Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

The Federal Government, on Thursday, declared a state of emergency in Nigeria’s health sector. The development took place at the 64th National Council on Health, where salient issues around the health sector were up for discussion. The opening ceremony on Thursday was an avenue to set the tone around the theme, which focuses on building resilience and an inclusive healthcare system for a healthy Nigeria. The Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Muhammed Ali Pate, said the nation’s health facilities are in bad shape, adding that there is a need for an urgent intervention. Also, the governor of Ekiti…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Thursday evening, returned to Abuja after a seven-day visit to Saudi Arabia and a day in Guinea-Bissau, where he participated in various activities. The president’s aircraft touched down around 7:05pm at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, from Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau, where he attended the country’s 50th Independence Day Anniversary. President Tinubu had left the country on Thursday, November 9, to participate in the Saudi-African Summit, which held on the 10. He held other critical business/investment parleys with Saudi Arabian authorities and investors after the summit. Last Friday, in Riyadh,…

Nigeria’s Super Eagles commenced their 2026 World Cup campaign on a shaky start as a resilient Lesotho side held Nigeria to a 1-1 draw at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Thursday in Group C. The three-time African Cup of Nations winner despite controlling possession failed to create any clear cut goal scoring chances against Lesotho in the game. But then, the team was punished as the Crocodiles of Lesotho took a shock lead in the 56th minute thanks to Motlomelo Mkhawanazi’s goal to silence the home supporters. Francis Uzoho’s poor judgement of the ball allowed Lesotho player to get…

The Benue State Government has vehemently refuted recent claims circulating in the media that Governor Hyacinth Alia was pelted with objects by youths during his visit to Vaatia College in Makurdi. According to the statement, Governor Alia’s visit to Vaatia College was in response to a reported case of house breakage, thievery, desecration of a tomb, and vandalism within the college premises. The governor, during the visit, issued clear instructions for the prompt arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the mentioned acts. Tersoo clarified that the governor’s visit to Vaatia College proceeded without any disturbances, stating that Governor Alia…

The Nigerian Senate has called for a closed-door meeting with all heads of security agencies in the country, including the National Security Adviser, Service Chiefs, and the Inspector General of Police, to discuss the prevailing security challenges. Other heads of security agencies expected at the meeting include the director general of the Department of State Security Services, and the head of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp, among other gun-wielding agencies. The Senate expressed concerns over the continued activities of criminal and violent groups such as Boko Haram terrorists, bandits, armed robbers, and kidnappers. The upper chamber also emphasized the…

The 10th Senate, led by Godswill Akpabio, has confirmed the nomination of Aminu Maida as the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Maida was confirmed by the Senate following the consideration and adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Communication, which screened the nominee. The committee chairman, Senator Aliyu Ikra Bilbis (Zamfara Central), while presenting the report during plenary Thursday, said Maida’s nomination was in accordance with section 8 (1) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Act, 2003. He said that during the screening, the committee found that Maida passed security clearance and possessed the requisite…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has departed Guinea-Bissau, after attending the 50th independence day commemoration of the country. The President was earlier received at the Osvaldo Vieira International Airport in Bissau, the nation’s capital, on Thursday morning by Soarez Sambu, a senior Minister and Chief of Staff to President Umaro Sissoco Embalo. Guinea-Bissau marked its 50th Independence Anniversary on September 24, 2023, but the government had scheduled all celebrations for November 16, 2023. Before his trip to Guinea-Bissau, Tinubu was in Saudi Arabia where he perform pilgrimage. While in Saudi Arabia to attract foreign direct investment and mobilise capital to build needed…

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-General Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, and Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun have failed to honour the invitation to appear before the House of Representatives today. They were invited to appear today as part of the Sectorial Debates introduced by the House Pursuant to Order 17, Rules 1(3) of the Standing Orders of the House. The Service Chiefs were to meet the parliament on their constitutional responsibilities to…

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has received a list of 22 justices of the Court of Appeal nominated by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) for elevation to the Supreme Court. The names of the nominees, who hail from various regions in the country, were revealed in an FJSC document obtained by journalists on Thursday. The North-Central region has six nominees, while the South-West and South-South regions have two nominees each. The South-East region also has six nominees, and the North-East has two nominees. The development is coming after the retirement of Justice Amina Augie, which left the Supreme Court with only…

The Federal Government says in order to meet the needs of Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWDs), heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) must set up disability desks and assign officials to staff them. This was said during a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja by Mr. Mohammed Isa, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Disability Matters. In addition, he pledged to see to it that inclusive policies and a supportive environment for people with disabilities were developed. He added that his office would engage relevant stakeholders on the amendment of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities…

The Labour Party on Thursday said it has no plan to merge with the Peoples Democratic Party to dislodge the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 general elections. PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday, suggested that opposition parties need to merge to defeat the ruling APC in the next presidential poll. LP spokesman, Obiora Ifoh while reacting to Atiku’s suggestion in a statement on Thursday said the party has not discussed any merger Ifoh said Atiku’s call “was only a proposal and every Nigerian should be interested in making democracy work in Nigeria and that what we have…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has congratulated Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, over the Court of Appeal’s ruling affirming their victory in the March 18 governorship election. Cornelius Ojelabi, the Lagos State APC Chairman, also commended the judiciary for the verdict in a statement on Thursday. The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos on Wednesday dismissed issues raised by the PDP candidate, Dr. Abdul-Azeez Adediran, and the Labour Party Candidate, Mr. Gbadebo Rhode-Viviour, against the judgement of the election tribunal. The tribunal had earlier, on Sept. 25, dismissed Adediran and Rhode-Vivour’s petition against Sanwo-Olu’s…