Author: Our Correspondent

By Joyce Babayeju

In a monumental stride toward enhancing healthcare delivery in Lagos State, the Federal Government, through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), has inaugurated a modern 20-bed Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Oreta Community, Igbogbo-Baiyeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Ikorodu, Lagos State.

A statement signed by the SA Media, OSSAP-SDGs, Desmond Utomwen noted that state-of-the-art facility, commissioned by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, is fully equipped with essential amenities, including a labour room, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), maternity and behavioural health rooms, patient wards, and a consultant’s office. These provisions aim to address the critical healthcare needs of the local population, with a particular focus on maternal and child health.

At the commissioning ceremony, Princess Orelope-Adefulire expressed her elation at the completion of the project and highlighted its transformative potential for the community.

“This healthcare center is more than a project; it is a demonstration of our dedication to achieving the SDGs, particularly Goal 3, which prioritizes good health and well-being. It stands as a testament to our commitment to providing accessible and affordable healthcare to every Nigerian, starting at the grassroots level,” she stated.

She announced plans for future enhancements, including the establishment of units for immunization, antenatal, gynecology, and postnatal care. Additional infrastructure such as doctors’ quarters and upgraded security measures, including a fenced perimeter with barbed wire, were also outlined.

“We are not just building for today but planning for the future. This facility is a legacy of hope and health for Oreta and its surrounding communities,” she added.

The Executive Chairman of Igbogbo-Baiyeku LCDA, Builder Olusesan Daini, commended the federal government and Princess Orelope-Adefulire for their impactful intervention.

“This healthcare center is a beacon of hope for over 51 Community Development Associations and countless families in Oreta and its environs. It is a game-changer for healthcare delivery in this region,” he remarked.

Daini further acknowledged the unwavering support of the SSAP-SDGs and pledged the community’s commitment to maintaining the facility.

The event was graced by His Royal Majesty Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom, who praised the initiative as a milestone in the community’s development.

“This project underscores the importance of collaboration between government and community leaders in meeting the healthcare needs of our people. It is a significant achievement for Igbogbo,” the monarch stated.

Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun, Member of Lagos State House of Assembly representing Ikorodu Constituency II, lauded the project, emphasizing its potential to transform lives.

“This facility represents progress and a brighter future. It shows what can be achieved when leaders prioritize the well-being of the people,” he said.

Other dignitaries, including Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, Hon. Wasiu Agoro, and Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo-Alogba, also expressed their gratitude and called for sustained development in the region.

The project aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, focusing on improving healthcare accessibility and achieving universal health coverage.

In her concluding remarks, Princess Orelope-Adefulire called on the community to collectively ensure the sustainability of the facility.

“This center belongs to all of us. Let us protect it, use it wisely, and ensure it serves generations to come,” she said.

The commissioning ceremony brought together stakeholders, including community leaders, healthcare professionals, youth associations, market leaders, and residents, who celebrated the achievement with gratitude and optimism.

The new healthcare center stands as a symbol of hope and progress, promising to significantly improve healthcare access and outcomes for the people of Oreta and beyond. It is a shining example of the impact of purposeful leadership and the power of collaboration in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria.

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

Immediately past Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has strongly denied news alleging that he’s joining the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), ahead of 2027.

The Ex-fct minister under PDP, who disclosed this in a statement shared on his verified X account, described the reports as “patent lies and rumors” about his political affiliation.

He warned the public to disregard the fake news and announced that he has referred the matter to his lawyers for further action against those peddling the false information.

El-Rufai described the reports as “patent lies and rumors” about his political affiliation.

As a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), El-Rufai has been a prominent figure in Nigerian politics, having served as the governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023.

His denial of joining the PDP puts to rest speculation about his potential defection to the opposition party.

El-Rufai’s statement is a clear indication that he remains committed to his political ideology and will not be swayed by rumors or misinformation.

It’s worth noting that El-Rufai has been a vocal critic of the PDP in the past, and his denial of joining the party is consistent with his previous stance.

