Latest news with #SodiqAdelakun
The Star
5 days ago
- Health
- The Star
At least 652 children died from malnutrition in Nigeria in last six months, MSF says
FILE PHOTO: Nursing mothers whose children are malnourished wait for healthcare, following the aid cut by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in Tudun Gambo Primary Health Care Center, Tudun Gambo, Bauchi State, Nigeria, May 8, 2025. REUTERS/Sodiq Adelakun/File Photo ABUJA (Reuters) -At least 652 children died from malnutrition in the Nigerian state of Katsina in the first six months of 2025, Mèdecìns Sans Frontières said on Friday, an outcome it said it was due to funding cuts by international donors. Katsina, in the north of the country, is plagued by insecurity. "We are currently witnessing massive budget cuts, particularly from the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, which are having real impact on the treatment of malnourished children," said MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders. On Wednesday, the United Nations food agency said it will be forced to suspend food and nutrition aid for 1.3 million people in Nigeria's insurgency-hit northeast at the end of July because stocks have run out. Nigeria has budgeted 200 billion naira ($130 million) this year to cushion the shortfall from the withdrawal of funding to the health sector by the U.S. MSF said the number of children in Katsina with the most severe form of malnutrition has risen by about 208% this year compared with the same period last year and "unfortunately 652 children have already died in our facilities since the beginning of 2025". Banditry is rife in Katsina where insecurity has displaced many people, forcing them to abandon their farms. The government, alongside local civilian vigilante groups, has struggled to contain the activities of bandits. ($1 = 1,530.8800 naira) (Reporting by Camillus Eboh, Editing by Chijioke Ohuocha and Toby Chopra)
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
At least 652 children died from malnutrition in Nigeria in last six months, MSF says
FILE PHOTO: Nursing mothers whose children are malnourished wait for healthcare, following the aid cut by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in Tudun Gambo Primary Health Care Center, Tudun Gambo, Bauchi State, Nigeria, May 8, 2025. REUTERS/Sodiq Adelakun/File Photo ABUJA - At least 652 children died from malnutrition in the Nigerian state of Katsina in the first six months of 2025, Mèdecìns Sans Frontières said on Friday, an outcome it said it was due to funding cuts by international donors. Katsina, in the north of the country, is plagued by insecurity. "We are currently witnessing massive budget cuts, particularly from the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, which are having real impact on the treatment of malnourished children," said MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders. On Wednesday, the United Nations food agency said it will be forced to suspend food and nutrition aid for 1.3 million people in Nigeria's insurgency-hit northeast at the end of July because stocks have run out. Nigeria has budgeted 200 billion naira ($130 million) this year to cushion the shortfall from the withdrawal of funding to the health sector by the U.S. MSF said the number of children in Katsina with the most severe form of malnutrition has risen by about 208% this year compared with the same period last year and "unfortunately 652 children have already died in our facilities since the beginning of 2025". Banditry is rife in Katsina where insecurity has displaced many people, forcing them to abandon their farms. The government, alongside local civilian vigilante groups, has struggled to contain the activities of bandits. REUTERS
Straits Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Jihadist violence and coups test West Africa ECOWAS bloc at 50
People walk into the Eko Conventional Hall where leaders from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will gather to celebrate the golden jubilee of the regional bloc in Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos, Nigeria, May 28, 2025. Picture taken using slow shutter speed. REUTERS/Sodiq Adelakun Students walk into the Eko Conventional Hall where leaders from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will gather to celebrate the golden jubilee of the regional bloc in Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos, Nigeria, May 28, 2025. REUTERS/Sodiq Adelakun A banner is displayed inside the Eko Conventional Hall where leaders from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will gather to celebrate the golden jubilee of the regional bloc in Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos, Nigeria, May 28, 2025. REUTERS/Sodiq Adelakun A statue is seen inside the Eko Conventional Hall where leaders from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will gather to celebrate the golden jubilee of the regional bloc in Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos, Nigeria, May 28, 2025. REUTERS/Sodiq Adelakun LAGOS - The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) faces growing threats of terrorism, climate change, military coups, and poverty, its most senior official said on Wednesday as leaders marked 50 years since the bloc's formation in Nigeria. Jihadist violence has surged this year in Nigeria and the Sahel region, including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger - nations that have recently seceded from ECOWAS in protest over sanctions following military coups. "We are confronting the greatest challenges we face today, terrorism, climate change and unconstitutional change of government, poverty and economic disparities," ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray said, expressing confidence in overcoming the challenges. Established on May 28, 1975, ECOWAS aimed to promote regional economic integration, security cooperation, human rights, and democratic governance. However, five decades later, military juntas in founding member states Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have disassociated from the bloc, saying it no longer serves their interests. The countries have formed their own Alliance of Sahel States and a confederation, cut military and diplomatic ties with Western powers and sought closer cooperation with Russia. Touray said ECOWAS would continue trying to cooperate with the three countries. Security and political analysts said curbing insecurity was crucial for ECOWAS to fulfill its promise of prosperity and lift millions from poverty. Beverly Ochieng, senior analyst at Control Risk in Dakar, Senegal, said: "If you don't have security, then of course it means that you cannot guarantee a robust economy in the region." Analysts also criticized ECOWAS for its silence when leaders controversially amend constitutions to extend their rule, leading to citizens applauding military coups. They cited the recent example of Togo's leader Faure Gnassingbe, who was granted the influential new role of President of the Council of Ministers with no fixed term limit - a move opposition parties labelled a constitutional coup potentially extending his rule indefinitely. REUTERS Find out more about climate change and how it could affect you on the ST microsite here.
The Star
28-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Jihadist violence and coups test West Africa ECOWAS bloc at 50
A statue is seen inside the Eko Conventional Hall where leaders from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will gather to celebrate the golden jubilee of the regional bloc in Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos, Nigeria, May 28, 2025. REUTERS/Sodiq Adelakun LAGOS (Reuters) -The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) faces growing threats of terrorism, climate change, military coups, and poverty, its most senior official said on Wednesday as leaders marked 50 years since the bloc's formation in Nigeria. Jihadist violence has surged this year in Nigeria and the Sahel region, including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger - nations that have recently seceded from ECOWAS in protest over sanctions following military coups. "We are confronting the greatest challenges we face today, terrorism, climate change and unconstitutional change of government, poverty and economic disparities," ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray said, expressing confidence in overcoming the challenges. Established on May 28, 1975, ECOWAS aimed to promote regional economic integration, security cooperation, human rights, and democratic governance. However, five decades later, military juntas in founding member states Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have disassociated from the bloc, saying it no longer serves their interests. The countries have formed their own Alliance of Sahel States and a confederation, cut military and diplomatic ties with Western powers and sought closer cooperation with Russia. Touray said ECOWAS would continue trying to cooperate with the three countries. Security and political analysts said curbing insecurity was crucial for ECOWAS to fulfill its promise of prosperity and lift millions from poverty. Beverly Ochieng, senior analyst at Control Risk in Dakar, Senegal, said: "If you don't have security, then of course it means that you cannot guarantee a robust economy in the region." Analysts also criticized ECOWAS for its silence when leaders controversially amend constitutions to extend their rule, leading to citizens applauding military coups. They cited the recent example of Togo's leader Faure Gnassingbe, who was granted the influential new role of President of the Council of Ministers with no fixed term limit - a move opposition parties labelled a constitutional coup potentially extending his rule indefinitely. (Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe in Lagos and Ope Adetayo in Abuja, Editing by Bate Felix, William Maclean)
