Here is a roundup of some Nigerian newspaper headlines, accompanied by our advocacy-driven demands for government action in addressing citizens’ concerns.

1. Daily Trust: Flood Kills Three, Destroys 10,000 Hectares of Rice Farm in Niger

Three people have died, and more than 10,000 hectares of rice farms have been destroyed following a severe flood in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.

Our Take: In light of the recent devastation in Mokwa, it is critical for the federal government to ensure that the N15 billion recently approved by President Bola Tinubu is swiftly and transparently deployed towards flood prevention, early warning systems, and emergency response in vulnerable communities, particularly those near dams and major waterways—to prevent further loss of lives, livelihoods, and food sources.

2. The Guardian: Despair in Benue, Plateau as Killings Hit over 284 in Three Months

Deadly clashes between nomads and farmers in Benue and Plateau states have risen to at least 284 in about three months, with escalated killings claiming about 70 over the weekend.

Our Take: With over 284 lives lost in just three months in Benue and Plateau states, it’s clear that the violence has become a crisis. President Bola Tinubu must urgently deploy lasting peacebuilding measures, ensure justice for victims, and stop treating these killings like unfortunate headlines instead of the national emergency they are.

3. Punch: State Police off Agenda as NEC Meets Thursday

Punch has reported that deliberations for the creation of state police are off the agenda as the National Economic Council is set to meet on Thursday, 24 April.

Our Take: With over 120 people brutally killed in Plateau State this April alone, shelving state police from the NEC agenda feels like locking the fire extinguisher while the house burns. The government must stop stalling and urgently prioritise concrete action on state policing, because clearly, insecurity is not waiting for bureaucracy to catch up.