₦airaland Forum

A judge has temporarily halted federal prison officials from transferring a transgender woman to a men’s facility and denying her access to gender-affirming care following an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump.

U.S. District Judge George O’Toole issued the temporary restraining order Sunday while the case was sealed.

At a hearing in Boston on Thursday, O’Toole confirmed from the bench that the inmate, identified in court filings by the pseudonym Maria Moe, is back in the general population after prison officials moved her to a “special housing unit” and receiving her hormone therapy, her lawyers said.

O’Toole, an appointee of former President Clinton, ordered the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) not to change from that position until he decides whether to issue a longer injunction.

Moe sued the Trump administration Sunday over an executive order declaring the government recognizes only two sexes, male and female, and broadly preventing federal dollars from being spent on what Trump and his administration call “gender ideology.”

The order, which Trump signed on his first day back in office, explicitly prohibits women’s prisons and detention centres from housing transgender female inmates. It directs the incoming attorney general to ensure BOP complies with the order, including its prohibition on using federal funds to cover inmates’ gender-affirming care.

Her case was filed by lawyers at two LGBTQ rights groups including GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, or GLAD, which after the case was unsealed confirmed that O’Toole had on Sunday issued a temporary restraining order that will remain in place while he considers whether to issue a longer-lasting injunction.

The judge’s order requires prison officials to keep the inmate in the general population in a women’s facility and maintain her medical care, GLAD said. Jennifer Levi, a lawyer for the inmate at GLAD, called it a relief her client “is staying put for now.”

O’Toole is still considering whether to issue a longer prelimin

Moe’s attorneys had argued that transferring Moe, who began taking hormones as a teenager and has no violent disciplinary history, to a men’s facility would put her at “an extremely high risk of harassment, abuse, violence, and sexual assault.”

She has never been housed in a men’s facility, and until this month, her sex was listed as “female” on BOP records. Prison staff moved Moe to a “special housing unit” on Jan. 25 as they prepared to transfer her in compliance with Trump’s executive order, where she had no contact with others for at least four days, her lawyers said.

“The outcome of yesterday’s hearing was a huge relief to Maria Moe. She is back in the general population and receiving necessary medical care,” said Jennifer Levi, an attorney with GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, representing Moe with the National Center for Lesbian Rights and a private law firm, Lowenstein Sandler LLP.

“Trump’s Gender Ideology Executive Order is contrary to the health and safety of incarcerated people, undermines prison security for all, and protects no one. It’s part of a seemingly sustained attack on transgender people’s inclusion in civic life.”

“The Courts remain an important backstop,” Levi said Friday in an emailed statement. “This is a great first step in the case.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston declined to comment.

Moe’s lawyers said that a day after Trump signed his order, officials with the federal Bureau of Prisons informed her she was being transferred from a women’s prison to a men’s facility, exposing her to an “extremely high risk of harassment, abuse, violence and sexual assault.”

Her lawyers said the Bureau of Prisons switched how it publicly identified her from “female” to “male” and had been poised to cut off the inmate’s access to hormones she has taken since she was a teenager to treat her gender dysphoria.

Her lawyers argued that Trump’s executive order discriminated based on sex in violation of the plaintiff’s due process rights under the U.S. Constitution’s Fifth Amendment.

The lawyers argued that her impending transfer to a men’s prison also would violate the U.S. Constitution’s Eighth Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.

Elusive001:
What should the West do? When you Africans mess your countries, you start shouting for the West. For what? Look at Nigeria with peeps like buhari and tinubu as presidents. Na West cause am too?

Na the West send them to dey fight? If I be the West, I go leave Africa alone. Let them see shege.

kettykin:
Trump will make them pay for it

Vandalised embassies and piles of burning tyres marked chaotic demonstrations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s capital Kinshasa to denounce the “inaction” of the international community over the conflict raging in Goma, the main city in the country’s east.

On foot or motorcycles, hundreds of angry demonstrators responding on Tuesday to the “Paralyse the City” call of a youth collective gathered in the upscale district of Gombe in the north of Kinshasa and targeted the embassies of Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, France, Belgium and the United States.

