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Economy

2030: FG Reaffirms Commitment To Eliminating Child AIDS

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2030: FG Reaffirms Commitment To Eliminating Child AIDS

2030: FG reaffirms commitment to eliminating child AIDS. Mr Bashorun said the federal government approved $200 million for the health sector to bridge the gap left by the suspension of USAID funding.

The federal government says Nigeria has made significant progress over the past two decades in reducing the burden of HIV/AIDS among adults and children, reaffirming its commitment to eliminating AIDS in kids by 2030.

Adebobola Bashorun, national coordinator of the National AIDS and STDs Control Programme (NASCP), made the pledge on Monday in Abuja during a stakeholders’ workshop on the Global Alliance to End AIDS in Children.

Mr Bashorun attributed the progress to the support of global partners such as the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Global Fund, and others.

“The difficult part of the race has been completed, and we have scaled up. We are not where we were 20 years ago.
“Now, we are closer to ending the epidemic, sustaining treatment, reducing new infections, and ensuring that everyone who needs treatment receives it,” he said.

He added that Nigeria was nearing 90 per cent treatment coverage for adults and was now focusing on achieving similar coverage for children.

To support this effort, Mr Bashorun revealed that the federal government had approved $200 million for the health sector to bridge the gap left by the suspension of USAID funding.

He also noted ongoing investments in logistics, human resources, and healthcare infrastructure, while emphasising the need to revise implementation strategies for efficiency.

“We now want models that can deliver more services with fewer resources. With the unlocking of the healthcare value chain, we can now quantify local content and enhance our approach,” Mr Bashorun noted.

Mr Bashorun also pointed out that Nigeria now has a robust national data reporting system, a major shift from the past reliance on external implementing partners.

Also speaking, Modupe Elendu, the Prevention-of-Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) focal person at UNICEF, outlined the four pillars of the Global Alliance, which comprised 12 countries working to end AIDS in children.

Child AIDS

Child AIDS

“These pillars include ensuring no child with HIV is left behind, preventing mother-to-child transmission, universal testing for all pregnant women, strengthening PMTCT programmes, and addressing barriers to effective implementation,” she stated.

Ms Elendu noted that although challenges remained, progress was evident.

“We now have comprehensive data systems covering the entire country, a big step up from past dependency on external data sources,” she said.

The workshop aims to review the implementation of the Global Alliance Plan, identify service delivery gaps for children and adolescents, and gather stakeholder input for global reporting.

Launched in Aug. 2022, the Global Alliance works to close critical gaps in HIV services for children and adolescents.

Economy

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

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Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.

The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.

Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.

He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.

“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly

“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”

Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.

Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.

He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.

Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.

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Crime

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

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EFCC Probes Man

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,   on Tuesday, February 3, 2026  arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.

Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC Probes Man

EFCC

Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.

The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

Dele Oyewale
Head,  Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026

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Economy

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

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National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.

Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.

Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.

Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.

She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.

“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”

Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.

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