Nigeria’s drive for universal health coverage has received a boost, with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) pledging to leverage newly granted financial autonomy to strengthen healthcare delivery at the grassroots. Speaking at the National Health Financing Policy Dialogue in Abuja, Hon. Aminu Hassan, Chairman of Jalingo Local Government, Taraba State, said direct…
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service is seeking collaboration with Yakubu Gowon University to enhance the rehabilitation of inmates through skills acquisition and education. Controller of Correctional Service, Mr Christopher Jen, said during a courtesy call on Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adamu Matthew, that the goal was to keep inmates productively…
President Bola Tinubu has ordered sweeping reforms to make health insurance mandatory across all federal institutions, as part of efforts to strengthen implementation of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act, 2022. In a statement by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, the President instructed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to issue a service-wide…
Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has declared former Abia State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Christopher Enweremadu, and an associate, Fortune Ozoemela, wanted on charges including conspiracy, money laundering, and theft of public funds. The EFCC confirmed the development in a statement by spokesperson Dele Oyewale on Wednesday,…
Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated he is prepared to meet his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, but only under conditions that ensure substantive negotiations rather than symbolic gestures. Addressing reporters in Beijing at the close of his state visit to China on Wednesday, Putin said any such meeting would require “proper preparation” and a realistic…
The United States government has announced a $32.5 million contribution to the World Food Programme (WFP) to strengthen food and nutrition support for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people in Nigeria. The funding, announced in a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Abuja on Wednesday, will allow WFP to assist 764,205 people, including displaced families…
President Bola Tinubu has defended his government’s sweeping economic reforms, insisting they have stabilised Nigeria’s fragile economy and restored confidence among investors and international partners. “The bleeding has stopped. The haemorrhage is gone. The patient is alive,” Tinubu said on Tuesday during a meeting with Oba Ghandi Olaoye, the Soun of Ogbomosoland, at the presidential…
Authorities in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have cancelled all public park licences in Abuja, citing widespread violations of urban planning rules. Mukhtar Galadima, head of Development Control, said operators must resubmit their papers for review before licences are reissued. “This is not a witch-hunt. It is about restoring order. All park allocations were withdrawn…
A mass malaria prevention campaign in Nigeria’s Plateau State has reached more than one million children, helping to drive down infection rates, health officials said. The Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) programme distributes Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine with Amodiaquine (SPAQ) to children under five during peak transmission seasons. Officials say the intervention has cut malaria prevalence from 18.8 per…
Authorities in Nigeria’s Kogi State have outlawed graduation ceremonies in nursery, primary and secondary schools, citing concerns about costs for parents and negative social influences. The announcement was made on Wednesday by Education Commissioner Wemi Jones, who described the events as “incessant” and financially draining. The state also banned “signing-out” parties among tertiary students. Instead,…