They accused Rwanda and Uganda of actively supporting the armed group M23 which, after a lightning offensive in North Kivu province with the support of Rwandan troops, entered the regional capital, Goma, on Sunday.

On Tuesday, they had taken control of its airport after raging street battles.

The demonstrators accused the other countries of diplomatic inaction.

“Enough is enough, we’re going to destroy everything here. Today, we’re going to finish with Rwanda,” shouted one demonstrator to applause in front of the building that houses the Rwandan embassy in Kinshasa. Thick smoke billowed nearby from tyres set on fire.

The perimeter wall of the French embassy was also set on fire. Graffiti on it read: “Betrayal over a long period of time … let’s end it now.”

Protesters also targeted the embassies of Belgium and the US, and looted the Ugandan mission, taking away furniture on motorcycles and taxis.

LagosOrigin:
After beg upon begs from the affected countries

A Listening president trump is

Kudos Mazi Doland Trump

In a last-minute move to prevent a potential health crisis, the Trump administration has issued an emergency waiver to ensure that millions of people living with HIV across 55 countries continue receiving life-saving treatment.

This is coming days after US President Donald Trump halted the financial support for HIV treatment in Nigeria and other developing countries.

Emergency waiver secures PEPFAR funding

Announced Tuesday, January 27, by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the emergency waiver guarantees that funding from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) will flow uninterrupted, despite a broader 90-day suspension of U.S. foreign development assistance.

PEPFAR, which is the largest global initiative dedicated to combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic, currently provides antiretroviral therapy to more than 20 million people worldwide.

Legit.ng gathered that the emergency waiver comes as a response to a January executive order that temporarily halted U.S. development aid while the government conducts a sweeping review of its effectiveness and alignment with American foreign policy interests.

The freeze had raised alarm among global health advocates, warning that any disruption in HIV treatment could have deadly consequences, healthnews.ng reported.

Global health advocates applaud the decision

Applaud Trump's reverse of his executive order, Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS, the United Nations agency dedicated to the global
HIV response, said:

“UNAIDS welcomes this waiver from the U.S. government, which ensures that millions of people living with HIV can continue to receive life-saving medication.

“This urgent decision recognizes PEPFAR’s critical role and restores hope to people living with HIV.”

Launched in 2003 by President George W. Bush, PEPFAR has long enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington and has played a pivotal role in reversing the trajectory of the AIDS epidemic, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa , where it has helped prevent millions of deaths.

Concerns beyond HIV treatment

The funding pause has not only raised concerns among global health organizations but also within recipient countries, where U.S.-supported HIV treatment programs form the backbone of national healthcare strategies, as reported by UN News.

UNAIDS, along with partner governments and advocacy groups, had been working to assess the full impact of the aid freeze and develop contingency plans to minimize service disruptions.

While the waiver guarantees the continuation of essential HIV treatment, it remains unclear how other U.S.-funded global health initiatives—including maternal health programs, tuberculosis prevention, and pandemic preparedness—will be affected by the ongoing aid review.

Call for continued investment in global health

"People will die": Medical expert sounds alarm over Trump’s HIV funding shutdown
Global health leaders are urging the U.S. government to reaffirm its commitment to global health leadership.

They warn that any further instability in funding could jeopardize two decades of progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

“We are at a critical moment. Continued investment is essential to achieving the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030," Ms. Byanyima said.

On Tuesday, the Nigerian government awarded 10 gas distribution licences (GDL) to six companies to improve the country’s gas utilisation drive.

The license gives exclusive right to establish, construct and operate a gas distribution system in a designated local Gas Distribution Zone (GDZ).

The beneficiary companies are NNPC Gas Marketing Limited , Shell Nigeria Gas Limited, Axxela, NIPCO Plc, Central Horizon Gas Company and Falcon Corporation Limited.

The GDL, as provided in Sections 148-152 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), according to the government, is a licence that gives exclusive right to establish, construct and operate a gas distribution system in a designated local Gas Distribution Zone (GDZ) issued to qualified applicants to distribute gas at the ‘last mile’.

Speaking during the award ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, explained that the initiative is designed to facilitate affordable and reliable energy supply to drive industrial growth, competitiveness and support for the generation of cleaner and more efficient energy to enhance power availability across the nation.