The former Governor has been known for his strong views on politics and governance, and his statement is a testament to his commitment to transparency and accountability

By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

Unknown gunmen on Friday morning invaded Odo-Ape community, Kabba-Bunu local government area of the state killing two farmers who were on their farms.

It was reliably gathered that the victims, identified as Mr. Black, a Tiv man, and Sunday Aiyedero, were tragically shot and killed while going about their daily activities on their farms..

Sequel to this development, youths of Odo-Ape on Saturday morning staged a protest, blocking the federal highway that runs through the community.

They demanded immediate action from the government to address the escalating security crisis and protect the lives of citizens.

The highway from Odo-Ape to Obajana-Lokoja was totally blocked by the youths who make sure that no movement of vehicles on that highway before the Interventions of the security agencies who cleared the road after several hours.

Sequel to this development, the Kogi state Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo, on Saturday in Lokoja ordered an immediate crackdown on the attackers responsible for the recent violence in the Odo Ape community, located in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area.

In a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, the Governor directed the State Security Adviser to collaborate with security agencies and local vigilante groups to ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended and brought to justice.

“The government is putting all hands on deck to ensure that the attackers do not escape justice,” the statement read.

Governor Ododo urged residents to remain calm and avoid reprisals, which he warned could lead to further losses. He expressed his condolences to the affected families and reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring the safety of all residents.

“We sympathize with the communities affected by this unfortunate incident. Rest assured, the Ododo Administration is fully committed to your security and will stop at nothing to guarantee your safety,” the statement added.

The state government also called on the public to provide credible information that could assist security agencies in their efforts to apprehend the culprits.

“Every life in Kogi State is important, and we need the cooperation of our people to end criminal activities,” the statement emphasized.

Security operatives have already been deployed to Odo Ape and other flashpoints in the area to restore peace and ensure the protection of lives and properties. The government assured residents that normalcy would be restored within hours.

Governor Ododo further pledged that those who lost their lives in the attack would not be forgotten and vowed to build the state’s capacity to combat criminal elements effectively.

“The victims of this heinous act will not die in vain. We remain resolute in our fight against the enemies of peace and security in Kogi State,” he concluded.

…Distributes farm inputs to 5,000 returnees

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has announced that the state government will subsidise the cost of petrol to farmers in communities affected by Boko Haram insurgency.

Zulum announced the subsidy on Friday evening in Bama town when he flagged off the distribution of farm inputs to over 5,000 farmers hitherto displaced by Boko Haram insurgents, according to released by the media aide Abdurrahman Bundi on Saturday.

According to the governor, a litre of petrol sold between N1,000 and N1,200 in Maiduguri will be subsidised to the farmers for N600. “This is aimed at alleviating the financial burdens faced by farmers in communities that have suffered economic and infrastructural destruction due to years of conflict” he stated.

Zulum emphasised that a similar initiative implemented in Damasak, Mobar Local Government Area, last year has significantly increased food production and improved livelihoods.

“One of the major challenges that are facing the farming communities here as regards irrigation farming is the increasing cost of fuel, as a result, I want to announce to the general public that government will procure petroleum products and sell to the farmers at a subsided rate.

“A litre of petrol is being sold in Maiduguri at the cost of about N1,200 but “in’shAllah”, henceforth for irrigation farmers this season a litre of petrol will be sold at the rate of N600,” Zulum said.

The governor also said, “The Commissioner for Agriculture will work with the Brigade Commander to ensure the delivery of the petroleum products to farmers in Bama town as soon as possible.”

In addition to the petrol subsidy, Zulum distributed farm inputs, including 2000 bags of blended NPK fertiliser, 1000 units of water pumps, and 620 units of gasoline pumps.

“Other materials include 380 units of solar water pumps, 1000 units of sprayers, 800 rolls of 2-inch flexible hose, and 1000 litres of pesticides and seeds, among other items”, he added.

According to him, his administration has constructed over 100 tube wells for use by irrigation farmers while also announcing the approval for the construction of an additional 250.

