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FRSC, KT-IRS to Establish Number Plate Manufacturing Plant

FRSC, KT-IRS to Establish Number Plate Manufacturing Plant

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in partnership with the Katsina State Internal Revenue Service (KT-IRS) has concluded plans to establish a mini-number plate manufacturing plant in Katsina State. 

The FRSC Deputy Corps Marshal in charge of Motor Vehicle Administration, Aliyu Datsama, revealed this to journalists shortly after inspecting the proposed site for the plant at the KT-IRS premises on Monday.

He said accommodation facilities had been provided by the state internal revenue service for the effective and immediate take-off of the mini manufacturing plant in the state.

Datsama, who expressed satisfaction with the facilities, noted that the mulled establishment of the number plate production plant was sequel to the request made by the Executive Chairman of the KT-IRS, Muhammad Isyaku.

“We received a request from the Executive Chairman of Katsina State Internal Revenue Service that he wants us to establish a mini plant here for the production of plate numbers.

“So, my boss asked me to come and do a site analysis to see what they have and the possibility of establishing the mini plant. We have seen what they have, and we are satisfied,” he said.

Earlier, the Executive Chairman of KT-IRS, Muhammad Isyaku, said he applied for the establishment of the mini manufacturing plant due to the growing demands for number plates in the state.

He said the KT-IRS has ordered for number plates from the FRSC and paid about N80 million for both private and commercial vehicles, motorcycles and tricycles for the past seven months.

“We are encountering delays because so many states have applied and we have to join the queue. I applied to the FRSC headquarters to give us the privilege of having a mini plant for the production of number plates in the state.

“By the grace of God, our application was considered. That is what informed the visit of the FRSC delegation led by the Deputy Corps Marshal. They have inspected and accepted the site,” he said.

The KT-IRS chairman said while FRSC and other relevant authorities were enforcing the use of number plates, Katsina State is battling with inadequacy, hence the need for the establishment of the manufacturing plant.

He explained that manufacturing the number plates in the state would significantly tackle its scarcity and enhance the internally generated revenue of the state.

He said the manufacturing plant, when established, would cater for Zamfara, Jigawa, Sokoto and other neighbouring states’ internal revenue services.

“The FRSC mini number plate production plant is not only meant for Katsina; other state internal revenue services will also apply and pay for production to be done in their names,”  Isyaku added.

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Francis Sardauna in Katsina The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in partnership with the Katsina State Internal Revenue Service (KT-IRS) has concluded plans to establish a mini-number plate manufacturing plant in
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Literacy Day: Prospects Are High Towards Achieving SDG-4 in 2030, Says FG

Literacy Day: Prospects Are High Towards Achieving SDG-4 in 2030, Says FG

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The Federal Government has revealed that there are huge possibilities tilting towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that focuses on education, looking at the successes already recorded in mass literacy programmes, school enrolment for out-of-school children, as well as retention. 

The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, who stated this on Monday at the commemoration of the 2025 International Literacy Day, said the government has launched initiatives to develop a reliable and valid data system to track progress in the education sector.

Speaking on the theme, ‘Promoting literacy in a digital era,’ the minister revealed that government recognizes the importance of data collection in assessing progress and identifying areas for improvement which includes identifying and tracking out-of-school children, including initiatives by the Out-of-School Commission and the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-formal Education.

She noted that a key aspect of Nigeria’s data collection efforts is the government’s commitment to owning and controlling its own data, while ensuring that it is accurate, comprehensive and tailored to the country’s specific needs.

According to her, “Nigeria is working towards achieving its development goals by 2030, with a particular focus on the education sector. The government has launched initiatives to develop a reliable and valid data system to track progress in education. 

“The government’s efforts in data collection and education are part of its broader goal to achieve its development targets by 2030. By improving access to education and developing a reliable data system, the government hopes to make significant progress towards achieving these targets.

“By developing a reliable and valid data system, the government will be able to track progress, identify areas for improvement, and make informed decisions about how to allocate resources. This will help ensure that Nigeria is well on its way to achieving its 2030 targets and making progress towards sustainable development.”

In his speech, the acting Executive Secretary of NMEC, Dr. John Edeh, stated that the digital education project aimed at promoting digital development and education among the youth and adults in underserved communities has achieved remarkable success with over 27,000 individuals that have enrolled in the programme, far exceeding the initial target of 3,876.

He said the project utilizes digital tools such as radio, TV, and mobile apps to make education more accessible, adding that the innovative approach has enabled the project to reach various communities, including villages and settlements and with plans already in place to expand to more areas, targeting thousands of more individuals.

“The initiative’s goals include increasing accessibility to digital education, promoting digital literacy, and contributing to community development.

“By equipping the youth and adults with digital skills, the project aims to improve their lives and empower them for the future. This will enable them to participate fully in the digital economy and take advantage of new opportunities.

“The project’s success highlights its potential to make a significant impact in promoting digital education and bridging the gap in underserved communities. The project’s reach and impact are expected to continue growing as it expands to more areas.

“The achievement is a testament to the project’s effectiveness in addressing the digital divide and promoting digital inclusion. As the project continues to grow and expand, it is expected to have a lasting impact on the lives of thousands of individuals in underserved communities,” he said.

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Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The Federal Government has revealed that there are huge possibilities tilting towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that focuses on education, looking at
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Flood: 545 Households Displaced in Kaduna

Flood: 545 Households Displaced in Kaduna

No fewer than 545 households have been displaced after two days of torrential rainfall, with 171 houses also damaged across communities in Kaduna North Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA), Usman Mazadu, made this known in a statement in Kaduna on Tuesday.

Mazadu said the agency led a joint assessment of the affected areas to determine the scale of destruction and coordinate emergency response.