He added that this is expected to accelerate the adoption of Compress Natural Gas (CNG) as a sustainable fuel alternative in transportation in Nigeria.

“The issuance of the Gas Distribution License comes at a pivotal moment as we intensify efforts to harness the potential of gas as a critical resource for Nigeria’s energy transition and economic transformation. By empowering license holders, this initiative opens extensive opportunities across several key sectors,” Mr Ekpo said.

He said a thriving domestic gas market is crucial to achieving the country’s ambitions under the decade of gas initiative, adding that the gas distribution license framework is a strategic enabler for this vision by expanding the reach of gas infrastructure to underserved areas and deepening gas consumption across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.

“As we issue the Gas Distribution License to qualified stakeholders today, we reaffirm our commitment to the sustainable development of Nigeria’s vast gas resources and to open up further investments in the gas space.

“This step is not just about meeting regulatory requirements; it is about building a future where gas serves as a foundation for economic growth, industrialisation, and improved quality of life for all Nigerians,” he added.

In his remarks, the NMDPRA Chief Executive, Farouk Ahmed, said the agency received over 30 applications and due diligence was conducted on them in line with defined prerequisites.

“Ten licences are being issued today as part of Phase-1 of the Gas Distribution Licensing regime to operators who have invested significantly in developing gas distribution infrastructures in the designated gas distribution zones and have met the prescribed minimum requirements,” Mr Ahmed said.

He said the licence covers a cumulative gas distribution capacity of approximately 1.5 bscf/d with over 1,200km of gas distribution pipeline network and over 500 customer stations.

He noted that the GDL regime holds a significant opportunity to support the development of the domestic gas market through gas supply to our energy-intensive industries, industrial parks, special economic zones, embedded/captive power generation, mobility CNG schemes and any other downstream gas utilisation programme.

“We envisage that this licence regime shall not only support the accelerated development of our domestic gas market but that it shall create opportunities for profitable investments for various classes of stakeholders, improve the socio-economic impact of gas resources across Nigeria and support our national energy transition plans.

“The GDLs are expected to lay a solid foundation for long-term growth and prosperity, unlock the full potential of our natural gas reserves, enabling the development of new, untapped markets and creating new sources of revenue and employment. These licenses are expected to catalyse investments.

“The GDLs will play an instrumental role in ensuring that Nigeria’s energy future is not just sustainable, but also equitable and accessible to all Nigerians,” he said.

Mr Ahmed said Piped Natural Gas (PNG) provides continuous supply, is cost-effective and safe, and eliminates storage challenges.

“These advantages will not only increase efficiency in how we use energy but will also be essential in meeting Nigeria’s growing energy demands.”

He said the authority should collaboratively work with all GDL holders to ensure that the strategic objectives of these licences, which include the efficient and non-discriminatory supply of gas to all wholesale customers in designated local distribution zones, growing the consumption of natural gas under licensed areas, supporting and accelerating the implementation of the CNG initiatives among others are fully actualised.

According to him, to ensure the efficient and transparent operation of the gas distribution network, the authority will monitor tariff setting and safety standards to govern the operation of the GDLs.

“We will encourage public-private partnerships to speed up the development of gas infrastructure with the government playing a vital role in providing support through regulatory oversight and Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund, while private companies will bring in the expertise and investment needed to drive the project forward.

“The NMDPRA shall also periodically revise the gas pricing and tariffing frameworks to ensure that the cost of gas remains fair and competitive, in line with the provisions of the PIA,” he said.

Axxela receives Gas Distribution Licenses for Gaslink and CHGC
We are delighted to have been awarded Gas Distribution Licenses for Gaslink Nigeria Limited in partnership with NNPC Gas Marketing Limited for the Greater Lagos Industrial Area (GLIA) Local Gas Distribution Zone (LDZ)…
pic.twitter.com/9RDHCow6WC
— Axxela (@AxxelaGroup) January 29, 2025

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have busted a syndicate allegedly involved in selling motorcycles to Boko Haram terrorists in Niger and Kaduna states.

The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 7, Benneth Igweh, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Zone’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

Igweh stated that acting on credible intelligence, detectives apprehended three suspects in Suleja Local Government Area, Niger State.

