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See Why begging cannot stop in North
Former lawmaker representing Kaduna Central Senatorial district, Senator Shehu Sani on Thursday has explained why the culture of begging in Northern Nigeria can never be stopped.
In a statement he made available to the public in Abuja, he said that politicians and leaders in the North want to make themselves relevant by impoverishing the people who would at the end come around to beg for what to survive with.
He lamented how oil rich region of Niger Delta remain impoverished with the political power as North’s calamity.
He said:
“Begging in Northern part of Nigeria is a direct result of poverty, neglect, social, cultural and religious factors combined.
“Religious leaders sanctify begging by giving it a divine interpretation and reverence and political leaders generates beggars by impoverishing and pauperizing the people.
“To imagine a society without beggars in a nation strangulated by social injustice and systemic poverty is an illusion.
“The Northern Political leaders should understand that its impossible to compose a paradise without beggars in a hell they created over the years.
“Beggers are tragic victims and direct result of a nation failed by its successive governing elites.You can’t end begging without ending poverty and illiteracy.
“You can arrest beggars but you can’t end begging as long as the social,cultural,political and economic factors that contribute to begging exists.Many states in the country in the last twenty years tried to criminalize begging but failed.
“They used beggers to win elections and demonize their opponents and now want to Criminalize them.
“We should ask ourselves and find answers,why should we the Hausas control the political levers in the country for long and still the poorest in the country?
“Crude oil has not enriched the people of Niger Delta and political power has neither brought wealth nor peace in the north.
“Education,Employment,Empowerment and boldly confronting cultural and social factors that aid and abet begging is the right step to take.
“Arresting and jailing beggars amounts to hiding our problems and not solving them.
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“Stop This Slaughterhouse in Nigeria,” Catholic Secretariat Decries Rising Killings, Demands Urgent Action
By Abah Anthony John
The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) has strongly condemned the persistent wave of killings and abductions across the country, warning that Nigeria is descending into what it described as a “slaughterhouse” as violence continues unabated and citizens remain exposed to grave insecurity.
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In a statement titled “The Cry of the Innocent: Stop this Slaughterhouse in Nigeria!” dated February 7, 2026, the CSN expressed deep outrage and sorrow over what it called a renewed cycle of mass violence that has turned large parts of the country into “a field of grief.” The statement was signed by the Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Banjo, and the National Director of Social Communications, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Nsikak Umoh.
According to the CSN, years of repeated complaints and assurances from authorities have failed to translate into meaningful protection for citizens, leaving communities devastated and Nigerians weary of condolences that do not guarantee their safety. “Violence persists unchecked,” the Church body said, describing the ongoing assault on human life and dignity as unacceptable and morally indefensible.
The Secretariat drew particular attention to the scale of attacks recorded between late January and February 2026, noting that the recurring carnage has become “a stain on the conscience of our nation.” It questioned how, outside a formal state of war, more than 160 innocent civilians could be killed in a single coordinated attack in Woro, Kwara State. The statement also highlighted repeated killings and abductions in Agwara and Tungan Gero in Niger State, the destruction of entire farming communities in Katsina and Kaduna states, and the persistent violence ravaging parts of Borno State.
“This is not ‘instability’ but a massacre allowed by silence and a betrayal of every Nigerian’s right to live in peace,” the CSN declared.
Beyond the immediate human toll, the Catholic body warned that the continued bloodshed represents a fundamental failure of governance. It reminded Nigeria’s leaders that the Constitution is “not a lofty document of ideals but a binding covenant with the people,” emphasizing that the protection of life is central to the legitimacy of any government.
“When citizens are slaughtered with impunity, and communities live in perpetual fear, the very foundation of governance is undermined,” the statement said, adding that a government unable to safeguard its people “risks diminishing its moral authority to lead.”
The CSN also cautioned against silence and inaction, arguing that failure to respond decisively to violence amounts to complicity. “Every unaddressed attack, every unpunished crime, and every unfulfilled promise deepens the wound of mistrust between the people and those entrusted with their protection,” it said, stressing that Nigeria must not normalize bloodshed or treat mass killings as routine tragedies.
Situating the crisis within a broader human rights framework, the Secretariat recalled that Nigeria is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which affirm the right to life as fundamental and non-negotiable. Despite these commitments, it lamented that “the state continues to treat this right as optional, allowing bloodshed to persist unchecked.”
In response, the Catholic Secretariat renewed its call on the Federal Government to urgently revisit and strengthen its security strategies. Among the measures proposed was the strategic redeployment of security personnel “from ceremonial press centers to the actual frontlines where citizens are under siege,” as well as a willingness to seek assistance “from anywhere it is safely available.”
The CSN further demanded accountability, urging authorities to identify, expose, and prosecute sponsors and enablers of terror regardless of their political, religious, or social status. “Arrest and punish every perpetrator of violence; for impunity is nothing less than a license for further bloodshed,” the statement warned.
The Church body also emphasized the need for compassion and restoration for victims of violence, calling for urgent relief, psychosocial care, and compensation for affected families. It urged the government to protect and rebuild destroyed communities in order to restore hope and dignity to displaced and traumatized residents.
Concluding its message, the Catholic Secretariat warned that Nigeria stands at a critical crossroads. “We cannot allow mass graves to define our national story,” it said, adding that “the blood of all innocent Nigerians cry out to heaven and their memory must compel us to act with sincerity, courage and compassion.”
The CSN called on political, religious, and community leaders to rise above divisions and work together to restore peace and dignity across the country, while urging Nigerians to reject hatred and violence and stand in solidarity with one another.
