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FG Sets Plans To Strengthen PHCs, Trains 60,000 Health Workers

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Doctors

FG Sets Plans To Strengthen PHCs, Trains 60,000 Health Workers

FG sets plans to strengthen PHCs, trains 60,000 health workers. The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening primary health care (PHC), eradicating polio, and addressing health system challenges through a series of initiatives

The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening primary health care (PHC), eradicating polio, and addressing health system challenges through a series of initiatives.

The initiatives, according to Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, include training of more than 60,000 health workers and a ₦1 trillion ($1.2 billion) performance-based financing programme for states.

Mr Pate made this known on Tuesday in Abuja at the 2025 First Quarter Review Meeting of the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee (NTLC) on Primary Health Care Delivery.

He commended traditional leaders for their 16 years of voluntary commitment to improving health outcomes.

“Perhaps we should even submit this effort for recognition in the Guinness Book of Records—to determine if any other purely voluntary initiative of leaders, meeting every quarter with such commitment, has lasted this long,” he stated.

The minister highlighted ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s polio eradication efforts, including gaps in vaccination team selection, training, accountability, and frontline engagement.

“Recent visits to four states, conducted alongside the chair of the Polio Oversight Board (POB) and NTLC leaders, identified these gaps, with concerns over finger-marking compliance and the need for improved supervision.

“We have successfully addressed similar issues in the past. In 2009, despite resource constraints, Nigeria vaccinated more children than in previous years.

We have done it before, and we can do it again,” he stated.
Mr Pate said that the federal government was intensifying efforts to revitalise PHCs through the training and retraining of 60,000 health workers.

He said that this was also being done by expanding maternal and newborn health services under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and providing free emergency treatment for obstetric complications.

The minister also announced the launch of the National Health Fellowship Programme, designed to develop young health leaders across Nigeria.

He said, “The programme received over 360,000 applications, with fellows selected purely on merit and set to be deployed nationwide to improve accountability and service delivery.

Doctors

Doctors

“To further strengthen PHCs, the federal government has approved N1 trillion ($1.2 billion) in performance-based financing for states to recruit more health workers and improve services.’’

Mr Pate also emphasised the threat of misinformation on platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook, calling on traditional and religious leaders to counter conspiracy theories and promote accurate health information.

He urged stakeholders to remain committed, stating that Nigeria’s grassroots-led approach to health interventions was gaining international recognition.

“Together, we have made progress. Together, we have tackled challenges. And together, we will continue to build a stronger, healthier Nigeria,” he said.

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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