He identified the suspects as Shamsuddeen Yunusa, 30; Zaharadeen Saidu, 25; and Mustapha Haruna, 22, adding that a total of 22 motorcycles, multiple master keys, and stolen phones were recovered from the suspects.

According to AIG Igweh, the syndicate specialises in the trade and modification of stolen motorcycles, which are sold or rented to criminals, including suspected Boko Haram operatives active in parts of Niger State and Birnin Gwari Local Government Area in Kaduna State.

He said, “In a proactive move to destabilise criminal activities, crime financing, and enabling in the FCT, Niger State, and its environs, detectives of the Zone 7 Headquarters were deployed to Suleja LGA, Niger State, where they successfully apprehended three suspects, namely:

Shamsuddeen Yunusa, male, 30 years, from Hong LGA, Adamawa State; Zaharadeen Saidu, male, 25 years, from Soba LGA, Kaduna State; and Mustapha Haruna, male, 22 years, from Gwami, Adamawa State. Twenty-two motorcycles, different types of master keys, and stolen phones were recovered from them.

“The syndicate specialised in buying and selling stolen motorcycles in Suleja, Niger State. They further sell or hire those motorcycles to criminals believed to be Boko Haram elements terrorising parts of Niger State and Birnin Gwari LGA, Kaduna State.

“The leader of the gang, Shamsuddeen, revealed that he sells the motorcycles at the rate of N200,000 to N250,000. He further added that he recently received N250,000 from one Ibrahim Kabiru, who resides in Birnin Gwari LGA, Kaduna State, as part-payment for the supply of Bajaj motorcycles.


“Zaharadeen, on the other hand, is the courier of the motorcycles to the intending buyers. He voluntarily confessed to delivering motorcycles he collects from Shamsuddeen to one Mustapha in Suleja Town.

“Mustapha Haruna is the motorcycle mechanic of the syndicate. He fixes the stolen motorcycles before their delivery to customers.”

In a separate operation, Igweh also revealed that Zone 7 operatives arrested Sunday Danlami, a member of a notorious armed robbery and kidnapping gang operating in Benue State.

Igweh noted that Danlami confessed to being among those who kidnapped 21 doctors in Benue State in 2024. He added that two other suspects are currently at large.

Igweh said, “This gang specialises in armed robbery and kidnapping in Benue State and its environs.

“According to Sunday Danlami, he admitted to being among the gang responsible for the kidnapping of 21 doctors in Benue State last August.

He further revealed that he has carried out several robbery operations on Adiga Road, where he has snatched different motorcycles from travelers. He sells these motorcycles and shares the proceeds with his gang members.

“He, however, revealed that he uses a lot of charms for protection whenever he is going out on any operation.”

One Rocket Propelled Greneda, (RPG), two Machine Guns, Nine AK47 riffles, two Pistons, Nineteen Magazines and nearly a thousand live ammunition recovered from a suspected gunrunner from Niger republic were presented to Governor Dauda Lawal at the Government House, Gusau.

The items were intercepted by troops of the Department of State Services, DSS in collaboration with other security agencies along Kaura Namoda road in Zamfara

The weapons were said to have been imported from Niger republic by a young man of middle age who is an indigene of Zamfara State.

The Suspect was apprehended by the DSS and brought to the government

Governor Dauda Lawal said porous border contributes to the increasing importation of firearms

Governor Lawal commended the synergy between security agencies, which according to him led to the successes.

He said synergy one of the so many breakthroughs recorded by security agencies in the fight against banditry, lately

He enjoined the public to continue to support security agencies with useful information to clampdown on enemies of peace

Zamfara state is facing security challenges for nearly two decade, a sad development that has affected farming and social economic activities.

The operation, carried out between January 26 and 27, was based on credible intelligence about suspected arms dealers operating from Niger Republic.

Troops of the 1 Brigade, Operation FANSAN YANMA, in collaboration with operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), have intercepted a cache of weapons intended for terrorist groups in Zamfara State.

The operation, carried out between January 26 and 27, was based on credible intelligence about suspected arms dealers operating from Niger Republic.

