The Catholic Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, has called on relevant authorities in Nigeria to remain resolute in ensuring the safety and protection of lives across the country.

Pope Leo XIV made the appeal during the Sunday Angelus prayer at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, where he expressed deep sorrow and concern over the recent wave of deadly attacks that have reportedly claimed dozens of lives.

Speaking after reciting the noonday Angelus, the Pope said, “It was with sorrow and concern” that I learned of the attacks on various communities in Nigeria, which resulted in heavy loss of life.”

He conveyed his spiritual closeness to victims of violence and terrorism, assuring them of his prayers.

The Pontiff further expressed hope that the competent authorities would continue to work with determination to guarantee the safety and protection of every citizen.

He also appealed for continued prayers for Nigeria as the nation grapples with renewed incidents of violence.

A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) , Senator Lola Ashiru has called on governments at all levels to strengthen border security through the promotion of shared prosperity among border communities.

Ashiru representing Kwara South Senatorial District at the National Assembly made the call when members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara State Council, paid him a courtesy visit.

He stressed that effective management of border communities would significantly reduce criminal activities.

The Senate Deputy Majority Leader noted that properly secured and economically empowered border areas would serve as a strong deterrent to crime.

“I feel our border links with neighbouring communities must be well managed. The first and most important step is to spread prosperity across these areas.

“Prosperity has a lot of influence on people’s ability to resist aggression, whether verbal or physical. Communities like Eruku and Koro are very similar. Eruku borders Kogi State, while Erinle here borders Osun State,” Ashiru explained.

He added that special attention must be given to border and peripheral settlements, describing them as the first line of defence against external threats.

“We should give adequate attention to these peripheral settlements because before internal aggression can occur, there must be collaboration from within. When people are satisfied with the system, the likelihood of supporting criminal activities or external aggressors becomes very low,” he said.

According to him, states sharing boundaries must adopt a coordinated approach by investing in the welfare and development of their border communities.

“Niger State should protect its territory by spreading prosperity, Kwara State should do the same, and Kogi State should also ensure prosperity along the Eruku and Koro axis. If we adopt this approach, issues of killings and insecurity will be greatly curtailed,” he stated.

Ashiru also commended the people of Woro for their resilience and solidarity, offering prayers for the repose of the souls of those killed in Woro and Kaiama.

“We must not forget that countless people have been murdered. And I appreciate the efforts of the Federal Government for taking several steps to safeguard lives of the people,” he said.

He further called for a stronger developmental approach by governments, particularly at the state level, to address insecurity and promote sustainable peace across Nigeria.

The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing environmental research and human capacity development with plans to open its facilities and remediation project sites to students of the Federal University of Environment and Technology (FUET), Ogoni.

Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, disclosed this at the maiden matriculation ceremony of FUET, Koroma/Saakpenwa, in Tai Local Government Area of Ogoni, Rivers State, describing the initiative as a strategic step toward nurturing innovation in environmental science and technology.

According to Professor Zabbey, the collaboration aligns squarely with HYPREP’s mandate to build capacity in environmental management while driving cutting-edge research in remediation, restoration, and sustainable development.

He lauded President Bola Tinubu for establishing FUET at a critical period in global history commonly referred to as the Anthropocene – an era marked by significant and lasting human impact on Earth’s ecosystems.

“I thank Mr. President for establishing this very important university at a time when the world is grappling with profound environmental challenges.

“HYPREP’s responsibility is the remediation of impacted lands and wetlands, and the restoration of mangroves. A key part of that responsibility is capacity building, and this aligns perfectly with the vision of this university.” Zabbey said.

The HYPREP Boss highlighted the ongoing construction of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER) in Ogoni as a major milestone that will redefine environmental research in the region and beyond.

He explained that CEER will serve as an international hub for environmental research for development, comprising two faculties: a Faculty of Research and Development, envisioned as a postgraduate centre for innovative research in environmental remediation and management; and a Faculty of Vocational Studies, designed to strengthen practical and technical competencies.

“What this means is that we are already laying the foundation for innovative postgraduate research for this university. With both the Centre and the University located in Ogoni, we will work very closely,” he noted.

Beyond infrastructure, Professor Zabbey assured FUET students of hands-on training opportunities, revealing that HYPREP will open its remediation sites, mangrove restoration projects, and research facilities to students as part of its structured internship programme.

“Students of this University will have the opportunity to intern with HYPREP and to use our remediation sites for research for development. This is about building human capacity in the region and linking theory with real-world practice,” he said.

Professor Zabbey congratulated FUET on its successful take-off and offered to voluntarily teach students, further strengthening the bridge between academic learning and practical environmental restoration.

The partnership is expected to position FUET as a hub for applied environmental research while equipping students with practical skills to address Nigeria’s pressing ecological challenges.