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Taraba Professor Urges Tinubu to Ban Open Grazing, Reassess ECOWAS Protocol
A lecturer at Taraba State University, Professor John Ajai, has urged President Bola Tinubu to critically reassess Nigeria’s commitment to the ECOWAS Transhumance Protocol and to expedite the passage of a national law prohibiting open grazing across the country.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In an open letter addressed to the President on Sunday, Ajai cautioned that Nigeria was at a critical juncture requiring decisive executive leadership to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and cohesion.
He argued that the ECOWAS Transhumance Protocol—originally designed to promote pastoral movement within West Africa—has, over time, aggravated insecurity, facilitated violent land seizures, and compromised Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
“The unrestricted cross-border movement has allowed not just pastoralists but heavily armed elements to infiltrate Nigerian communities under the guise of transhumance,” Ajai noted.
Highlighting the severe impact, he referenced a USAID-funded report indicating that between 2015 and 2019, pastoral-related conflicts resulted in around 7,000 deaths and annual economic losses estimated at $13 billion.
Ajai further warned that criminal networks and insurgents, including Boko Haram, exploit loopholes within the free movement framework to smuggle arms, gather intelligence, and orchestrate terror attacks.
According to him, maintaining adherence to the outdated protocol hampers investments in modern livestock management systems such as ranching and feedlot operations—initiatives crucial for agricultural advancement and national food security.
Describing the situation as an alarming erosion of Nigeria’s sovereignty, the professor called on Tinubu to initiate a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s role in the protocol, recommending renegotiation or outright withdrawal if necessary.
While commending the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development as a “visionary step,” Ajai emphasized that firmer actions were needed, including a permanent ban on open grazing.
He appealed to President Tinubu to lead the drive for the speedy enactment and implementation of the Anti-Open Grazing Bill, noting that it has already cleared its third reading in the Senate. He described this as a historic opportunity to address the root causes of violent land conflicts.
“These extraordinary times demand courageous leadership—one that history will remember as pivotal in Nigeria’s quest for survival, sovereignty, and renewal,” Ajai concluded.
He expressed confidence that with resolute leadership, Nigeria could overcome its security challenges and emerge as a stronger, more unified nation.
The 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) began nationwide on Thursday, with over 2.2 million candidates expected to participate across accredited centres.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The exam, conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), will run from April 16 to April 22 in multiple daily sessions.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, urged examination officials to remain highly committed and professional, noting that the success of the exercise depends largely on their dedication.
He gave the charge during a virtual final briefing for technical officers ahead of the examination, where he also praised staff, ad hoc personnel, service providers, and technical advisers for their roles in the successful conduct of the mock exam.
Oloyede said many of the issues recorded during the mock exercise were due to poor assessment of centres by some technical officials.
He further stated that incentive packages would be awarded to teams that perform exceptionally, particularly in handling exam materials and submitting timely reports.
Reiterating JAMB’s zero-tolerance stance on malpractice, he warned candidates against bringing prohibited items into examination halls.
He also disclosed that biometric verification and real-time monitoring systems have been deployed to protect the integrity of the exercise.
Candidates whose biometrics cannot be verified, he added, will be rescheduled to write the exam at approved centres.
Meanwhile, a NAN correspondent monitoring proceedings at Aduvie International School, Jahi, reported that the first session scheduled for 8:30 a.m. began slightly behind schedule at about 8:40 a.m.
The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, on Thursday inspected security deployments at Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to the FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the inspection is part of proactive measures to ensure a smooth, peaceful, and hitch-free conduct of the ongoing examinations.
The UTME is scheduled to run nationwide from April 16 to 18, 2026.
During the exercise, CP Sanusi assessed security arrangements put in place to safeguard candidates, examination officials, and CBT facilities.
He also engaged with centre supervisors, assuring them of adequate security presence throughout the examination period.
Adeh added that the CP reaffirmed the command’s commitment to maintaining law and order, warning that any attempt to disrupt the examinations would be met with decisive action in line with the law.
Over 700 former terrorists who have undergone deradicalisation and rehabilitation are set to be reintegrated into their communities.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Nigerian military has also dismissed reports alleging that beneficiaries of Operation Safe Corridor are being recruited into military institutions.
According to African Independent Television, the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier-General Yusuf Ali, made this known during a media tour of the Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Centre in Gombe, North-East Nigeria.
He said many Nigerians still misunderstand the Federal Government’s structured counter-terrorism initiative, which is designed to restore peace in communities affected by insurgency.
Brigadier-General Ali explained that the programme focuses on rehabilitation and peaceful reintegration of repentant individuals into society.
During the tour, some of the participants also shared accounts of their involvement in offences that led to their admission into the programme.
The facility inspection was part of preparations for the graduation of over 700 clients who have completed the deradicalisation and rehabilitation process and are set for reintegration.
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