News

Community Leaders and PPBA Unite to Honor Fallen Peace Advocate, Renew Commitment to Peace

Published

2 years ago

July 25, 2024

In response to the brutal killing of Yakubu Muhammad, a dedicated member of the 17-Man Peace Implementation Committee for Irigwe-Bassa Local Government Area, the Director General of the Plateau State Peace Building Agency (PPBA), Dr. Julie Sanda, led a condolence visit to the Miango community.

Dr. Sanda was joined by The Revd Dr. Gideon Para-Mallam, President and CEO of The Gideon and Funmi Para-Mallam Peace Foundation, the Director of Administration at PPBA, Elkhana Izam, and other agency members. They visited the palace of the paramount ruler of Miango, His Royal Highness Rev. Ronku Aka (Rtd.), to offer their sympathies and reinforce their commitment to peace efforts.

“We were deeply shocked and saddened by the death of our brother Yakubu. His commitment to peace was unwavering, and his loss is a stark reminder that there are those who oppose peace. We must ensure that his sacrifice is not in vain and that our peace initiatives continue with even greater resolve,” said Dr. Sanda.

Dr. Sanda emphasized that their visit was supported by Plateau State Governor Barr Caleb Mutfwang, who also conveyed his condolences along with other stakeholders dedicated to peace. She highlighted the crucial role of the Gideon and Funmi Para-Mallam Peace Foundation in facilitating the current peace agreement.

Revd Gideon Para-Mallam echoed these sentiments, expressing profound sorrow over Yakubu’s death and calling for decisive action to prevent further violence. He also conveyed condolences from the new Chief Imam of the Jos Central Mosque, Sheikh Gazali Isma’il Adam.

In response, His Royal Highness Rev. Ronku Aka appreciated the visit and reaffirmed his commitment to peace. He acknowledged the efforts of the PPBA and the Para-Mallam Peace Foundation and stressed the importance of resolving all issues to ensure lasting peace in Bassa LGA. He called on all stakeholders to work collaboratively and continue praying for peace.

The meeting concluded with a session between the PPBA team and the 17-Man Peace Implementation Committee. Musa Audu, the committee chairman, called for decisive action to bring those responsible for Yakubu’s killing to justice. He also requested assistance for resettling affected persons and supporting Yakubu’s family, emphasizing the need for more sensitization and education on drug abuse prevention.

Dr. Sanda assured the committee of the PPBA’s commitment to addressing their requests and supporting their efforts, including providing technical support and capacity-building initiatives.

Yakubu Muhammad, a committed peace advocate and leader of the Fulani Youth, was assassinated on July 18, 2024, by individuals opposed to the peace process. His death underscores the ongoing challenges in achieving lasting peace in Irigwe land and Bassa LGA.

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Business

REA Ends 16 Years of Darkness in Two Kano Communities

Published

2 hours ago

October 25, 2026

PlateauReports

BY GABRIEL MICHEAL—The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has again advanced its goal of deepening electricity access across the country with the commissioning of two mini-grid projects in Kano State after over sixteen years of darkness.

The agency commissioned two projects comprising a 195kWp system in Ballagaza and a 70kWp system in Marayar Rogo, located in Warawa, which will serve 2,222 households ending over sixteen years of darkness.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Managing Director of REA, Abba Aliyu, described the project as another step toward achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda’s goal of electrifying over 17 million Nigerians.

He described the project as a strong example of what public-private partnerships can achieve.

He also thanked the Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf for identifying electricity as a key deliverable of his administration and for providing a conducive environment for the execution of the project.

“The Federal Government did not build these mini-grids and hand them over. Alfuttaim Nigeria Limited invested its own money, built them, and will own and operate them for many years. What the government did, through the DARES programme delivered by the REA with support from the World Bank, was to subsidize part of the cost to ensure the electricity is affordable for you.”

“Under DARES, Nigeria is working toward 1,350 mini-grids, and the programme has already brought new or improved electricity to more than five million Nigerians. Our country still has more people without electricity than any other nation in the world. That challenge will not be solved by a single agency or programme; it will be solved community by community, in places like Ballagaza and Marayar Rogo, when private companies are willing to invest and communities take ownership of what is built for them. The government’s job is to keep its word to both,” he said.

The Gabazawa community which is known for groundnuts, millet, sorghum, and soya, as well as its blacksmiths, weavers, and dyers, will experience advanced production, allowing groundnuts to be pressed into oil and kuli-kuli using electric machines and sold at a better price.

The mini-grid project will also serve the primary healthcare centre in the Gabazawa community, which has previously been without power.

In her remarks at the event, the Co-founder of Alfuttaim, Dr. Nabilah Sani, expressed delight at the completion of the project, noting that it will not only power homes but also boost agricultural productivity.

She thanked the Federal Government for facilitating the funding that brought the project to fruition while noting that these are just two of ten sites currently under development in Kano.

She further urged residents of the community to protect the infrastructure as their own and shun vandalism.

The post REA Ends 16 Years of Darkness in Two Kano Communities appeared first on Business Today NG.

News

Starlink seems to be working normally again in Ukraine

Published

2 hours ago

October 25, 2026

PlateauReports

SpaceX appears to have lifted restrictions the Ukrainian military’s of use Starshield — the military-grade version of the company’s Starlink internet system.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Defense Minister Evgeniy Khmara told reporters that Starshield appears to be working normally again, although the military is still conducting tests and has not received an explanation for the restrictions.

This follows a 10-day period where Ukrainian drones would lose internet connectivity when flying at speeds of around 100 miles per hour, resulting in the military losing control of some drones, while others became more vulnerable because they were flying more slowly.

President Donald Trump reportedly called SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Wednesday and asked him to restore Starshield service. Both Trump and Musk have criticized Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, with Musk recently posting, “Zelensky has gone too far.”

The WSJ previously reported that Musk ordered SpaceX to throttle Ukraine’s Starlink access, though some sources claimed he’d discussed it with the Trump administration first. Musk claimed in a post on X that Ukraine had “violated Starlink terms of service and used it for offensive drone strikes to kill people.”

“Were Starlink to be turned off, the Ukrainian front line would collapse immediately,” Musk said. “This is NOT a threat, it is simply a statement of fact.”