He explained that the rain, which fell between September 4 and September 5, forced responders to move from evaluation to urgent evacuation in some communities, as floodwaters submerged homes and property.

According to him, the multi-agency team included the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Christian Aid, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigeria Red Cross, and the Kaduna State Fire and Public Safety Agency.

He said Kigo Road community was the worst-hit, where 69 buildings and 276 households were flooded, adding that a private nursery and primary school, Merits Kids Academic School, was also affected.

Mazadu added that in Rifin Guza, an overflowing river submerged several buildings, while other communities impacted included Shooting Range, Kabala Costain; Bashama Road, Tudun Wada; Ungwan Rimi, where a connecting bridge to Libreville Road was washed over; and Malali G.R.A.

He stressed that the assessment was crucial in guiding government intervention.

“We are documenting every affected household to ensure relief reaches those who need it most. Our priority is to provide temporary shelter, food and medical support for displaced residents,” he said.

He further noted that KADSEMA is working closely with partners to sustain ongoing relief efforts.

“Beyond immediate response, we are developing a recovery plan to help affected communities rebuild and reduce future risks,” he said.

Mazadu also confirmed that the assessment team visited a displacement camp at Girls Primary School, Kigo, where the agency assured residents of government’s continued support until normalcy is restored. (NAN)

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No fewer than 545 households have been displaced after two days of torrential rainfall, with 171 houses also damaged across communities in Kaduna North Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
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UNICEF Calls for Institutionalisation of National Social Register to Tackle  Poverty in Nigeria

UNICEF Calls for Institutionalisation of National Social Register to Tackle  Poverty in Nigeria

Funmi Ogundare 

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for deliberate government action to institutionalise and sustain the National Social Register (NSR), as a critical tool for poverty reduction and evidence-based planning in Nigeria.

The Social Policy Manager, UNICEF, Mohammed Okorie, who made this call at the National Social Safety -Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO) stakeholders engagement conference in Lagos Monday, themed, ‘Advancing Social Protection through the National Social Register (NSR): A Strategic Planning Tool for a Resilient Nigeria ‘, emphasised the importance of the register. 

He explained that the NSR is a database of poor and vulnerable households identified through community input and proxy-means testing, which helps governments and development partners target beneficiaries accurately. 

“Implementation and programming are no longer based on assumptions or political considerations, but on data that shows who is poor, where they live, and the level of deprivation they face,” he said.

To sustain the NSR, he stressed the need for a strong policy framework mandating all poverty-related interventions to use the register as a reference point. 

He also urged states to establish functional agencies dedicated to regularly updating the register, backed by direct government budgets. “As poverty dynamics change, more people fall in or out of poverty. The register must be constantly updated so that interventions remain relevant and effective,” Okorie noted.

Citing Lagos State as an example, he said the register has made it easier to implement targeted programmes, such as empowerment schemes by the Ministry of Women Affairs, which now draw beneficiaries directly from the database rather than through political affiliations.

He further explained that the NSR is evolving to capture multidimensional poverty, beyond income levels, by including indicators such as education, health and other forms of deprivation. 

The social policy manager emphasised that the register provides government with the evidence to prioritise interventions and allocate resources more judiciously.

He also underscored the importance of partnerships, noting that civil society, private sector actors, philanthropists and development partners all have roles to play in ensuring accountability and expanding the use of the register. 

“Civil society can help ensure that those who should benefit are not left out, while the private sector can use the data to design targeted programmes such as youth employment and entrepreneurship support,” he said.

In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs Olayinka Ojo, emphasised its partnership with UNICEF, saying that its achievements stem from policies anchored on reliable and quality data that guide investments in social welfare. 

She noted that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration has made deliberate, evidence-based commitments over the last six years, ensuring that interventions deliver measurable impact.

“Whatever success we have achieved in Lagos today is not without the quality of data that drives the investments the governor has committed to,” she stated.

Tracing the state’s journey, she recalled that UNICEF first partnered with Lagos in 2018, driving the development of a state-specific social protection policy. The fund supported stakeholder engagements, technical working groups, and the establishment of budgetary frameworks that strengthened coordination and accountability.

Beyond policy, she noted that the state focused on practical outcomes, helping citizens graduate from poverty and become self-reliant. 

The Director of Social Protection in the state and Coordinator of the Lagos State Operations Coordinating Unit (LASOCU), Mrs. Oluwakemi Garbadeen-Adedeji, noted that social register has become the backbone of interventions, containing over 230 data points that enable government agencies to properly classify households by their level of poverty.

“With the register, we can now work one-on-one with registrants. We are able to identify widows, people living with disabilities and vulnerable children, and then onboard them to the appropriate ministries and agencies such as the Ministry of Women Affairs, LASODA, or scholarship schemes,” she explained.

She stated that unlike in the past when support was limited to handouts such as food items or small equipment, the new system ensures that beneficiaries are systematically linked to programmes designed to improve their livelihoods in a sustainable manner.

The director added that a Social Protection Implementation Technical Working Group has been established to support policy rollout across ministries, departments and agencies.

“These measures mean that social protection is no longer just a project but a permanent part of governance in Lagos. All MDAs now have the responsibility to work with the register and deliver targeted interventions that truly change lives,” Garbadeen-Adedeji said.

Earlier in her remarks, the National Programme Manager of NASSCO, Dr. Funmi Olotu, stated that the National Social Register has grown to cover over 19 million households and more than 70 million individuals making it one of the largest social protection databases in the world. 

“Beyond the numbers, the real issues is that mothers in rural communities, young people searching for opportunities and households on the margins of poverty are beginning to see a government that knows them, recognises their struggles and is deliberate about supporting them,” she stated.

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Funmi Ogundare  The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for deliberate government action to institutionalise and sustain the National Social Register (NSR), as a critical tool for poverty reduction
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