By David Torough, Abuja

UCare Nigeria, with support from the ECOWAS Peace Fund, on Friday expanded its humanitarian pilot programme to the Abagana Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State.

The initiative, which began at Ichwa camp, is designed to provide both health and non-health support across three camps.

According to UCare’s Benue State Team Lead, Mr.

Terna Nyityo, the intervention targets 1,000 individuals in each camp with medical services, dignity kits for adolescents, delivery kits for pregnant women, solar-powered boreholes, safe drinking water, and toilets.

He added that members of surrounding host communities, who are also burdened by displacement, are included in the programme.

Nyityo noted that although the camp’s population had reduced as some displaced persons attempted to return to farming, renewed attacks were driving many back into the facility. “We are recording more people in the camp again,” he explained.

Commissioning the newly installed borehole and toilets on behalf of the partners, Abagana camp manager and BSEMA representative, Ms. Shipinen Unande, described the intervention as “a massive development” that would ease water supply challenges and improve sanitation.

However, she expressed concerns over deteriorating shelters, food shortages, lack of farmland, and the absence of essential drugs at the camp’s pharmacy.

According to her, some families are forced to sleep under staircases while others dig up tree roots for firewood.

Unande further appealed for scholarships and skill-acquisition programmes to empower young people in the camp, saying: “We have vibrant youths who can work if given the opportunity.”

Also speaking, the camp chairman, Mr. Azende Festus, lamented worsening living conditions caused by insect infestations affecting many households.

Beyond infrastructure, UCare also distributed mosquito nets, dignity kits, and mama kits, and conducted medical outreach for children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.

The ECOWAS-supported initiative aims to reach 3,000 displaced persons across three camps in Benue State by the end of August, providing health care, safe water and sanitation facilities, nutritional supplements for children, and other essential humanitarian aid.

By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

In a landmark move towards environmental sustainability, engineering construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, in partnership with the Forest Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has successfully carried out a major tree-planting exercise at the Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment, Abuja.

The initiative, which saw the planting of over 20,000 indigenous tree seedlings, marked a significant contribution to Nigeria’s fight against deforestation, climate change, and biodiversity loss.

It also reaffirmed Julius Berger’s broader commitment to responsible environmental stewardship and sustainable development.

The effort, which was a collaborative blend of expertise and shared vision, saw the FRIN leading the technical aspects of species selection and ecological suitability while NCF brought in decades of conservation experience and community engagement, with Julius Berger providing the funding, and coordination support.

Speaking at the event, Dean of the Faculty, General Research at the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, Major General J.Y. Maina, representing the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. O.O. Oluyede underscored the strategic importance of environmental protection in national security

He said, “today’s exercise is a practical demonstration of our shared recognition that environmental protection is inseparable from national security. Climate change, desertification, and environmental degradation pose long-term threats to our country’s stability. Tree planting is not just an ecological necessity; it is a strategic investment in our collective future.”

Even as he praised Julius Berger’s leadership and commitment, calling the collaboration “a shining example of how the military, government institutions, and the private sector can work together for sustainable development.”

The Zonal Coordinator, Nigeria Conservation Foundation, Garba Boyi, who ably represented the Director-General, Dr. Joseph Onoja of the NCF said the Foundation is a non-governmental organization, adding that the organisation’s focus and mandate is actually in the area of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in Nigeria.

“For us to achieve that, we have developed or come up with an initiative, which we call it Green Recovery Nigeria. This is an initiative that is meant actually to salvage the situation in which our vegetation happens to be. Because going by the statistics, we have less than 10% of our vegetation cover left.

“So we as an organization, feel the need to contribute our quota to complement the government activity by planting trees.”

In commending Julius Berger’s effort in the tree planting exercise, he said, “I want to use this opportunity to thank our sponsors, Julius Berger for being a huge part of this initiative. This is really a big feat and we are sincerely grateful to the company for giving us the funds and really excited that Julius Berger gets to be on this journey with us.”

The Chief Executive of a key stakeholder in the exercise, Ceed Africa Limited, Dr. Okechukwu Ogbonna, thanked Julius Berger for the funding support for the exercise even as the Director, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Prof. Zacharia Buba Yadura appreciated the leading construction company for its collaborative effort, saying, “we didn’t have sponsors or partners, and Julius Berger decided through the NCF to be a partner of this Initiative. We are grateful to Julius Berger for joining us on this vital journey.”

The event brought together stakeholders from the public, private, and military sectors, among which were: the Minister of Environment, Mallam Balarbe Abbas Lawal ably represented by the Permanent Secretary, Minister of Environment, Mahmud Adam Kambari, the representative, Chief of Army Staff, Maj. JY Maina, Dean Faculty of Research , NAHFC, the Director of Coordination and Linkages, NAFHC, Major General O. Nwachukwu, The Corp Commander, Nigerian Army Women Corps, Brig. Gen. MI Amatso, the Director General, FRIN; Prof. Zacharia Buba Yadura, Zonal Coordinator, NCF, Garba Boyi, and the Liaison Officer, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Dr. Christopher Nwadike.

The Julius Berger delegation to the Tree Plantiong Ceremony include Emmanuel Isibor, Daniel Isichei, and Uzoma Olivia.
End

By Tony Obiechina Abuja

A total sum of N2.001 trillion, being July 2025 Federation Account Revenue, has been shared to the Federal Government, States and the Local Government Councils. The revenue was shared at the August 2025 Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting held in Abuja.

The N2.001 trillion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N1,282. 872 trillion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N640. 610 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N37.601 billion, Exchange Difference N39.745 billion. A communiqué issued by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) indicated that total gross revenue of N3,836.980 trillion was available in the month of July 2025. In a statement by Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public relations of the OAGF, on Friday, total deduction for cost of collection was N152,681 billion while total transfers, interventions, refunds and savings was N1,683.471 trillion. According to the communiqué, gross statutory revenue of N3,070.127 trillion was received for the month of July 2025. This was lower than the sum of N3,485.235 trillion received in the month of June 2025 by N415.108 billion. Gross revenue of N687.940 billion was available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) in July 2025. This was higher than the N678.165 billion available in the month of June 2025 by N9.775 billion. The communiqué stated that from the N2,000.828 trillion total distributable revenue, the Federal Government received total sum of N735.081 billion and the State Governments received total sum of N660.349 billion. The Local government Council received N485.039 billion, while the sum of N120.359 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting State as derivation revenue. On the N1,282.872 trillion distributable statutory revenue, the communiqué stated that the Federal Government received N613.805 billion and the State Governments received N311.330 billion. The Local Government Councils received N240.023 billion and the sum of N117.714 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue. From the N640.610 billion distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue, the Federal Government received N96.092 billion, the State Governments received N320.305 billion and the Local Government Councils received N224.214 billion. A total sum of N5.640 billion was received by the Federal Government from the N37.601 billion, The State Governments received N18.801 billion and the Local Government Councils received N13.160 billion.From the N39.745 billion Exchange Difference, the communiqué stated that the Federal Government received N19.544 billion and the State Governments received N9.913 billion. The Local Government Councils received N7.643 billion, while the sum of N2.643 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue. In July 2025, Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Oil and Gas Royalty, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) and Excise Duty increased significantly while Value Added Tax (VAT)and import Duty increased marginally. Companies Income Tax (CIT) and CET Levies recorded decreases.