Meanwhile, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has also visited Darajama and Goniri villages under Bama Local Government to assess the ongoing reconstruction work.

Zulum expressed satisfaction with the quality of the project but also reiterated that his administration will not allow anyone to sabotage its resettlement drive.

The governor expressed gratitude to the federal government for the tremendous support of his administration’s reconstruction and resettlement of communities affected by insurgency.

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency has commenced the payment of ₦61,080 to each of the 6,239 Muslim pilgrims who performed Hajj through the state in 2023.

NAHCON had previously stated that the refunds were due to an interruption in electricity supply during the pilgrims’ stay at Muna, which affected cooling systems and caused significant inconvenience.

A statement signed by the Agency’s spokesperson, Yunusa Mohammed Abdullahi, explained that each pilgrim would receive the sum of ₦61,080, which will be disbursed directly into their bank accounts.

“We will do everything possible to ensure that only verified pilgrims with valid bank account details receive the refunds”, the statement added.

It stressed that the Executive Chairman of the Agency, Malam Salihu S. Abubakar, disclosed these during a meeting with Local Government Pilgrims Registration Officers on Tuesday.

The statement urged affected pilgrims who have not yet submitted their details to approach their Local Government registration officers for documentation and verification. “The required details include international passports and bank account information”.

“All payments will be transferred directly to the pilgrims’ bank accounts to ensure accuracy and eliminate discrepancies,” it noted.

The Executive Chairman, Malam Salihu S. Abubakar, also advised Registration Officers to strictly comply with the verification requirements to uphold transparency and accountability.

By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom has said that his administration inherited N93 Billion backlog of unpaid gratuities to civil servants from the administrations of former Governor Godswill Akpabio send Udom Emmanuel.

He has also said that his administration would commence the payment of the N80,000 minimum wage earlier announced, with effect from 1st November, 2024 as soon as ongoing verification exercise for civil servants is completed

Eno who made this known in his new year message to try people od the state on Wednesday however said he has been able to offset nearly N42 billion out of the amount which dated back to 2012.

The Governor commended the cooperation his administration has received from the Organized Labour and expressed hope of a more robust relationship.

He said his administration remained committed to it’s social and welfarist programmes aimed at making life more meaningful to the vulnerable and aged in the society while assisting the youths to be self reliant and increasing their business and enterprise capacity.

“We have built over 112 Arise Compassionate Homes for the vulnerable while work is ongoing on additional 62 units with a target to deliver 400 homes, at least one in all of the 368 wards in the state by the end of his first term.

“We will continue the payment of 50 Thousand Naira monthly to 600 Elders drawn from all the 368 wards in the state in our Arise Elders Care Initiative, our Arise Free Food Voucher programme administered by the Bulk Purchase Agency as a temporary intervention scheme will continue while we expect bountiful harvest in the new year.

“The first of the 15 thousand out of 60 thousand youths to be empowered with Arise youths business support scheme I had announced during my youth appreciation rally last September have been paid. We hope to continue with this process in the new year alongside other Business support schemes I had also rolled out during the rally.” He explained.

His administration, Eno said would continue to work with the Bank of Industry (BoI) to provide loans at single digits to traders and announced that he has committed two billion Naira as matching funds for this purpose.

“We have also converted the earlier two billion Naira loan given to our traders to grants same as the 200 million Naira each, to the traders from Arewa. Yoruba, Igbo and Niger Delta communities doing business in our state.” He stated.

The Governor said he would continue to build on the gains made by his predecessors in the transport sector.

“Our commitment to expanding and maintaining infrastructure has been upheld. Within 19 months of assuming office, we have undertaken 157 road projects across the 31 Local Government Areas. This includes roads inherited from the previous administrations, many of which have been completed and commissioned.

“We hope to commence operations at the Maintenance and Repair and Overhaul(MRO) facility this year as well as the International Terminal at the Victor Attah International airport. We will continue our strategic engagements with our partners towards the realization of the Ibom Deep Seaport.

