From Ifeanyichukwu Nwannah, Gusau

Zamfara State Teachers Service Board has disengaged the teaching Services of 109 non-indigenous teachers employed on contract basis.

The State capital, the chairman of the Board, Alhaji Muhammad Aliyu Anka said that the non-indigenous teachers were disengaged following the expiration of their contract.

According to him, after the 109 teachers were disengaged, 96 of them wrote to the Board, complaining that there was miscarriage of Justice in the disengagement, which the Board constituted a committee for verification.

“After the verification, 41 of them were recommended to the Governor for re engagement, which the Board is waiting for the Governor’s approval” Anka added.

He said that after the disengagement, the Board declared 500 vacancies, but over 11,000 people applied, saying that the Board needs teachers who can teach science subjects, not art subjects because the State has indigenous teachers that can teach art subjects.

The chairman explained that the rule and regulation remains that if it’s six months for the contract to expire, the indigenous teacher has to write to the Board, if he or she wants to renew his or her contract.

“But most of them didn’t write the Board and the Management of the Board assumed that they don’t want renewal”

“Besides that, most of the non-indigenous teachers were not working but were collecting salaries, while others were teaching in private schools and were collecting salaries from the State Government without working”

This medium gathered that 79 of the disengaged non indigenous teachers have been lamenting that they were disengaged without any tangible reason.

By Raphael Atuu, Abuja

The National Housing Data Technical Committee, inaugurated by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, has released new housing sector data indicating that Nigeria’s housing deficit for 2025 stood at “14.

925” million housing units, underscoring the scale of the country’s housing challenge and the urgent need for data-driven interventions.

The data was presented by Dr. Taofeek Olatinwo, Chairman of the National Housing Data Technical Committee and Director at Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), during a technical session at the 14th National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, which held in Ilorin from 19th to 23rd January 2026.

According to the presentation, recent analysis conducted under the National Housing Data Programme offers more scientific estimates compared to unverified figures touted over the last few years.

The data, which focused on the number of persons per room as a standard for determining deficit, highlights persistent supply gaps driven by rapid population growth, urbanisation pressures, limited access to long-term housing finance, land and title constraints, and inadequate housing supply across several regions.

Housing Minister Ahmed Musa Dangiwa commended the committee for finally putting the issue of Nigeria’s housing data to rest. “One of the biggest gaps in our sector has been the absence of reliable, centralized, and actionable housing data. Without data, planning becomes guesswork; investment becomes speculative; and tracking progress becomes difficult,” he said.

In his presentation, Dr. Olatinwo explained that the deficit estimates were derived from multiple validated data sources, including national household surveys, population and housing census data, and housing adequacy indices developed under international best practice frameworks.

“Reliable housing data is fundamental to solving Nigeria’s housing problem. Accurate measurement of the housing deficit allows government, lenders, developers, and investors to plan effectively, allocate resources properly, and design sustainable interventions that expand access to affordable housing,” he said.

The presentation forms part of the broader work of the National Housing Data Technical Committee, a multi-agency platform inaugurated by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and coordinated by NMRC, in collaboration with National Bureau of Statistics, National Population Commission, Central Bank of Nigeria, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Federal Housing Authority, and other key housing sector institutions.

Under the programme, the Committee is leading efforts to establish the National Housing Data Centre, a central platform designed to aggregate, standardise, and disseminate housing and mortgage market data to support policy formulation, housing delivery planning, and long-term housing finance development.

The new deficit figures reaffirm the scale of Nigeria’s housing challenge and strengthen the case for coordinated reforms in land administration, housing supply, infrastructure development, and mortgage finance expansion.

The National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development serves as the highest intergovernmental policy forum on housing and urban development in Nigeria, bringing together federal and state governments to deliberate on sector priorities, reforms, and implementation strategies.

The Minister of Livestock Development, Dr. Idi Mukhtar Maiha perhaps one of the greatest patriots serving in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Maiha assumed office with passion   as the pioneer Minister to reform the volatile and often misconceived Livestock sector.

As a practicing Livestock farmer, Maiha approached his assignment with confidence demonstrating that he has found a long-sought opportunity to drive policy towards a sustainable livestock sector that will be at the centre of the nation’s food security efforts.

Barely a year after his Ministry was created on July 9, 2024 the Minister has succeeded largely to unlock the Livestock sector’s potential and drive national economic growth.

The Livestock development Roadmap approved by the Federal Government emphasises private sector leadership, government enablement, animal health and enhanced infrastructure to boost food security and economic development.

The Ministry’s policies have within a short time raised the value of Livestock sector from N25 trillion in 2022 to about N33 trillion.    Among the Ministry’s initiatives are: Modernizing pastoralism through improved grazing reserve infrastructure; Revitalizing 13 private abattoirs to enhance operational standards and hygiene; Encouraging private-sector-led ranching to promote sustainable livestock farming.

The Minister is working hard to raise the quantum of livestock in the country, which in 2022 stood at 258.5 million Chickens; 88.2 million Goats; 49.1 million sheep and 20.9million Cattle and 9.2million Pigs.

Recently, the Minister accompanied President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on an official visit to Brazil, where he secured a $2 billion investment from the Batista Brothers to Enhance livestock breeding and weight management; Increase animal feed production and reduce farmer-herder conflicts by promoting sustainable practices.

The Minister has criss-crossed the country canvassing local investments to reduce reliance on livestock imports. He encourages Nigerians to embrace the livestock business, emphasizing that ventures such as honey production require minimal start-up capital.

Through these series of investment promotion activities, the Minister Targets $74bn worth of the Livestock sector by 2035 and all policies and efforts are being driven towards attainment of this target.

A public servant of varied experiences, Maiha worked as

Chairman, Guyuk and Mayo Belwa LGAs in Adamawa state and later joined the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), where he rose to the rank of Executive Director, Services at Kaduna Refinery.

For his pioneering initiatives in the Livestock sector as Minister, to promote Peace by tackling the hydra-headed problem of Farmers-Herders clashes across the country, entrench modern practices in animal husbandry and upscale the nation’s Livestock economy with tremendous achievements in just one year in office, Dr Idi Muhktar Maiha is Minister of the Year for Peace Promotion Among Herders-Farmers in the Country and Sustainable Livestock Development.