By Anne Azuka

Former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has called for a thorough investigation into the disruption of a political meeting at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Conference Centre in Effurun, Delta State, warning that rising political violence could affect the credibility of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Strategy and Communications, Godwin Anaughe, Omo-Agege condemned the reported attack on an APC Delta Central leaders and stakeholders’ meeting, where suspected thugs allegedly disrupted proceedings and injured the Delta State Government’s Senior Special Assistant on Protocol, Temple Mudi.

The former senator described the incident as a threat to democratic participation and urged security agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible. He also appealed to political actors to embrace peaceful engagement.

Omo-Agege further referenced an earlier incident involving Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate Deacon Chris Iyovwaye, who he said was allegedly prevented from accessing his community’s town hall in Agholokpe. He urged authorities to investigate both incidents.

He specifically called on the Delta State Police Command, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Inspector-General of Police to conduct comprehensive investigations. He also appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), civil society organisations, and the international community to monitor political developments in Delta State.

Omo-Agege reaffirmed his commitment to peaceful democratic participation, stating that violence should not be allowed to undermine the electoral process.

By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo

The Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Akwa Ibom State, Prof. Aniekan Peters, says about 75% of newly qualified doctors leave Nigeria within two years of graduation, citing poor remuneration and working conditions as major reasons for the trend.

Speaking with journalists in Uyo during activities marking the association’s Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference, Peters called on the Akwa Ibom State Government to establish at least seven medical training institutions to help address shortages of healthcare professionals. He said the migration of doctors, often referred to as the “Japa” phenomenon, has made it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain medical personnel in the state.

According to Peters, doctors earning about ₦400,000 monthly in Nigeria can earn significantly more abroad. He said the NMA is proposing a 2,000% increase in doctors’ wages in the state to improve retention.Peters also noted that recent recruitment exercises failed to fill approved vacancies. He said only about 50 doctors were recruited despite approval for 400 positions, while authorities also struggled to recruit 700 nurses until entry requirements were adjusted.

He commended Governor Umo Eno for approving a medical school at Akwa Ibom State University but argued that more institutions are needed. Peters said the state should expand medical education by upgrading existing health facilities, including the General Hospitals in Ikot Ekpene and Eket, as well as the Ibom Specialist Hospital, into medical training centres.

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum made an unscheduled stop during a visit to a resettled community, purchasing groundnuts from an elderly roadside trader in what his aide described as a reflection of the state’s ongoing recovery efforts.

According to the Governor’s Senior Technical Assistant on Print and Digital Communications, Abdurrahman Ahmed Bundi, the incident occurred on Sunday as the governor’s convoy was returning from a resettlement community.

Bundi said the convoy unexpectedly stopped at a village market, where the governor bought peanuts from an elderly woman identified as “Kaka Fanna,” a pseudonym used to protect her identity. He said the village, once deserted following attacks by insurgents, has gradually returned to normal, with residents resuming farming, trading, and other economic activities.

Bundi also stated that since 2019, the Zulum administration has supported the return of more than two million displaced persons to their communities. He added that thousands of refugees who fled to Niger, Chad, and Cameroon have been repatriated and resettled, while several internally displaced persons (IDP) camps have been closed as families returned home.

According to Bundi, the governor’s brief stop symbolised the progress made in rebuilding communities affected by insurgency and highlighted Zulum’s approach to engaging directly with residents during official visits.