Economy
WHO Tells African Leaders To End Aid Dependency
WHO Tells African Leaders To End Aid Dependency
WHO tells African leaders to end aid dependency. “The choices we make now will shape the future of global health financing. We must get it right,” Mr Ghebreyesus said.
The director-general of the World Health Organisation, Tedros Ghebreyesus, has urged African leaders to break free from aid dependency and commit to self-reliance and sustainable development.
Speaking at the ongoing Ibrahim Governance Weekend in Marrakech, Morocco (June 1–3), Mr Ghebreyesus emphasised the need for a shift in mindset and stronger leadership across the continent.
“We cannot look to others to solve our problems. The mindset of aid dependency must stop.
“The difference between crisis and opportunity is leadership, from all of us,” he said.
Mr Ghebreyesus also called for leadership from international lenders, urging them to offer fair and concessional lending terms to African nations.
“When African countries pay more to borrow than high-income countries, there is something wrong with the system,” he noted.
Mr Ghebreyesus stressed the need for donor support not for operating costs or donor-selected projects but for strengthening national systems aligned with local priorities, such as the Lusaka Agenda’s ‘one plan, one budget, one report’ principle.
“WHO stands ready to support countries and work with all partners to turn this crisis into an opportunity.
“The choices we make now will shape the future of global health financing. We must get it right,” Mr Ghebreyesus said.
Mr Ghebreyesus underscored that health should be seen as an investment in people, stability, and economic growth, not a cost.
However, he said peace was even more fundamental to Africa’s future.
“The best medicine is peace,” Mr Ghebreyesus declared.
According to him, without peace, nothing else will make a difference.

WHO
“In so many parts of our continent, the biggest barrier to development is conflict,” Mr Ghebreyesus added.
Recalling his visit to war-torn Sudan in 2024 and the refugee crisis in Chad, Mr Ghebreyesus described a dire health situation, with outbreaks of cholera, measles, malaria, dengue, diphtheria, and polio.
“Thousands are dying. We need a ceasefire to deliver vaccines and save lives,” Mr Ghebreyesuse said.
Mr Ghebreyesus ended by reaffirming WHO’s commitment to supporting African countries in building efficient, self-sustaining health systems and emphasised that peace remained the foundation for a healthier, fairer, and more prosperous Africa.
Economy
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
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
“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.
Crime
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
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
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
Economy
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
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.

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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