“As a people of faith, we entrust our nation to God’s mercy and pray for healing, justice, and reconciliation,” the statement concluded. “May the sacrifice of the innocent not be in vain, but inspire a renewed commitment to protect life and build a Nigeria where peace and justice reign.”
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Don Advocates Declaration of National Skills Emergency to Tackle Underdevelopment
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
A Professor of Political Economy at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Christian Ezeibe, has called on government at all levels to declare a ‘national skills emergency’ as a strategic response to Nigeria’s persistent underdevelopment and widespread poverty.
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Prof. Ezeibe who is also Dean, Student Affairs at UNN made the call while delivering the convocation lecture at the 5th Combined Convocation Ceremony of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja.
He stressed that Nigeria’s overemphasis on certificates at the expense of practical competence has weakened the country’s productive capacity and stifled sustainable development.
Speaking on the theme, “Skills Over Certificates: Repositioning Technical Education for Sustainable Development,” Prof. Ezeibe said Nigeria must urgently invest in skills acquisition if it hopes to compete with developed nations.
“Nigeria has perfected the ritual of schooling but has lost the essence of learning. We have become a nation that worships certificates while neglecting the competence those certificates are meant to represent,” he said.
Quoting figures from the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Ezeibe noted that Nigeria spends over $10 billion annually on expatriate services and remittances, much of it paid to foreign technical personnel from India, China and the Philippines.
“In the power sector alone, despite billions of naira invested, we still depend on foreign technicians to maintain our turbines and grid infrastructure. This dependence is a clear indictment of our skills deficit,” he added.
The university don explained that while certificates merely certify knowledge, skills empower individuals to create value.
“A certificate is a licence to learn, but a skill is the capacity to do, to create and to solve problems. The global economy today, driven by the Fourth Industrial Revolution—robotics, artificial intelligence, IoT and biotechnology—rewards demonstrable skills, not just attested knowledge,” he said.
Drawing lessons from global success stories, Prof. Ezeibe cited Singapore, Taiwan and China as countries that deliberately prioritised technical and vocational education.
“Under Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore made Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) the cornerstone of its economic strategy. The Institute of Technical Education is not for academic failures; it is prestigious and highly sought-after. Today, Singapore tops global skills competitiveness rankings,” he said.
He also noted that Taiwan’s transformation into a global semiconductor hub was driven by a relentless focus on engineering and technical skills aligned with industry needs, while China adopted a large-scale vocational model that produces millions of skilled workers annually.
“These nations understood a simple truth: theory designs the world, but skills build it. They repositioned technical education from a secondary alternative to the primary engine of national development,” Ezeibe stated.
Identifying Nigeria’s major challenges, the don listed decaying infrastructure, poor funding, weak industry–academia collaboration, societal stigma against technical education and brain drain** as factors slowing skills development.
Despite these challenges, he maintained that skills remain the backbone of sustainable development.
“Nigeria’s problems—power failure, poor sanitation, inefficient agriculture, housing deficit and insecurity—are massive markets waiting to be served by skilled and creative minds,” he said.
He urged graduates to see entrepreneurship as a pathway to prosperity.
“The graduate who can design and install affordable solar micro-grids for rural communities is solving the power problem and creating a million-naira business. The one with masonry, plumbing and electrical skills can build a thriving property maintenance company. The billionaire of tomorrow will be a skill magnate, not just an oil importer,” he declared.
Addressing the graduating students directly, Prof. Ezeibe advised:
“Do not go looking for a job where someone else will solve your problems. Use your skills to solve Nigeria’s problems, and you will never be poor.”
He further called on the Federal Government to scrap the HND–BSc dichotomy, insisting that competence, not paper qualification, should determine employability and career progression.
“There must be deliberate industrial collaboration with polytechnics and technical institutions. Without this, skills development will remain a slogan rather than a solution,” he concluded.
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PBAT Felicitates with Entrepreneur Matthew Tonlagha on 50th Birthday
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Nigerian entrepreneur and philanthropist, Mr. Matthew Tonlagha, on the occasion of his 50th birthday, describing the milestone as a celebration of impact, service, and commitment to national development.
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In a goodwill message dated February 2, 2026, and personally signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR from the State House, Abuja, and sighted by Informavores, the President joined Tonlagha’s family, friends, and associates in celebrating the golden jubilee, noting that attaining the age of 50 is a significant personal and professional milestone.
President Tinubu commended Tonlagha for marking the occasion with the unveiling of a book, describing the initiative as a reflection of his commitment to knowledge, intellectual growth, and documenting experiences for posterity.
“It is fitting that he is unveiling a book as part of the activities to mark his 50th birthday. I commend him for his pursuit of knowledge and chronicling for posterity,” the President said.
The President also acknowledged Tonlagha’s years of dedication to community development and nation building, particularly through his advocacy for the welfare and advancement of Niger Delta communities.
He praised Tonlagha, founder of Maton Engineering Limited, for his contributions to the protection and security of oil and gas infrastructure across several states in the Niger Delta, noting that such efforts are critical to national economic stability.
President Tinubu further encouraged the entrepreneur to sustain and expand his philanthropic initiatives, including support for education and medical services, the provision of scholarships, funding of skill acquisition programmes, and assistance to vulnerable communities across the Niger Delta.
As Tonlagha celebrates his golden jubilee on February 8, the President wished him good health, renewed strength, and many more years of meaningful service and impact.
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