Metro
NIS Holds Capacity Building Training for Newly Deployed Passport Control Officers
The Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola has declared a Two-Day Capacity Building Workshop for newly posted Passport Control Officers (PCOs) at the Service Headquarters, Abuja.
The Workshop with the theme “Effective and Efficient Service Delivery: An Imperative for Maximizing the Gains of the Passport Reforms toward a Seamless Passport Issuance Process”, is aimed at familiarizing the newly deployed heads of Passport Offices across the country with the basic operational knowledge of the electronic Passport environment.
A statement by the Service’s Public Relations Officer quoted the Minister as urging participants to utilize the opportunity offered by the training to acquaint themselves with all aspects of the workings of the electronic Passport to enable them acquire the required competence for enhanced productivity in their Stations.
The Minister remarked that as the main drivers of the ongoing Passport reform efforts, PCOs should be well grounded in Passport operations to enable them to regularly demonstrate the needed technical and leadership skills for improved service delivery across all the Passport Issuing Centres. This he noted shall be exposed to them during the workshop and thus called for maximum concentration to the lectures to be delivered by the resource persons.
He assured that government shall continue to provide innovations that would evolve a seamless Passport application and processing system to not only restore and sustain the integrity of the process but also ensure that the national Passport is issued to only eligible citizens. He therefore called on the PCOs to regularly exercise due diligence in screening and vetting of source documents to ensuring that the national Passport which is the highest symbol of nationality does not get into the hands of non-citizens.
He commended the management of the Service for the efforts made so far on Passport operations which have resulted in the issuance of about Three Million Booklets since 2019 to date despite the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minister while assuring that any Personnel caught to be involved in frustrating the ongoing reforms to deliver an efficient Passport system shall be severely sanctioned also promised that the operating conditions of many Passport locations shall improve very soon.
In his remarks, the acting Comptroller General Isah Jere Idris stated that the Service will continue to sustain and improve on its commitment to training and retraining activities for its personnel with a view to deepening their competences for acceptable service delivery. He maintained that the burden of carrying an untrained or poorly trained workforce is enormous particularly for a technology-driven agency such as NIS. He further stressed that there was no better time to organize training programmes for the PCOs than now considering the ongoing project of migrating the current electronic Passport structure to the enhanced electronic Passport regime which of course requires a huge deployment of ICT infrastructure.
The acting Comptroller General recalled that upon assumption of Office last year September, he embarked on the exercise of clearance of backlog of Passport applications in various Passport issuance Centres. The effort he said “has resulted in the clearance of all backlogs of applications in the South West geopolitical zone and parts of the North Central especially in the Centres that have migrated to the enhanced electronic Passport regime. Similar exercise was carried out in the South East recently leading to about 80% success rate while efforts are being made to attain a 100% production and issuance across the Centres.
During the two-day workshop slated for the 12th-13th April 2022, the participants shall receive lectures on the role of ICT in Passport administration and issuance, expositions on modern skills in leadership as well as the primacy of customer satisfaction in service delivery among others. Participants at the workshop include all the Forty-five (45) Passport Control Officers who were deployed across the States following a Staff Posting Order that was released last Month.
The Pad Me A Girl Empowerment Foundation has intensified its campaign against period poverty, calling for collective action to ensure that no girl is denied education, dignity, or opportunity because of menstruation.
The call was made during the commemoration of World Menstrual Hygiene Day held at Isolog College, Akute, Ogun State, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026. The event, themed, “The Pad Bank Movement: Ending Period Poverty Together” brought together students, teachers, partners, advocates, and community stakeholders to promote menstrual health awareness and support for girls.
Speaking at the event, the Founder of Pad Me A Girl Empowerment Foundation, Theresa Moses, described menstruation as a natural biological process that should never be a source of shame or a barrier to education and personal development.
According to her, period poverty remains a major challenge affecting thousands of girls across Nigeria, forcing many to miss school, withdraw from social activities, and sometimes resort to unsafe alternatives due to a lack of access to sanitary products.
She explained that the Foundation established the Pad Bank Movement as a sustainable solution to ensure girls have access to menstrual products whenever they need them.
