The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • NGO launches campaign to end killings of security personnel

    NGO launches campaign to end killings of security personnel

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Society of Concerns Organisation, has organised a campaign against the killing of security personnel in Nigeria, calling for greater protection and respect for men and women in uniform.

    The campaign, themed “Guardians of Honour: Protecting Our Protectors, Preserving Our Unity,” held at the Nigerian Army Sports Training Centre, Lagos.

    President, Society of Concerns Organisation, Ambassador Oluwayemi Oluwapelumi, said the initiative was borne out of the rise in the killings of security officers. She described the gathering as a call to national consciousness rather than a ceremonial event, stressing that the safety of security personnel is directly tied to national stability.

    Oluwapelumi explained that the campaign represents the second phase of the initiative, tagged Campaign 2.0, following an earlier awareness phase launched last year. According to her, while the first phase focused on advocacy and sensitisation through media engagement and stakeholder dialogue, the continued killings of officers necessitated a more structured and action-oriented national response.

    She noted that attacks on security personnel cut across various agencies, including the police, the military, civil defence, customs, immigration, and other paramilitary services. “Every loss weakens our national security architecture and leaves families shattered,” she said, adding that each fallen officer represents a broken home and a nation made more vulnerable.

     The convener said Campaign 2.0 has been implemented across Lagos, Ogun states, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), chosen for their strategic importance as Nigeria’s economic hub, gateway state, and political centre. She said engagements were held with security agencies, government institutions, youth groups, civil society organisations, traditional leaders, the media, and the general public.

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    Oluwapelumi announced that the grand finale of the campaign would hold in Abuja tomorrow. She said the event would feature a national security summit, inter-agency dialogue, policy-focused discussions on welfare and accountability, and the recognition of distinguished security personnel, while calling on all stakeholders to participate.

    Representing the Chief of Army Staff, the Commander of the Nigerian Army Sports Centre, Col. M. D. Abba, described the campaign as timely and commendable. He said security personnel work day and night to ensure citizens sleep safely in their homes, urging Nigerians to understand and appreciate the sacrifices made by officers on the streets.

    Also, Ngozi Obi, who represented the National Orientation Agency (NOA), described the killings as alarming. She stressed that security operatives are the backbone of the country. Obi pledged that the NOA would continue to promote sensitisation, peaceful co-existence, and non-kinetic approaches to conflict, emphasising that protecting security personnel is a collective responsibility of Nigerians.

  • Lagos traders hold end of year party

    Lagos traders hold end of year party

    A unit of Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Market, Lagos, Akinwunmi Traders Association, has held its end of year party.

    The ceremony was spiced with Christmas songs, among others.

    Chairman of Akinwunmi Traders Association, Ozo Igwe Onyekachukwu, said the event is held yearly to enable them to thank God for His goodness in the outgoing year, despite the trials and temptations and, more importantly, enjoy themselves. He thanked the members for their support to his administration and the association, assuring that he would continue to serve them. 

    During the event, awards were given to some senior members.They included former chairmen of the association, Simeon Osigwe; Augustine Ugorji, Ejike Nwaduba, Ephraim Okorie, Chief Iyke Animalu and Eze Ndigbo Ijegun/Ijedodo, Eze Nwokedi.

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    Also, the association’s calendar was launched by the President-General of Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Market Association, Prince Africanus Ogundoro, with N100,000.

    Osigwe, among other members, praised Akinwunmi Traders Market Association exco for doing a good job. ‘’The association is doing well,’’ he added. He also thanked them for the honour. He recalled the earliest days of the founding of the group, especially how it was registered.

  • Abiodun okays career advancement for graduate primary school teachers

    Abiodun okays career advancement for graduate primary school teachers

    Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has approved career advancement for graduate primary school teachers (Tutor Cadre) from Grade Level 16 to 17.

    Head of Service, Mr Kehinde Onasanya, made this known yesterday in a statement in Abeokuta.

    He said the decision was aimed at addressing stagnation at the peak of the cadre, enhancing motivation and ensuring improved service delivery in the primary education system.

    He said the governor also approved a consolidated salary structure for Head-Teacher General, thereby upgrading their status.

    This move, Onasanya noted, reinforced the state’s commitment to strengthening the education sector and supporting its workforce.

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    He said the policy decision on the elongation followed a review of existing career progression frameworks and was designed to improve learning outcomes.

    The head of service said the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) had been directed to implement the policy immediately.

    Onasanya said the development aligned with the agenda of the administration, reaffirming Ogun State’s role as the education hub of the country.

    He said the Governor Abiodun-led administration remained focused on implementing progressive policies to enhance educational development.

    Onasanya urged the teaching workforce to remain committed to efficient service delivery.

  • Lagos launches LASHMA-AID to save lives before payment

    Lagos launches LASHMA-AID to save lives before payment

    Lagos State has unveiled LASHMA-AID Emergency Services Programme, a state-led initiative designed to ensure no resident is denied life-saving treatment because of cost, delay or administrative hurdles.

