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Economy

WHO Urges Tinubu Government To Allocate 20% Of Budget To Health Sector

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Mpox Remains International Health Emergency

WHO Urges Tinubu Government To Allocate 20% Of Budget To Health Sector

WHO urges Tinubu Government to allocate 20% of budget to health sector. Mr Janabi described Nigeria’s recent health sector reforms as timely and commendable.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on Nigeria to increase public health spending to at least 20 per cent of total health expenditure.

Mohamed Janabi, WHO regional director, made the call on Thursday in Abuja at the ongoing National Health Financing Dialogue, themed “Reimagining the Future of Health Financing in Nigeria”.

Mr Janabi stated that sustainable healthcare financing remained the backbone of resilient health systems, emphasising that increased investment would reduce out-of-pocket payments, protect households, and strengthen pooling and prepayment mechanisms.

He added that evidence-based decision-making, such as cost-effectiveness and equity analyses, should guide fair and efficient allocation of resources.
Mr Janabi described Nigeria’s recent health sector reforms as timely and commendable.

“With more than 223 million citizens, how the country finances health is vital for the well-being of its people and the future of the continent.

“Nigeria’s progress is encouraging. The Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, the National Health Insurance Authority Act, and the expansion of state-level insurance schemes are steps in the right direction,” he said.

Mr Janabi also highlighted equity and investment units, along with parliamentary engagement through the Legislative Network for Universal Health Coverage (UHC), as models that could inspire other African countries.

Amma Twum-Amoah, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development at the African Union Commission (AUC), emphasised the need for Africa to prioritise health security using its abundant resources.

She noted that robust health systems, anchored by the African Medicines Agency and strengthened by effective regulatory frameworks, were essential to withstand future pandemics, floods, and droughts.

“Amid today’s financing constraints, Nigeria has charted a bold path by approving $1.7 billion for the HOPE Projects to strengthen governance, expand primary healthcare, and improve nationwide service delivery.

“This reflects vision and courage. Indeed, Nigeria’s leadership is critical, and we look to you not to disappoint Africa,” she said.

Ms Twum-Amoah also reminded participants that the dialogue emphasised the 2001 Abuja Declaration and the 2013 Abuja+12 Declaration, in which African leaders committed to allocating at least 15 per cent of national budgets to health.

Also speaking, Daju Kachollom, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said the dialogue represented a launchpad for bold and coordinated action, repositioning health financing as a sovereign, strategic, and economic priority.

Mpox Remains International Health Emergency

WHO Urges Tinubu Government To Allocate 20% Of Budget To Health Sector

She revealed that President Bola Tinubu had directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to issue a service-wide circular mandating all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to implement health insurance.

“The directive is in line with the provisions of the National Health Insurance Authority Act, 2022,” she said.

The four-day dialogue, which concluded on Thursday, brought together policymakers, development partners, health financing experts, civil society, academia, private sector players, health insurers, and the media.

The event aimed to establish a strong evidence base and build a data-driven foundation to support increased and sustained financing commitments.

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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