“The Pad Bank is more than a storage facility for sanitary pads. It is a symbol of hope, dignity, inclusion, and empowerment. It ensures that no girl has to suffer in silence because of her period,” she said.
Moses disclosed that the Foundation has reached and impacted more than 10,000 girls and women across schools, rural communities, and underserved areas through menstrual health education, advocacy campaigns, sanitary pad distribution, and empowerment programmes.
She called on schools, governments, corporate organizations, parents, and development partners to support menstrual health initiatives and establish Pad Banks in schools to help eliminate period poverty.
Addressing the students, she encouraged girls not to feel ashamed of menstruation, emphasizing that it is a sign of growth and health.
“Your period should never stop you from achieving your dreams. Speak up when you need support, ask questions, and take pride in who you are,” she advised.
A major highlight of the programme was an educational session delivered by Mrs. Amina Omoike, a media expert and life coach on the topic, “Ending Period Poverty Together.”
Omoike described menstruation as a normal biological process experienced by women and girls worldwide and urged participants to reject harmful myths and misconceptions associated with periods.
“Your period is not a sickness. It is not a punishment. It is not something that should stop you from achieving your dreams,” she told the students.
She explained that period poverty goes beyond the inability to afford sanitary pads and includes a lack of access to clean water, proper sanitation facilities, accurate menstrual health information, and social support.
According to her, period poverty can result in school absenteeism, reduced confidence, health risks, anxiety, and social isolation among girls.
“There are girls who stay home for several days every month because they have no menstrual products. Imagine missing classes every month through no fault of your own,” she said.
Omoike urged girls to learn about menstrual health, ask questions without fear, support one another, and share accurate information. She also called on parents, schools, and communities to create supportive environments where menstruation can be discussed openly without stigma.
She concluded with a message of encouragement:
“Never let your period make you feel less valuable, less capable, or less intelligent. Your period does not define you. Your character, your dreams, your talents, and your determination define you.”
The Foundation also recognized the invaluable contributions of its corporate partners and sponsors whose support contributed significantly to the success of the event.
Leading the list was ProStar Sports International, a fast-rising Nigerian sportswear and sports equipment manufacturer founded by Ambassador Paul Maduakor. The company is renowned for producing premium sports products, including the ProStar Evolution Ball, breathable jerseys, custom sports kits, and high-quality sportswear. Beyond manufacturing, ProStar is actively involved in grassroots sports development, sponsoring youth sporting events and local tournaments across Nigeria. The company has also built a reputation for supporting social impact initiatives, including menstrual health awareness campaigns and youth empowerment programmes. As part of its support for the programme, ProStar Sports International provided customized jerseys for team members and volunteers of the foundation.
The Foundation also acknowledged the support of BL Consulting, a Lagos-based financial services and business support firm established by accounting and finance professionals. The company provides both virtual and on-site services to businesses, helping organizations improve efficiency and growth through bookkeeping, financial reporting, tax administration, payroll management, inventory management, and other accounting solutions. BL Consulting’s commitment to business development and community support was commended during the event.
Also recognized was Vitabaites Foods, a growing Nigerian food processing company known for producing crunchy and nutritious Kuli-Kuli products enjoyed by consumers across different communities. The company continues to support initiatives that promote community well-being, youth development, local food production, and entrepreneurship.
The Foundation further appreciated its media partners for consistently amplifying messages around menstrual health, girls’ empowerment, and the fight against period poverty.
According to Theresa Moses, the media remain critical stakeholders in breaking the silence around menstruation and educating communities on the importance of menstrual health and hygiene.
The management of Isolog College, Akute, was equally commended for providing a conducive platform for the programme and for demonstrating commitment to the education, health, and overall well-being of young girls.
According to the Foundation, the support received from these organizations reflects the growing recognition that ending period poverty requires collaboration among schools, businesses, civil society organizations, the media, and community stakeholders.
Beneficiaries described the programme as impactful, educational, and empowering, with many students expressing appreciation for the opportunity to learn more about menstrual health and hygiene.
The Federal government has intensified border screening, disease surveillance and emergency response measures nationwide as part of efforts to prevent the possible importation of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), currently circulating in parts of East and Central Africa.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in a statement on Tuesday by its Assistant Director of Press and Public Relations, Ado Bako, said it has activated enhanced preparedness protocols across the country, including stricter screening procedures at airports, seaports and land borders.
