The Federal Government has given the green light for the allocation of N25 billion to the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to bolster healthcare services across Nigeria.
In the announcement by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, the Federal government says it remains committed to enhancing the healthcare system and achieving Universal Healthcare Coverage (UHC) for all Nigerians.
Pate stated that the approval of a Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) and the Health Sector Renewal Investment Programme (NHSRIP) are crucial steps towards transformation in healthcare, renewal, and accessibility.
He noted the importance of reforming the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) and its programs, operations, and accountability systems, with all states and the Federal Capital Territory committing to improvement plans to better serve Nigerians.
According to the Minister, guidelines would also be reviewed to include healthcare for the indigent population, with a focus on reducing maternal mortality rates, out-of-pocket payments, and ensuring standardized healthcare quality across primary healthcare facilities.
Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has said he was like a prophet he warned about the $350 million World Bank loan request by ex-governor Nasir El-Rufai.Sani said despite his warning, people refused to listen..
Addressing journalists on Sunday, Sani said the state won’t be in such a situation if El-Rufai’s administration had heeded his warning.
He said: “The hour of reckoning has come for every citizen of the state,” Sani said, reacting to the current fiscal challenges in Kaduna.
“I was insulted for saying no to that loan. The hour of reckoning is here for every person in Kaduna state.“Just like the way Lot (in the Bible) warned people, prophets of the past warned people, but they refused to hear and then you see petition and affliction.
“In the same way, I warned the people of this state, but they were told that the money will bring paradise — land of milk and honey.
“Today, you can see the problems at hand as far as that loan was concerned.“Today the state is strangulated because of that money which we couldn’t pay.“We borrowed $350 million when the naira was N400 to the dollar and we are going to pay when the naira is what it is today,” he added.
Last week, governor Uba Sani has raised an alarm over the state’s huge debt profile running into billions of dollars.
In 2018, Sani and two other senators from Kaduna state — Suleiman Hunkuyi, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) representing Kaduna north senatorial zone; and Danjuma Laah of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kaduna south-central senatorial zone — rejected moves by El-Rufai to take a $350 million World Bank loan.Sani and Hunkuyi eventually lost their bids for re-election and were replaced by Uba Sani and Suleiman Kwari who lobbied for the approval of the loan.
President Bola Tinubu is set to visit Dakar, Senegal, on Tuesday, upon the invitation of the Republic of Senegal, to attend the inauguration ceremony of Senegal’s President-elect, Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
In an official statement released by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Monday, it was disclosed that President Tinubu, also the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government, will be accompanied by senior government officials, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar.
The inauguration, scheduled to take place at the Diamniadio Exhibition Centre, will be attended by other african regional leaders and dignitaries.
Bassirou Diomaye Faye, also known as Diomaye, emerged victorious in the March 24 presidential election with 54.3 percent of the vote, just days after being released from prison. His remarkable journey from humble beginnings to presidency is marked by his promise of radical change and the support of charismatic mentors.
At 44, Faye is poised to become Senegal’s youngest president, promising national reconciliation, tackling the cost-of-living crisis, and combating corruption as his top priorities. He advocates for left-wing pan-Africanism, aiming to revitalize national sovereignty and boost key sectors such as agriculture and industry to address unemployment.
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has told President Bola Tinubu to fulfill his promises to the people of Nigeria, saying that it encourages them to speak of their country positively.
George, who was a guest of Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, was reacting to the President’s speech on Thursday where he admonished Nigerians to always pray for Nigeria and stop cursing the country.
The elder statesman said that President Tinubu’s speech is very heart-warming but Nigerians would want him to translate what he said into giving hope to them.
“Those are all appeals, what should follow is let there be some methodology economically, physically to ensure that you give hope to the people, especially young people who have no jobs, no future, no hope; that is what drives people in the opposite direction.
“And once there is abject poverty in the land, people will remain angry. I feel for our people and I want him (Tinubu) to translate what he has said which is quite heart-warming into giving the people a lot of hope.“If there is no hope when you wake up in the morning, you don’t even know where you are going to go, you are not running for any job, you are not doing anything, to get a meal in a day was hell, people will resort in different directions,
” George said.He also appealed to Tinubu to reduce the security tension in the country, saying that since the President has pleaded for time Nigerians are ready to give him time to bring the ugly situation to an end.George insisted that there was no way the 1999 Constitution could solve the issue of insecurity in the country.