Acting on the information, the troops launched a covert mission to track the suspects.
It was gathered that the suspects were intercepted along the Kaura Namoda-Zurmi Road.

Meanwhile, they diverted their vehicle into the bush in an attempt to evade capture. However, after a brief engagement with the troops, the suspects abandoned their vehicle and fled the scene.

The recovered vehicle contained an assortment of weapons and ammunition. While the suspects remain at large, the military and DSS are intensifying efforts to apprehend them and disrupt further arms trafficking operations.

The incident was disclosed on Tuesday by counter-terrorism expert Zagazola Makama on his verified X account.

According to Zagazola, a search of the vehicle uncovered two PKT machine guns, nine AK-47 rifles, 13 magazines, 171 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and nine rounds of PKT ammunition.

However, the suspects managed to escape.
He further stated that security forces are stepping up efforts to locate and apprehend the fleeing suspects.

Several manufacturing companies in Nigeria have unveiled locally-made military vehicles in support of the federal government’s onslaught against insecurity in the country.

This was done during the groundbreaking ceremony at the Armed Forces Headquarters on Thursday.

In the video, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was seen listening to one of the CEOs of the companies during the parade of the vehicles, manufactured by four different local companies.

The companies are :
Imperium Nigeria Ltd, Proforce Ltd, Epail Nigeria, and Innoson Nigeria.

One of the manufacturers, who gave his name as Patrick Shekhar, urged the President to entrust local brands with production of such vehicles for the military, stating that the products being showcased are 100 per cent designed and produced in Nigeria, and by young Nigerian engineers.

While introducing himself to President Tinubu, he said, “Hello, welcome to my program here in the city of Desa. We are local brand. This is our new product which has just arrived on the scene.

“I am the CEO. My name is Patrick Sheklar. We started around 2015 with about 150 products. All of them that you see. These are all natural based. They were recently developed. It was supposed to be serious. The service was originally designed by me.

“I did the design myself and we locally produce it 100% in this place. The platform that you are seeing here is the same thing as before.

“We get materials and will be able to combat these. So, we have different models of designs. More than 10 different designs from MRAPs to different calibers vehicles.”

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, says it is undertaking rehabilitation of pipelines and depots to strengthen the country’s energy infrastructure.

The Chief Corporate Communications Officer, CCCO, of NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye stated this in an interview with journalists on Saturday.

He noted that the ongoing rehabilitation project, which is expected to be completed within 2 to 3 years, would resolve longstanding challenges in petroleum distribution.

Soneye further explained that upon completion, Nigeria will achieve sustainable crude oil supply to refineries, seamless product distribution through pipelines, reduced reliance on trucks, improved energy security and reduced fuel importation, lower transportation costs and reduced road hazards caused by fuel tankers.

In his words: “We can assure Nigerians that NNPC’s pipeline and depot rehabilitation project is With a structured financial model, strategic partnerships, and committed execution, the initiative is set to resolve longstanding challenges in petroleum supply and strengthen the country’s energy infrastructure for the long term.”

He continued that though there are limited financial resources, which continues to pose a challenge in executing both refinery and pipeline rehabilitation projects simultaneously,

“we are exploring creative and innovative approaches to ensure a cost-effective funding model to proceed with the pipeline and depot rehabilitation.”

The company, Soneye acknowledged, has already designed a robust rehabilitation plan for the pipelines and depots, and would be deploying a new financial model – Finance, Build Operate and Transfer (FBOT) approach,” he stated.

Speaking further, he noted that apart from the fact that the ongoing activities won’t be limited to the construction of new crude oil and product pipelines to replace obsolete ones, he opined that advanced technology would be provided to enhance pipeline security, prevent vandalism and rehabilitation and modernization of storage terminals to support.

According to him, the NNPCL is working towards transforming Nigeria into a self-sufficient producer and net exporter of refined petroleum products and the very first step in that direction is the successful rehabilitation work that has birthed the renewed operations of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries.

“The rehabilitation and upgrade of the Old Port Harcourt and Warri Refineries by the end of 2024 marked a significant milestone in this journey.

“And, as you know, work on the new Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries is at advanced stages, reinforcing the commitment to eliminating fuel importation,” he stated.