According to the ministry, arriving travelers are now subject to temperature checks using infrared thermal scanners and handheld thermometers, while health declaration forms, travel history assessments and risk-based screening procedures are being reinforced at designated points of entry.
The ministry also disclosed that isolation, secondary screening and referral mechanisms have been strengthened for travelers showing symptoms consistent with viral haemorrhagic fevers.
It added that coordination has been expanded among immigration, aviation, maritime and border management agencies to improve early detection and response.
The heightened measures have become imperative following reports of outbreaks of the Bundibugyo ebolavirus disease in parts of the East and Central African region, raising concerns about the risk of cross-border transmission.
Despite the alert, the ministry reassured Nigerians that there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease in the country.
As part of surveillance efforts, the ministry said Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) activities have been strengthened nationwide, alongside expanded community-based and event-based surveillance systems.
It said public health alerts and rumours are being actively monitored and investigated, while continuous epidemiological assessments are being conducted in collaboration with regional and international health partners.
To boost emergency response readiness, the ministry said specimen collection and transportation systems for viral haemorrhagic diseases have been enhanced, while laboratory biosafety and biosecurity measures are being reinforced.
Public Health Emergency Operations Centres have also been placed on alert, with Rapid Response Teams at national and sub-national levels ready for deployment if necessary.
Healthcare facilities have been directed to maintain a high index of suspicion for viral haemorrhagic fevers, strengthen triage systems, promptly isolate suspected cases and comply with established reporting procedures.
The Ministry added that healthcare workers, surveillance officers and other frontline personnel are undergoing continuous preparedness training, while infection prevention and control measures are being reinforced in health facilities nationwide.
It urged Nigerians to remain calm, avoid misinformation and rely only on information from recognised public health authorities.
Members of the public were advised to maintain regular hand hygiene, avoid contact with bodily fluids of symptomatic persons, refrain from handling dead animals or bushmeat from unknown sources, and promptly report unusual illnesses or deaths to the nearest health authority.
The ministry assured it would continue to monitor developments closely and provide updates as necessary.
The Plateau State Police Command has confirmed a deadly night shooting in Gwan-Ajang village of Foron District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, saying five people were killed.
Police Public Relations Officer, Alfred Alabo, said officers of the Gindiri Division received a distress call at about 9:22pm on Sunday, May 31, 2026, and immediately mobilised to the scene.
He explained that the attack occurred while residents were gathered for a social event.
“We got a call of a shooting that happened around Gwan-Ajang village, and we mobilised men to stabilise the situation.
“From what we gathered, some members of the community were having an occasion or a party when they suddenly heard sporadic shooting,” he said.
According to the PPRO, officers arrived to a grim scene.
“When our men got there, they met some persons in pools of their blood. As I speak to you, five of them were confirmed dead,” Alabo stated.
He added that the location of the incident, which lies between Mangu and Barkin Ladi LGAs, sometimes leads to differing reports on where the attack occurred.
“Depending on where people are telling the story from, some say Barkin Ladi, others say Mangu,” he added.
Alabo further said the Commissioner of Police had already issued operational directives to the deputy commissioner of police 9n charge of operations.
He also confirmed ongoing joint security operations.
“Our men are there, and we are working with Operation Enduring Peace, who have also made deployments. Calm has been restored, and we are looking forward to making some arrests because we have good intel,” he added.
However, the National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youths Moulder-Association, Rwang Tengwong, gave a higher casualty figure, saying at least seven people were killed in the attack.
“At least seven persons have been reportedly killed in another armed invasion by armed Fulani gangs at about 9:30 p.m. in Gwan-Ajang village,” Tengwong alleged.
He added that more than 10 others sustained severe injuries and are currently receiving treatment in hospital.
Community sources further alleged that the attack came after a period of relative calm in parts of Plateau State, claiming that killings had reduced until after the conclusion of political party primaries ahead of the next general elections, an assertion not independently verified by authorities.
Security agencies say investigations are ongoing, while patrols and surveillance operations continue in the area as efforts intensify to apprehend those responsible.
