Salisu Maradun 

Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State on Wednesday launched a $1 million food security project to shield vulnerable farming communities from floods and drought, while approving N500 million counterpart funding for nutrition commodities to tackle acute malnutrition in children.  

The interventions are part of a wider package by the Radda administration to strengthen food security, healthcare, social protection and economic resilience across the state.  

The project, “Protecting Food Security Against Recurring Floods and Drought,” is being implemented by the Katsina State Development Management Board, KTDMB, in collaboration with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, with support from development partners and execution by Mercy Corps Nigeria.  

Speaking at the launch in Katsina, Governor Radda described climate change as a reality requiring urgent action.  

“Protecting the environment, agricultural production and livelihoods is essential to ensuring food security and economic wellbeing,” he said.  

He directed the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and KTDMB to ensure effective coordination, and tasked the Ministry of Environment to explore extending similar initiatives to other LGAs.  

“Our aim is for every local government in the state to benefit from this laudable initiative,”Radda added.

Executive Secretary of KTDMB, Dr. Mustapha Shehu, said the one-year project will initially cover Bindawa, Bakori and Kafur LGAs, selected based on vulnerability assessments already underway.  

Mercy Corps Nigeria Programme Manager, Mr. Philip Ikita, said the project will tackle floods, drought, soil erosion, poor storage and water management through: Construction of soil bunds, contour barriers and drainage systems on 150 farms; Restoration of degraded land; Rehabilitation of 12 solar-powered water systems; Improvement of 150 food storage facilities and distribution of 500 hermetic bags; Training for farmers in climate-smart agriculture; Livelihood support for 300 women.

The State Executive Council, at its 15th Regular Meeting chaired by Governor Radda, also approved N500 million as counterpart funding for procurement of nutrition commodities for 2026.  

Commissioner for Health, Hon. Musa Adamu, said the funding will sustain essential nutrition supplies for children suffering from acute malnutrition.  

The Council further approved procurement of 95,000 bags of assorted grains for distribution to vulnerable residents, alongside non-food items and cash support for orphans, widows, persons with special needs and other less privileged groups.

Other approvals include the modernisation of Dandume, Daura, Mashi and Jibia markets, and rehabilitation of 81 Jumu’at mosques across the 34 LGAs.  

Special Adviser on Market Development, Mustapha Bala Batsari, said the market intervention is aimed at improving commercial infrastructure and boosting economic activity.  

The Council also approved the establishment of the Katsina State Model United Nations Organisation, MUNDO, to build young people’s leadership and diplomatic skills.  

It further set up a central coordination mechanism for Hope-Gov, Hope-PHC And Hope-Edu, and a compliance framework for performance-based financing.  

Governor Radda reiterated his administration’s commitment to strengthening food security, healthcare, social protection and economic opportunities for Katsina residents.

***Decries renewed attack on Benue, Plateau communities 

*** Urges F to meet its commitments to protect Nigerian communities

**”UK issues travel warning alert to citizens in 11 states

By Eze Nnadi (with agency report)

As the Nigerian government insists that the terrorist attacks across the country cut across the various religious and ethnic groups , and not targeted at only Christians as the United States of America has claimed, the US has insisted that Nigeria would not be removing ved from it’s Country of Particular Concern (CPC), following the renewed terror attacks across the middle belt and other regions of the country 

This is as the US State Department has called on the federal government to protect Christian communities after last week’s attack at Mangu, Plateau state that left over 24 people were reportedly killed with several missing

The Department of State noted that the federal government made the commitment to protect Nigerian Christians during it meeting over allegations of Christian genocide 

Also, the US Bureau of African Affairs in a similar post, condemned the latest attack in Plateau State where several locals reportedly lost their lifes 

Supporting the State Department position, a member of the US Congress, Rep. Riley Moore,  insisted that the United States must not remove Nigeria from its Country of Particular Concern, CPC, designation list over alleged persecution of Christians, citing continued violence in the Middle Belt.

Moore, who was among the US congressmen that interfaced with the Nigerian delegation in both the United States of America (USA), and at home in December 2025, made the position known yesterday in a post on his official X handle, while responding to a statement by the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.

The lawmaker backed the State Department’s call for the federal government to protect Christian communities after Plateau attack, saying it was a commitment Abuja made.

“We absolutely CANNOT remove the CPC designation from Nigeria while radical Islamic terrorists continue this horrific violence against Christians,” the Congressman wrote.

“@AsstSecStateAF is right. The Nigerian government must meet its commitments to protect innocent Christian communities in Plateau and Benue states 

“The United States is horrified by yet another murderous attack in the Middle Belt of Nigeria, killing dozens of people asleep in their homes in Plateau State.

“This is especially troubling coming on the heels of the recent CPC Working Group meeting. We extend our deepest condolences to the families of those missing and killed, and we strongly urge the Nigerian government to meet their commitments to protect Christian communities and to hold perpetrators of violence accountable,” the Bureau said.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has repeatedly denied any religious targeting in the conflicts, describing them largely as clashes over land, resources and criminality.

Nigeria was first designated as a CPC in 2020 under the International Religious Freedom Act, a tag given to countries deemed to have engaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom, but was removed from the list in 2021

The Trump administration returned Nigeria to the list last year following the series of terror attacks and killings in Benue, Plateau, Niger and several other states in the country 

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has advised its citizens against all travel to parts of 11 Nigerian states, while it warned against all but essential travel to parts of 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The UK advisory was contained in the latest Nigeria travel advice published by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on Thursday.

According to the advisory, updated on August 20, 2026, the FCDO advised against all travel to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe states in the North-East.

It also warned against all travel to Katsina and Zamfara states in the North-West.

In the South-East and South-South, the UK advised against all travel to riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.

The FCDO defined the affected areas as “the river and swamp locations accessible by boat, but not by road.”

The UK government also advised against all but essential travel to Bauchi State in the North-East.

In the North-West, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Jigawa and Sokoto states were placed under the same advisory.

The FCDO further listed Niger, Kogi, Plateau, Taraba, Kwara and Benue states in the North-Central region as areas where it advised against all but essential travel.

The advisory also covered the Federal Capital Territory, including Abuja.

In the South-East and South-South, the UK advised against all but essential travel to Abia State, Anambra State and Imo State, as well as non-riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states.

The FCDO cautioned travellers that “No travel can be guaranteed safe” and urged those planning trips to Nigeria to read its travel advice before travelling.

The UK government also advised travellers to “research your destinations” and “get appropriate travel insurance” if they chose to travel.

It warned that “Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).”