“Seaport development is a long term investment and I urge our people to exercise patience as we work through the layers of processes to make this happen.” He said.

He urged indegenes and residents of the state to shun divisiveness and promised to run an all inclusive government.

“As we usher in the New Year, I enjoin us to remain united and shun politics of division and personal destruction. We are committed to running an inclusive government, and we have demonstrated this approach in the last eighteen months since we came in. Politics should not divide us or severe our bonds of kindredship.” The Governor concluded.

By Ogenyi Ogenyi Uyo

A baby born on new year day to Mr and Mrs Nsikan Umoh of Essien Udim Local Council has become the latest beneficiary of the benevolence of the First Lady Designate of Akwa Ibom, Mrs Helen Eno Obareki.

This is after she splashed monetary and material gifts to more than 110 widows in Nsit Ubium Local Council of the state as part of her Christmas and New Year gifts to the vulnerable.

Lady Obareki who is the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady on Wednesday paid an early visit to the maternity ward of General Hospital, Ikot Ekpene, in keeping with the tradition of the office, where she gave cash and gift packs to the baby boy, weighing 3.3kg who was delivered in the wee hours of new year day.

She extended the love to other new born babies who were at the ward at the time of her visit and provided packages for the care of special care patients in the hospital.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the exercise, Obareki said that,”my prayers are that the baby would bring joy, peace, blessings and prosperity to his family and every other baby I saw in the ward; it’s my prayer that as their births have been received with joy, so will their lives bring joy to their families.

She lauded the administration of Governor Umo Eno for implementing initiatives that are beneficial to citizens such as the ARISE Health Insurance Scheme, noting that the Pet Project of the Governor’s wife, the Golden Initiative for All, GIFA, would continue to prioritize the welfare of multiple birth children, the less privileged and the family as a whole.

It would be recalled that not less than 110 widows benefitted from cash and material gifts presented by First Lady Designate to help them celebrate the Christmas and New Year.

The brief ceremony which drew 10 widows from each of the 11 political wards in the Council held at the Governor Umo Eno’s Country home in Ikot Ekpene Udo Village yesterday featured the presentation of rice, wrappers and cash gifts by the First Lady Designate to the widows.

In her remarks, Obareki who emphasised the importance of community support reaffirmed the commitment of Eno, to providing care for those in need.

*I know that His Excellency already sent rice to all the villages in Akwa Ibom State, but this is in addition because I know that you are carrying the responsibilities of your homes, now that your husbands are no more.” She stated.

By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo

The International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA) has appointed Apostle Elijah Jack, the Lead Pastor, His Divine Redeemed World Ministries in Akwa Ibom State, as an Eminent Peace Ambassador and National Men Leader.

The appointment was announced by the IAWPA’s International Spokesman, Amb. Emmanuel Nkweke in Uyo yesterday.

Nkweke, in his appointment proclamation, acknowledged Jack’s unwavering commitment to promoting peace, sustainable development, and humanitarian services in Akwa Ibom and beyond.

He said that as an Eminent Peace Ambassador, the new national leader would play a crucial role in advancing the IAWPA’s mission of fostering global peace, tolerance, understanding, as well as being responsible for organising the International Day of Living Together in the state next May.

“Apostle Jack, will collaborate with IAWPA to promote peace education, peace workshops, and initiatives supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” Nkweke said.

Nkweke added that Jack’s appointment as National Men Leader recognises his exceptional leadership skills and ability to mobilize people towards a common goal.

He would in addition coordinate IAWPA’s activities for the men’s forum, promote peace and sustainable development, and support vulnerable communities.

Reacting to the appointment, Jack, said that he is humbled to be spotted from the millions of humanist and peace advocates in the state.

“Let me say that I am humbled to be noted from among the millions of charitable personalities and peace advocates in the state.” He said.

He thanked IAWPA for the double honour of being appointed as an Eminent Peace Ambassador and National Men, promising to live up to the expectations of the offices given him.