    The programme, launched yesterday in GRA, Ikeja, institutionalises emergency medical stabilisation for insured and vulnerable residents under the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme (ILERA EKO), in line with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Executive Order on Mandatory Social Health Insurance.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, described the initiative as a major milestone in the state’s drive towards universal health coverage and responsive governance.

    She said LASHMA-AID underscored the Sanwo-Olu administration’s resolve to guarantee unhindered access to health care, noting that health remained a key pillar of the THEMES Plus Agenda.

    She said the state had continued to invest in infrastructure, digital health systems and emergency response, citing reforms such as Smart Health Information Platform linking public health facilities, the expansion of 24-hour primary health care centres, and the upgrade of more than 27 PHCs under the World Bank-supported IMPACT Programme.

    She added: ‘’Lagos now has over 336 functional PHCs.’’

    Ogunyemi said the state had also reduced out-of-pocket spending through health insurance and strengthened protection for the poor by dedicating one per cent of its Consolidated Revenue Fund as an equity fund, now increased to N3 billion annually and made a first-line charge.

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    She says LASHMA-AID fills long-standing gaps in emergency response by prioritising life-saving care before enrolment checks or payment, stressing that residents can access the service through the emergency numbers 112 or 767, or the LASHMA toll-free line, 0800 000 LASHMA.

    Emergency evacuation and response, she said, would be handled by the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), which had been strengthened with ambulance bikes and Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) ambulances.

    LASAMBUS, she disclosed, has attended to over 5,000 cases this year, with approval already given for the recruitment of more nurses and bike riders.

    Chairman of the House of Assembly Committee on Health, Musibau Lawal, said the programme translated legislative intent into practical, life-saving action by ensuring emergency stabilisation took precedent over payment or verification.

    He said the initiative aligned with the Lagos State Health Scheme Law and the Governor’s Executive Order, adding that the legislature would continue to support policies that placed the preservation of life first.

    The Chairman of Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Dr Adebayo Adedewe, said the programme was developed from Sections 6 and 7 of the Executive Order after extensive engagement with empanelled and non-empanelled health care providers.

    He noted that LASHMA-AID covered up to 48 hours of in-facility emergency stabilisation for enrollees and vulnerable residents, supported by clear operational guidelines, provider handbooks and escalation pathways.

    “No emergency patient should be turned away,” Adedewe said, noting that the initiative integrated hospitals, ambulance operators and LASHMA’s coordination unit into a single response chain for pre-hospital care, transfers and early stabilisation.

    In an interview, he urged residents not to delay seeking care during emergencies, assuring Lagosians that LASHMA would bear the cost of stabilisation while affected persons were subsequently enrolled in the insurance scheme.

    He said data-driven monitoring would track response times and outcomes, with a target response time of two to three minutes for emergency activation.

    Permanent Secretary, LASHMA, Dr Emmanuella Zamba, said the programme addressed a major gap that previously discouraged private facilities from participating in emergency care due to uncertainty over payment.

    She says empanelled and non-empanelled facilities are now covered for emergency stabilisation, with LASHMA assuming responsibility for payment whether or not the patient is insured, once identified as vulnerable.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on the Parastatal Monitoring Office, Ibrahim Obanikoro, described LASHMA-AID as a step closer to global best practice, praising the affordability and inclusiveness of the Lagos health insurance scheme.

    Also speaking, Permanent Secretary, Lagos Health District II, Dr Dayo Lajide, said the initiative would significantly improve emergency referrals, particularly in urgent cases such as obstetric transfers from PHCs to general hospitals.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr Olanrewaju Bajulaiye, represented by the Director of Public Affairs, Mr Adesegun Ogundeji, pledged sustained public enlightenment to drive awareness and utilisation of the programme.

    Closing the event, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Health, Dr Oluwatoni Adeyemi, said the success of LASHMA-AID would be measured by lives saved, faster response times and renewed public confidence, as Lagos positions itself as a model for organised emergency care in Nigeria.

  • First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative empowers 250 elderly people in Ekiti with N50million

    First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative empowers 250 elderly people in Ekiti with N50million

    First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has extended financial support totalling N50 million to 250 elderly citizens in Ekiti State.

    Each beneficiary received N200,000 under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Social Investment Programme.

    The presentation, which took place at Lady Jibowu Hall, Government House, Ado-Ekiti, formed part of the third edition of the Elderly Support Scheme tagged: “Finding Joy in Old Age”.

    Speaking at the event, Senator Tinubu, represented by the wife of Ekiti State Governor, who is also the state Coordinator of RHI, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, said the programme was being implemented simultaneously across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including beneficiaries drawn from veterans of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA).

    Senator Tinubu noted that 9,500 elderly citizens had been selected nationwide to benefit from the scheme, a move that underscored Federal Government’s commitment to the welfare and dignity of senior citizens.

    She said the Governing Board of the Renewed Hope Initiative approved the disbursement of N1.9 billion for the exercise, with each state of the federation, the FCT and DEPOWA receiving N50 million.

    According to her, the initiative goes beyond financial assistance, as it also promotes healthy and active ageing.

