Economy
Douye Diri Orders Compulsory Medical Check-Up For Bayelsa Cabinet Members
Douye Diri Orders Compulsory Medical Check-Up For Bayelsa Cabinet Members
Douye Diri orders compulsory medical check-up for Bayelsa cabinet members. Governor Diri said the directive became imperative in light of the recent death of the deputy governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa has directed the commissioner for health, Seiyefa Brisibe, to ensure that every member of the state executive council undergoes a compulsory medical check-up.
Speaking during the first state executive council meeting on Wednesday, Mr Diri said the directive became imperative in light of the recent death of the deputy governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
He said that as public officers with hectic schedules, they needed to undergo regular health checks to ensure that they were medically fit at all times and to prevent avoidable death.
Mr Diri noted that although death was inevitable, humans could still take preventive measures to enjoy good health and a long life.
He disclosed that an autopsy on the late deputy governor had been conducted and that the result would be made public at the right time.
While again cautioning against politicising the death of the deputy governor, he stated that a burial committee headed by the secretary to the state government had been constituted and that a date for the funeral would be announced soon.
“We thank everyone who grieved with us and pray that in 2026, we will celebrate and not mourn.
“All of us must be careful about our health so we can prevent avoidable death. Members of the state executive council, go and do compulsory check up.
This is a directive that must be carried out. “I directed that an autopsy be conducted and the result is ready. At the right time, we will make it public.
“While we were mourning, some people were politicising the death of our deputy governor instead of showing love and compassion. This was not expected in our state,” he said.
At the meeting, the commissioner for health presented an award plaque and a dummy cheque of 400,000 dollar won by the state as first runner-up in the Primary Health Care Leadership Challenge for the South-South zone.
The leadership challenge in the health sector was funded by UNICEF, Dangote Group and other international bodies.
The governor described the state’s performance as refreshing and encouraging, saying that government’s investment in the sector was paying off.

Governor Diri
“This is the best award we have won so far, and it came with a dollar reward. It is due to the exceptional performance of the commissioner for health. When you work hard, there will be results like this,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Brisibe stated that Bayelsa‘s recognition and performance in the competition was as a result of Diri’s commitment to development of the health sector.
He also presented to the governor the Distinguished Leadership Award in Governance in recognition of his outstanding performance and contributions to the growth of National Association of Nurses And Midwives in Bayelsa and Nigeria.
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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