was contained in a flood prediction notice from the National Flood Early Warning Center and was signed by Usman Abdullahi Bokani, Director of Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management on Wednesday.

According to the notice, the affected states in the North include Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Adamawa, Plateau, and Zamfara.

“In Kano State, the areas listed are Kunchi, Kano, Gezawa, Wudil, Bebeji, Sumaila, and Tudun Wada.

“In Jigawa State, the alert covers Miga, Gwaram, Diginsa, Ringim, and Dutse. Katsina State’s Daura is also on the list, along with Gusau and Bungudu in Zamfara State,” the notice revealed.

The Flood Center urged all relevant stakeholders to take the warning seriously and prepare ahead to reduce the impact of any possible flooding.

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Aisha was divorced from Buhari before he died – Farooq Kperogi

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A Professor of Journalism and Emerging Media at Kennesaw State University, Farooq Kperogi, has alleged that Aisha was no longer married to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Kperogi made this claim in a post on his verified Facebook page on Wednesday.

According to him, Aisha had dropped Buhari as her surname and reverted to her maiden name, Halilu.

He further alleged that Aisha was reluctant to travel to the United Kingdom to care for Buhari when he became ill.

Kperogi was reacting to quotes attributed to Aisha, which claimed Buhari had asked her to seek forgiveness from Nigerians on his behalf.

Although Kperogi said he could not confirm the authenticity of the quotes, he maintained that the couple were no longer married.

He wrote: “They had divorced, and Aisha reverted to her maiden name, Aisha Halilu. If you paid close attention, you would notice that Aisha didn’t go to Daura when he retired to the town after leaving office.

“Buhari was also alone when he later relocated to Kaduna. In fact, when he fell ill and it was suggested that Aisha travel to London to care for him, she reportedly hesitated because she was no longer his wife.”

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Empowerment or Embarrassment? Abia Rep Member Hon. Ibe Okwara Sparks Backlash After Distributing Buckets to Women in His Constituency.

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In what was intended as a gesture of grassroots empowerment, the member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa, has come under fire after distributing plastic buckets to women in his constituency as part of an empowerment programme.

The event, which took place in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State, drew immediate reactions from both residents and social media users, many of whom described the gesture as “demeaning,” “insulting,” and a stark departure from the expectations of meaningful representation.

Photos from the event showed women, some elderly lining up to receive branded plastic buckets, sparking a flurry of criticism over what many perceived as a tone-deaf approach to empowerment in a region grappling with youth unemployment, poor infrastructure, and economic hardship.

“This is not empowerment; it’s embarrassment,” a resident of Elu Ohafia told our correspondent. “We sent a representative to fight for opportunities in Abuja, not to bring us buckets as if we are refugees.”

Another community youth leader questioned the priorities of the lawmaker: “With all the constituency funds allocated, is this the best Hon. Ibe Okwara can offer the women of Arochukwu and Ohafia? Is this how he plans to reduce poverty, one bucket at a time?”

The incident has reignited the ongoing debate over what constitutes meaningful empowerment in Nigeria’s political landscape. Critics argue that symbolic or tokenistic gestures have replaced genuine development efforts, with many elected officials resorting to the distribution of trivial items under the guise of empowerment.

Attempts to reach Hon. Ibe Okwara for comments were unsuccessful as of press time. However, aides close to the lawmaker defended the initiative, describing it as “a modest intervention aimed at reaching out to rural women with useful household items.”

Still, for many constituents, the optics of the event speak louder than the intention.

 

Political observers warn that such missteps may have long-term consequences, especially as constituents become increasingly vocal about demanding transparency, impact-driven representation, and measurable development.

 

As the 2027 elections approach, residents say they will no longer be pacified with handouts, but will demand leaders who can deliver policy-driven progress and tangible infrastructure.

“This is 2025,” a frustrated youth from Abam lamented. “We can’t be clapping for buckets anymore.”

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