By Suleiman Yakubu

Niger State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management has assured Brighter Future Initiative (BFI) of its readiness to partner with it to provide humanitarian services to the people of the state.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Barr. Mairo Mohammed Mann, gave the assurance on Monday, when she received, on courtesy, members of BFI led by the Executive Director, Mohammed Yahaya Gayya, at the ministry's conference room.
She appreciated the foresight of members of BFI and the bold steps they have taken to educate and sensitise the public on proper menstrual hygiene management, saying it was a good thing that they were venturing into what people were shying away from.
Barr. Mairo Mann observed that some people could afford the menstrual pad but might not have the basic knowledge of how to properly use it and take good care of their hygiene during the menstrual cycle.
She also expressed happiness that the men had taken it upon themselves to be part of the menstrual hygiene management project, stressing the need to involve parents in the sensitization programme through school PTA meetings.
The Permanent Secretary, who was the initiator of the Gender Based Violence club in some schools, also urged BFI to leverage the clubs to pass its messages, adding that BFI is complementing the work of the ministry with this noble gesture and, as such, needs to be supported.
She further stated that it was important to use the platform to talk to people about general body hygiene and that BFI should explain to the public that if it is necessary that they use rags during the menstrual cycle, it should be properly managed.
Earlier in his remarks, the Executive Director of BFI, Mohammed Yahaya Gayya, informed the Permanent Secretary and her management team that they are in the ministry to explore areas of collaboration and linkages to provide humanitarian services to the public.
He explained that BFI has been in existence in the state for the past five years, providing humanitarian services to the public in three thematic areas: health, education, and agriculture.
He solicited the support of the ministry and the permanent secretary towards the success of the project and announced the appointment of Mairo Mann as one of the ambassadors of the project, to be decorated during the flag-off ceremony.

By Suleiman Yakubu

Youths and women, in large numbers, took to the streets of Minna on Monday, protesting what they called the biting hardship and the rising cost of living in the country.
The protest started when a group of women blocked Minna-Bida Road at the popular Kpakungu Roundabout to lament what they termed the suffering under the Bola Tinubu government.
They were later joined by men and youths, stopping vehicles from moving.
The protest occurred on Monday morning when some of the youths began speaking in Hausa, lamenting how the country's economy was getting worse under the leadership of Ahmed Tinubu.
A deployment of police operatives to the scene could not stop the youths from protesting, as some of them could be heard saying that the police were agents of the government and they could not do anything.
An attempt by the operatives to quell the protest and effect the arrest of some of the youths failed as the youth chased away the officers who were coming after them.
Some passersby lamented how they narrowly escaped injuries as the youths continued to chase people away from going about their lawful duties.
The police operatives had to resort to firing teargas in the direction of the rampaging youths to disperse them, but in spite of the teargas, the youths continued their protest.
The Niger State Command spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, who reacted to the protest, said the police had to apply minimum force to disperse the protesters.
Meanwhile, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State has issued an Executive Order prohibiting the mopping up and buying of food in mass quantities in local markets in the state.
The governor stated this in a press briefing on Monday at Government House, Minna.
He said the activities of the syndicate, which specialised in mopping up food items in the markets, were responsible for the breach of peace in Minna on Monday morning after inciting some youths and women that trucks meant for the city were being diverted to other places outside the state.
Bago said, however, that the proactive intervention of security operatives prevented the looting of the trucks as planned by the syndicate as the trucks took another route.
“The syndicate of food speculators is also involved in mopping up chickens, local fowl, and goats. This is causing an astronomical hike in food items in our local markets,” he said.
He said the order has empowered traditional rulers and local government councils to prevent such brisk businesses and prosecute offenders, adding that calm has returned to the city.