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NASS: Nigeria’s $200M Healthcare Boost Earns UNDP Praise Amid USAID Exit

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National Assembly

NASS: Nigeria’s $200M Healthcare Boost Earns UNDP Praise Amid USAID Exit

NASS: Nigeria’s $200M healthcare boost earns UNDP praise amid USAID exit. UN Official commends National Assembly’s Leadership, Welcomes Partnership on Reforms

In the wake of the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) withdrawal of healthcare funding in Nigeria, the United Nations has lauded the Nigerian government for stepping up with a $200 million funding commitment. Speaking during a high-level engagement in Lagos on Friday, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for Africa, Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, commended the move, describing it as a continental leadership example.

“When I learned from New York that the National Assembly filled the healthcare funding gap left by USAID with $200 million, I felt proud.

That’s what real governance looks like you can’t outsource the health of your people,” Eziakonwa said. “While other countries panicked, Nigeria took charge. That’s leadership.” The UN official made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation of the House of Representatives led by Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu.

Eziakonwa emphasized that Nigeria’s decision sends a strong message across Africa about domestic responsibility and prioritizing citizen welfare. “Nigeria is leading by example. Every country on this continent should follow suit and say: our people’s lives matter.”

The meeting also focused on deepening collaboration between Nigeria’s legislature and the UNDP, particularly in the areas of constitutional reform, gender equity, and political inclusion.

Eziakonwa, joined by UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Elsie G. Attafuah, pledged the organization’s full support for Nigeria’s reform efforts—including the gender equality agenda championed by Deputy Speaker Kalu.

“This is the first time the leadership of the National Assembly is reaching out directly to us like this. It shows vision,” she noted, praising Kalu’s advocacy for gender-focused legislation, including a bill currently before the House seeking seat reservations for women in Parliament. “You’re a true He-for-She champion.

Nigeria can’t afford to ignore women’s voices in leadership not if it wants to weather the global challenges we face today,” Eziakonwa added, pointing to UNDP initiatives that align with Nigeria’s gender reform goals.

She also urged the National Assembly to consider investments in emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), as part of the country’s development strategy. “The future of development includes AI. Legislators must recognize and support this shift, starting from our schools.”

Responding, Deputy Speaker Kalu highlighted key aspects of the ongoing constitutional review and reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to inclusive governance. “Our democracy can’t thrive without meaningful participation from women, youth, and marginalized groups,” Kalu stated.

“The constitutional amendment process offers us a rare chance to enshrine gender equity into our governance structure.” He outlined the House’s proposals, which include legislative quotas for women, removal of gender-biased legal provisions, and targeted frameworks for inclusive governance.

National Assembly

National Assembly

Kalu also called for UNDP’s continued technical and advisory support, particularly in upcoming initiatives like a Summit on Security Architecture and a peacebuilding intervention for Nigeria’s South East, modeled on similar efforts in the North East.

“We value UNDP’s partnership and look forward to stronger collaboration in promoting peace, development, and equality across Nigeria,” the Deputy Speaker said.

Crime

Navy Dismantles Illegal Refining Capacity, Destroys Site With 3 Storage Tanks in Rivers

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Troops Destroy 56 Illegal Refining Sites

Navy Dismantles Illegal Refining Capacity, Destroys Site With 3 Storage Tanks in Rivers

The Nigerian Navy, through FOB BONNY, has dismantled an illegal refining site discovered in Promise Land Community along Nanabie Creek, Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, further denying criminal operators the infrastructure required to process stolen crude oil.
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The site was discovered on 30 September 2026 following credible intelligence and comprised one large cooking pot and 3 large storage tanks intended for illegal refining activities. On 2 October 2026, the Commanding Officer, FOB BONNY, Captain SMC Umeh, led a team to the location, where the illegal refining site and associated equipment were destroyed in accordance with established regulations.

The intervention represents a further disruption of illegal refining capacity within the Bonny area, particularly by removing infrastructure that could be used to process and store stolen crude oil. It also follows recent operations by FOB BONNY under Operation DELTA SENTINEL that uncovered substantial volumes of suspected stolen crude oil and associated illegal refining infrastructure within its Area of Operations

Troops Destroy 56 Illegal Refining Sites

Oil

The Nigerian Navy has continued to strengthen surveillance and monitoring across the area to prevent the establishment or reactivation of illegal refining sites and deny criminal operators the infrastructure required to sustain crude oil theft and related activities.

ABIODUN FOLORUNSHO

Navy Captain

Director Naval Information

Nigerian Navy
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Economy

NNPC Ltd Offers N66 Fuel Discount Throughout the Nation

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NNPC

NNPC Ltd Offers N66 Fuel Discount Throughout the Nation

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has unveiled a nationwide ₦66 fuel discount promotion for customers using the NNPC Fuel App.
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In a post obtained from its X handle on Friday, the promotion, which runs from October 1 to 7, is being held across NNPC stations nationwide as part of activities marking the period.

