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US Approves $32.5m Aid to Tackle Hunger in Nigeria
The United States has approved $32.5 million for Nigeria to address hunger, in what is seen as rare gesture since President Donald Trump suspended most aid through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
The funding will provide food assistance and nutritional support to internally displaced people, IDPS, in conflict-affected areas, the U.S mission to Nigeria said in a statement on Wednesday.
Insecurity and funding cuts have put northern Nigeria in the grip of “an unprecedented hunger crisis” that could leave more than 1.3 million people without food and force the closure of 150 nutrition clinics in Borno State, Margot van der Velden, the World Food Program´s regional director for West Africa, said in July.
In July, the WFP suspended food assistance across crisis-hit West and Central African countries as a result of U.S. and other global aid cuts that are grinding its operations to a halt.
Food stocks were projected to end around September for most of the affected countries, leaving millions of vulnerable people potentially without emergency aid, according to the WFP.The U.S. mission said the donation would provide food and nutrition assistance to 764,205 beneficiaries across north-east and northwest of Africa´s most populous country.
“This includes complementary nutrition top-ups for 41,569 pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls and 43,235 children through electronic food vouchers,” it said.
In recent months, there has been an uptick in attacks on communities in the northwest and north-central regions of Africa´s most populous country, where farmers often clash over limited access to land and water.
An attack in north-central Nigeria killed 150 people in June.
The West African country is also dealing with an insurgency in its northeast region that has resulted in the death of around 35,000 civilians and the displacement of more than 2 million others, according to the United Nations.
The Obidient Movement has accused Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, of being unsettled by the growing speculation that former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, could be courted back into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
National Coordinator of the movement, Yunusa Tanko, said that Wike’s recent comments questioning Obi’s seriousness and political direction were not based on facts, but rather a fear of losing relevance if Obi re-enters the PDP fold.
“Mr. Peter Obi has told Nigerians time and again that he is a member of the Labour Party. He has never hidden it. Whenever there is a shift, he will say so himself. So why should Wike be the one to question his seriousness? It is because he is disturbed and scared that if Obi accepts PDP’s invitation, he will lose his place,” Tanko said.
Tanko described Wike’s remarks as an unnecessary distraction, stressing that the Obidient Movement is focused on mobilising Nigerians ahead of 2027.
“We are not in a contest with Wike. We are focused on cultivating the system, working with the people, and building momentum. Elections are about the people, and right now, Obi has them,” he stated.
He also urged Nigerians to ignore speculations, insisting that the movement’s direction will become clear before the end of November.
“Our coalition had agreed publicly that after November, the course will be clear. Until then, we remain committed to our work. Wike should stop taking Panadol for our headache,” Tanko said.
The PDP leadership has, in recent months, extended open invitations to Obi to return, fuelling debates about where the former Governor of Anambra State may pitch his tent in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections.
The Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, has on behalf of the Police ecosystem, commiserated with the Arase family over the death of a former Inspector-General of Police, and Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Solomon Arase.
Arase died in the early hours of Sunday, August 31, 2025 while receiving treatment in an hospital.
Reminiscing on the life and times of the late IGP, Gaidam noted that Arase was a true leader, who gave his all in crime fighting, noting that he would be sorely missed.
Arase wrote:
I, the Honourable Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidami on behalf of the Police Ecosystem condole with the people and government of Nigeria, especially the Arase families, over the death of the former Inspector General of Police and Police Service Commission (PSC), who died today.
The Ministry and the entire stakeholders share in the moment of grief and sorrow with the family, people of Edo state, and the entire country. This is a great loss to the people, Police Ecosystem, and government of Nigeria.
His contribution has a great impact in the protection of live and property and cordially work with the Ministry in the transparent recruitment of 2024 police constable in the country. it’s important to acknowledge the significance of his contributions and the impact of his passing on the nation.
We are deeply saddened by the loss of a true leader and a dedicated servant to our nation. His legacy will live on through his tireless efforts and commitment to the people.”
This is a profound loss for our country. Arase ‘s dedication to public service and his unwavering commitment to the security sector will be remembered.
“Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the passing of a statesman who served with honor and integrity. May his spirit of leadership inspire generations to come.”
“In this time of grief, we offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Arase. His contributions to our nation will not be forgotten.”
The immediate past governor of Rivers State, who doubles as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, seems to have coasted to victory as the All Progressives Congress (APC) won 20 of the 23 local government areas in Saturday’s Chairmanship and Councillorship elections.
The suspended ruling party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on the other hand, won only three LGAs in the poll conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who boycotted the elections, lost his Opobo-Nkoro LGA to the APC.
RSIEC Chairman, Dr Michael Odey, announced the results at the commission’s Headquarters along Aba Road in Port Harcourt on Sunday afternoon.
Wike, who is a PDP member, but works for the APC government, is rumored to have a hand in the recorded victories of both the APC and PDP candidates.
