The Federal Government has commended the Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Mohammed Kawu, and the people of the emirate for sustaining peace and supporting the operations of the Lafiagi Sugar Company, describing the community’s disposition as critical to the success of large-scale agro-industrial investments. The Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Enoh, gave the commendation during a courtesy visit to the monarch’s palace in Lafiagi, Kwara State, as part of an inspection tour of sugar estates across the country. In a statement signed by his spokesperson, Ifeoma Williams, and made available to PUNCH Online on Sunday, the minister noted that…
Author: Newsdesk
The National Women Leader, National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum (NASLAF), Ayoola Fakunle, has sponsored and facilitated a capacity-building programme for female legislative aides. According to Fakunle, this is part of efforts to improve legislative efficiency and productivity. Speaking with journalists at the end of the training, she said that she facilitated the capacity building programme considering the critical roles legislative aides play in lawmaking processes and other legislative duties. Fakunle said that regular training of legislative aides was essential to keep them at par with their counterparts across the globe. “Legislative aides remain an indispensable component of the legislature. The…
The United States Government says it has signed a 5.1 billion dollar five-year bilateral healthcare Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nigeria. A statement issued on Sunday by the U.S. Mission in Nigeria on its official X handle, explained that the agreement aimed at advancing the U.S. government’s “America First Global Health Strategy.” It added that a key component of the MOU is the U.S. government’s commitment of 200 million dollars to fund 900 Christian healthcare centres across the country. According to the statement, Christian health facilities in Nigeria’s healthcare sector, particularly in hard-to-reach and underserved communities, play a critical role…
The United Nations Development Programme, in partnership with the Young Africa Innovates (YAI) Programme, has unveiled 31 youth innovators in Akwa Ibom in strategic sectors such as tourism, creative enterprise, local culture, and small businesses. The programme is funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Mastercard Foundation with technical support from NerdzFactory Company. The programme also covers the seven focal states of Lagos, Ekiti, Kwara, Kaduna, Anambra, Akwa Ibom and Borno. The theme of the Innovators State Showcase for Akwa Ibom, which was held in Uyo at the weekend, was: “Youth Innovation as Driver of State Development”.…
The Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) says the Northeast Development Commission’s (NEDC) extensive support to pastoralists will help address security challenges in the region. The association’s National President, Mr Khalid Muhammad, stated this in a statement issued on Sunday in Damaturu. Muhammad commended the commission for installing solar-powered boreholes in Dangel Lantaiwa and Siddikiyo Jauro Gambo Ribadu wards in Yobe and Gombe states, respectively. “These projects provide a vital lifeline to thousands of pastoralists and their livestock by addressing the critical challenge of water scarcity in grazing and concentration centres,” he said. Muhammad described the NEDC as…
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, says ongoing reforms are restoring confidence in Nigeria’s health system while addressing longstanding grievances of health workers. Pate made this known on Sunday in a broadcast posted on his verified X handle, @muhammadpate, where he reflected on decades of challenges faced by health professionals and highlighted progress recorded in the last two and a half years. He acknowledged that for years, health workers served Nigerians under difficult conditions with limited recognition, noting that successive governments failed to provide an enabling environment for the sector’s best talents to thrive. “Under…
An Abuja-based cleric and legal scholar, Rev. Fr. Anthony Azuwike, has described Nigeria’s Mental Health Act, signed into law in 2023, as progressive but inadequate, noting that it has not fully decriminalized attempted suicide across the country. Azuwike, Head of the Department of Private and Property Law at Veritas University, Abuja, made the observation during an interview with reporters on Sunday while speaking on mental health issues. He explained that although the Act replaced the outdated Lunacy Act of 1958 and recognizes attempted suicide as a psychiatric emergency, criminal provisions under Nigeria’s Penal and Criminal Codes remain in force. “The…
An Abuja-based cleric and legal scholar, Rev. Fr. Anthony Azuwike, has raised concerns over the rising cases of suicide among young people in Nigeria, describing the trend as a serious and growing societal challenge. Azuwike, who is the Head of the Department of Private and Property Law at Veritas University, Abuja, made the observation during an interview with reporters on Sunday. He said suicide, though a long-standing global issue, had become more alarming in recent times due to worsening economic conditions and mounting social pressures. “Suicide is a global phenomenon, but it is becoming more concerning as economic conditions deteriorate,”…
Nigeria recorded a modest improvement in health financial risk protection in 2024, as out-of-pocket (OOP) spending declined to 58.3 per cent of total health expenditure, according to the National Health Accounts (NHA) 2023–2024 report. The report was made available to reporters on Sunday in Abuja at the Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF). The NHA is produced by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics, the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Budget Office, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the World Health…
It was the turn of Owaza, Ukwa West local government area, Abia State and some others communities in Rivers State on Sunday to enjoy Christmas palliatives from Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL). PINL, the private security company in charge of securing the Eastern Corridor of the Trans Niger Pipelines (TNP), in continuation of its annual Christmas outreach took food materials and medical outreach to the communities to appreciate them for cooperation through 2025.Making the presentation to the communities at a primary school in Owaza, PINL called for more collaboration from the host communities. Making the presentation on behalf of the…