He said the constitution should be revisited and the issue of establishing state police be taken seriously as it will complement the national police.During Ramadan Iftar with traditional rulers and religious leaders at the State House on Thursday in Abuja, Tinubu had called on them to refrain from vilifying or denigrating the nation in the preaching.
The President emphasised the important role of religious leaders in shaping public opinion and fostering a sense of unity among citizens.
He urged the leaders to be more constructive in their criticism of those in elective positions.President Tinubu also declared that his administration is determined to turn Nigeria’s challenges into prosperity.
He reiterated that no terrorist can defeat the collective will of Nigerians, no matter how hard they try to prey on innocent citizens.
The Lagos State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps has deployed 3,500 personnel to all parts of the state for the safety of residents during the Easter celebration.
The personnel deployed comprised regular and special marshals.Forty-five patrol vehicles, three ambulances, 11 power bikes, and three heavy-duty tow trucks were also deployed.
The Sector Commander, Babatunde Farinloye, revealed this in a statement signed by the Corp’s Sector Public Education Officer, Olabisi Sonusi, saying the personnel would be deployed mostly to Lagos-Ibadan, Lekki-Epe, Lagos-Abeokuta, Oshodi-Apapa and Lagos-Badagry xorridors.
According to him, the personnel would ensure the free flow of traffic, check speed violations, dangerous driving, use of phones while driving, overloading, and other life-threatening infractions, and also attend promptly to emergencies.
The statement read, “Other offences like failure to carry passengers’ manifest for commercial drivers, refusal to use seat belts, and use of worn-out or expired tyres will not be overlooked as well.“The sector commander stated that the command would carry out aggressive public enlightenment at major motor parks and worship centres, while Regular and Special Marshals would be on the road for traffic calming and control during the period.
“He added that the corps will work with the Nigeria Police, National Emergency Management Agency, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Lagos State Traffic Management Authority in case of any emergency situation.
“He, however, expressed optimism that motorists will cooperate with traffic managers on the roads to reduce crashes to the barest minimum.“He admonished the motoring public to make use of FRSC toll-free number 122 in case of emergencies during the course of their journeys.”
Ambassador Joe Keshi has been elected the National President of the Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria. This was announced via a press statement dated March 27, 2024 issued by Ambassador Martine Gereng-Sen, Publicity Secretary of the association.
Also elected 1st and 2nd National Vice Presidents respectively were Ambassador Lai Laseinde and Ambassador Haruna Wando, while Ambassador Ali Ocheni was elected Secretary General.
In his acceptance speech, Keshi said the association will continue to cater for the welfare of members in addition to providing sound advice to the Federal Government on foreign relations.
He said his leadership will help the Nigerian government advance and deepen the nation’s foreign policy.The association has over 300 members who served the country in various diplomatic missions abroad as well as those who attained directorate levels at the headquarters in Nigeria.
Ambassador Keshi has over 35 years working experience in the highest level of Government serving asPermanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, The Presidency; Charge d’Affaires, Embassy of Nigeria, The Hague, The Netherlands; as well as Consul General of Nigeria, Atlanta, Georgia.
He holds a B. Sc in political science from University of Ibadan Nigeria; an M.A. in Administration and Development from Institute of Social Studies, the Hague, Netherlands and Post-Graduate Diploma in International Relations and Diplomacy from Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos, Nigeria.
He was a former Chairman of United Bank for Africa, and he is currently the Director-General of the BRACED (Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, Delta) Commission, a socio-economic development organisation of the six South-south states.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) announced on Friday that the national grid, which experienced a disturbance at 4:28 p.m. on Thursday, has been successfully restored.
According to TCN’s statement, full recovery was achieved by 10:00 p.m. the same day.The disruption, as reported by the National Control Centre (NCC) in Osogbo, was triggered by a significant reduction in generation capacity, mainly due to gas constraints.