“The ₦66 Discount Promo is ongoing & the excitement is already happening across our stations nationwide!

“All over Nigeria, our customers are getting in on the action & there’s still time for you to benefit!

The promo runs from 1–7 October on the NNPC Fuel App,” the post read.

NNPC said customers across the country have already begun participating in the promotion, with highlights from the first day showing activities at several stations.

“Keep fueling, keep transacting and keep your eyes on our pages,” the post read.

NNPC

NNPC

NNPC also shared moments from the first day of the promotion and said more pictures and activities from stations across the country would be released.

The company urged customers not to miss the opportunity to participate before the promotion ends on October 7.

The ₦66 discount offer is available through the NNPC Fuel App during the stated promotional period.
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Economy

President Tinubu Tells EFCC: You Have Justified my Confidence in You

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EFCC Arraigns Gidado Ibrahim

President Tinubu Tells EFCC: You Have Justified my Confidence in You

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has applauded the efforts and performance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in tackling economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption in the country, stressing that it has justified the confidence reposed on it.
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He gave this commendation on Friday, October 2, 2026 in Awka, Anambra State at the commissioning of a new Zonal Directorate of the EFCC. The President pointed out that there are evidential proofs of the success of the Commission in convictions, recoveries and other landmark achievements

Represented by Honourable Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker, House of Representatives, Tinubu noted that “supporting the EFCC is not particularly difficult. The agency has consistently demonstrated that the confidence reposed on it is well founded. Without mincing words, the evidential proof of the EFCC’s success speaks loudly in convictions secured, assets and properties recovered”

He affirmed that the strides of the Commission are in tandem with the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration.

“When we came in three years ago, I highlighted nine major focal areas of my administration. Two of which are reforming the economy for sustained and inclusive growth and promotion of good governance. The anti-graft agency compliments this agenda as they are focused on accountability and transparency and appropriate deployment of resources”, he said.

At the commissioning, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede restated the commitment of the Commission to preventive frameworks in tackling economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption in the country.

According to him, the Commission will continue its focus on making corrupt practices difficult by blocking avenues through which they may happen.

“This new Directorate will not only enforce the law professionally and courageously, it will be high on corruption prevention. It will engage government institutions, businesses, financial institutions, professional bodies, schools, markets, civil society organisations, traditional institutions, religious bodies and communities. It will educate stakeholders, build relationships and mobilise the people to own the fight against all forms of corrupt practices in the zone”, he said

He assured Nigerians that the EFCC would not relent in the pursuit of its mandate, recalling the achievements of the Commission in the last 34 months and describing them as impressive progress.

“The pursuit of our mandate has been our dominant engagement and in the past few years, we have made impressive progress. Between October 2023 and July 2026, the Commission received 49, 673 petitions, investigated 39, 615 cases, filed 14, 476 cases in court and secured 10, 872 convictions. This gives a conviction-to-filing ratio of 75.1 percent. In the first half of 2026 alone, we recorded 1, 370 convictions from 1, 889 filings. The Commission also recorded recoveries of N1, 233, 612, 040, 411. 11, $684, 478, 457. 32, £373, 905. 78, €9, 343, 803. 66 inn addition to recoveries in other currencies”, he said.

He noted that at the institutional level, the Commission has made radical reforms that have been yielding optimal results as there are consequential improvements in the agency’s processes and procedures, which partly explains the impacts the EFCC has made and will continue to make in all the matrices of law enforcement.

“Reforms that have strengthened the Commission during the period include new guidelines on arrest and bail, a review of sting operations, the establishment of the Department of Fraud Risk Assessment and Control, the Security Department, the Immigration and Visa Section and the Cybercrime Rapid Response Centre”, he said.

While charging Ndi Anambra on whistleblowing, the anti-graft czar said that the Commission has established channels through which members of the public can submit petitions and provide information. He noted that the Commission’s Eagle Eye App allows citizens to provide details of suspected wrongdoing and makes the provision of an informant’s personal details optional. “However, whistleblowing must be responsible and based on facts. It must not become an instrument for settling scores”, he said.

EFCC Arraigns Gidado Ibrahim

EFCC

He thereafter said that Anambra and Imo States deserve effective and responsive institutional presence as they are renowned for enterprise, innovation, commerce and an extraordinary culture of industry, adding that these legitimate activities must be protected from fraud, cybercrime, money laundering, investment fraud, diversion of public resources and other forms of economic and financial crimes. “Therefore, our coming to Awka is beyond geographical expansion. It is about taking the mandate of the EFCC closer to the people and closer to the economic activities we are meant to protect”, he said.

In their remarks, His Excellencies, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of Anambra State and Senator Hope Uzodinma, Governor of Imo State said that they were pleased with the activities and management of the EFCC under the leadership of Olukoyede. They pledged their support to the Commission as it opened a new Zonal Directorate in their domain.

The commissioning of the new Directorate witnessed massive turn out of distinguished Nigerians, including members of the National Assembly, civil society organisations, community leaders, students, media among others.
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