This reduction caused a rapid decline in system frequency, leading to a sudden grid imbalance, further exacerbated by the sudden tripping of Egbin generation turbine 3, resulting in an additional loss of 167MW load and the subsequent collapse of the grid.
However, TCN assured that the grid has been recovered and is stable, transmitting all generated power to distribution load centers nationwide.TCN reiterated its commitment to addressing grid challenges and collaborating with other stakeholders in the power sector value chain to minimize disruptions.
This incident marked the second collapse of the national grid this year, with previous collapses occurring in 2023, including two in September and one in December.
Former presidential aspirant of the Labour Party, Faduri Oluwadare Joseph, has challenged the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi to unite members of the party or consider leaving amidst factional disputes.
The party has been rocked by internal crisis, with two factional groups led by Julius Abure and Apapa Lamidi vying for control of the national chairmanship, while the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, claims ownership of LP.The recent controversial reelection of Julius Abure as national chairman in a convention held in Anambra State has further escalated tensions within the party.
In a statement released on Friday, Faduri stressed an urgent need for unity within the party to prevent its collapse and maintain its status as a formidable opposition force in Nigeria.
“Enough is enough! Let’s bury the hatchet and work together for the purpose of bringing good governance to our nation.” He stated while urging Peter Obi to prioritize the interests of the party above personal agendasExpressing concern over the state of the nation, Faduri stated further that the Labour Party plays a crucial role in the Nation as an alternative for Nigerians yearning for change.
“Labour Party is the only alternative party Nigerians are looking up to. Thus, we must move this nation from the old to a new generation through a change of leadership” he statedFaduri also called upon all well-meaning Nigerians to rally behind efforts to rejuvenate the Labour Party, urging those unable to find common ground to consider stepping aside for the greater good.
“Let us rebuild this party with the help of NLC and Nigerians from the grassroots up, and we will stand to challenge anyone, any government, by 2027″ he said.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on Friday, has disclosed that there has been a total of $1.5bn inflow into the Nigerian economy.
The Bank’s Acting Director of the Corporate Communications Department, Hakama Ali, made this known on Friday, asserting that the development indicates the CBN’s monetary policy efforts are working.
She further disclosed that data available to the bank indicated that the inflows resulted from a concerted effort to stabilize the foreign exchange market.According to her, the naira has also continued to record gains in the Autonomous Foreign Exchange market, as it traded at N1,309/$1 as against N1,611/$1 in the second week of March 2024.
While noting that Thursday’s rate signified that the naira was headed in the right direction, she assured that the Yemi Cardoso-led CBN remained committed to ensuring the market’s stability, and the appropriate pricing of the naira against other major currencies worldwide.
The New Diplomat reports that this latest development comes on the heels of the CBN’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) announcement of a two-percent increase in its benchmark rate, from 22.75 percent to 24.75 percent on March 26, 2024.
Announcing the rate during a post-meeting briefing, the CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, said the bank’s decision was intended to stabilize the economy by bringing the interest rate at par with the current inflation in the country, stating that the increase would not be long.
The apex bank had also conducted the Nigerian Treasury Bills (NTBs) auction of N1.64trn on March 27, 2024, at stop rates of 16.24 percent, 17 percent, and 21.124 percent for the 91-day, 182-day, and 364-day tenors, respectively.
President Bola Tinubu has commended Nigerians for their sacrifices since he assumed office, promising a path of recovery and growth.
Speaking in the Spirit of the Easter celebrations, Tinubu applauded Nigerians for their patience, assuring that it will yield positive results soon. He highlighted the significance of the season, stressing on the themes of love, sacrifice, and compassion, urging Nigerians to embrace these values for a united and prosperous nation.
In a statement through his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu describes the need for selflessness and compassion, drawinEaster : Tinubu Hails Nigerians’ Sacrifices, Pledges Better Days are Aheadg lessons from the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He encouraged leaders and citizens alike to emulate these virtues for national development.
“I strongly commend Nigerians for the sacrifices they have made in the past few months,” Tinubu said, adding that the seeds of patience which they have sown are beginning to sprout and will bring forth an abundance of good fruits.
”The President equally reiterated his administration’s commitment to a united, peaceful, and prosperous nation.