    She encouraged beneficiaries to prioritise their well-being by engaging in regular physical exercise and meaningful activities that would keep their bodies and minds active.

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    “The Renewed Hope Initiative is about restoring dignity and ensuring our elderly citizens find joy and fulfilment in their later years. This support is designed to help them live healthier and happier lives,” she said.

    The National Chairman of the Renewed Hope Initiative noted that since the inception of the current administration in 2023, the initiative had consistently celebrated senior citizens every December in recognition of their invaluable contributions to national development.

    Dr. Oyebanji expressed profound appreciation to the Convener of the Renewed Hope Initiative and First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for sustaining the Elderly Support Scheme.

    She described the programme as a reflection of the First Lady’s tireless commitment to improving the well-being of senior citizens and veterans across the country.

    She urged beneficiaries in Ekiti State to utilise the financial support judiciously, especially during the festive season, emphasising the importance of meeting essential needs such as food, health care and medication where necessary.

    In their separate messages of appreciation, Elder Gabriel Oni and Chief Mrs. Musili Eyemugbayeho expressed gratitude to the wife of the President and Ekiti State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Dr. Oyebanji, for their care and concern for senior citizens in Nigeria.

    They pledged their continued support for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Ekiti State Government, while also offering prayers for the success of the governments.

    The event attracted government officials, community leaders and other stakeholders, who commended the Renewed Hope Initiative for its impactful intervention, describing it as a timely gesture that reinforces the government’s resolve to ensure elderly Nigerians live with dignity, comfort and joy.

    Earlier, Governor Oyebanji through the state medical team also provided free medical consultation for the senior citizens, who benefited from the gesture of the nation’s first lady.

  • Council funds: PDP accuses Fed Govt of double standard

    Council funds: PDP accuses Fed Govt of double standard

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has accused the Federal Government of playing double standard in the release of local government funds.

    It queried why the Federal Government would continue to release allocations to unelected local government administrators in Edo State, but withheld allocations to councils in Osun State on grounds of legitimacy.

    State Chairman of PDP, Tony Aziegbemi, who spoke at a news briefing in Benin City, said elected chairmen in Edo State were forcibly removed through executive action and not by any lawful or constitutional process.

    He said seven local governments had obtained valid and subsisting judgments of the High Court restoring their elected chairmen, but Governor Monday Okpebholo refused to obey the courts.

    Said he: “These local governments are: Oredo, Ikpoba-Okha, Uhunmwode, Orhionmwon, Akoko-Edo, Etsako West and Etsako Central.

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    “This illegality becomes even more dangerous when compared with Osun State, where the Federal Government withheld allocations on the grounds of legitimacy, yet continues to release funds in Edo State to unelected local government administrators, despite clear court judgments.

    “This contradiction exposes a deliberate double standard and a broader APC strategy to weaponise federal institutions against opposition-controlled states. This is playing with fire.”

    Aziegbemi said there was no evidence of huge allocations to the state and no corresponding improvement in infrastructure.

    “No visible expansion of social services. No renewal of public institutions. No measurable uplift in the lives of ordinary Edo people.

    ‘’Roads are deteriorating, not improving. Public utilities are struggling. Local government areas are functionally paralysed. Basic governance is absent.

    “This stark disconnect between massive federal allocations and negligible outcomes raises serious concerns about fiscal responsibility, value for money, and the priorities of the current administration.”

    Reacting, Edo Commissioner for Communication and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, said Edo PDP members behaved like sheep without shepherd.

    He said the Edo PDP were crying because the state feeding bottle had been removed from their well salivated mouth, and are now coming to the reality that Edo State is now beyond their grip.

    “What local government administration are they talking about? The ones that were handpicked in a most monstrous selection process during the infantile years of Godwin Obaseki?

    “We are too busy cleaning up their mess, that one will not have the time to make such ripostes.”

  • No life lost in Auchi fire, say police

    No life lost in Auchi fire, say police

    Edo State Police Command has said no life was lost in the fire resulting from a tanker explosion in Auchi, headquarters of Etsako West Local Government.

    Viral videos showed people died while scooping fuel from the fallen tanker that exploded.

    There were reports of three explosions in  parts of Auchi.

    Spokesman for the command, Eno Ikoedem, who spoke on the phone, said only a fire incident occurred in Auchi and not explosions.

    Ikoedem said the tanker fell at a bad spot on Auchi-Okene Highway at about 6:30pm on Wednesday.

    She said quick response of the police prevented people from going to scoop fuel before the fire outbreak.

    The police spokesman said fuel that leaked into underground tunnels, ignited the fire.

    She said: “The fire resulted from a tanker that fell on the highway. Fuel gushed out of the tankers.

    “Police stopped people from scooping fuel. There was no explosion in other parts of Auchi. The police prevented deaths.

    “No casualty was recorded. Our men on ground were able to cordon off the affected areas.”

    She said the command was yet to ascertain the level of damage.

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    But residents said the explosions occurred in the underground drains through which the fuel leaked.

    They said some persons were injured and many buildings were damaged after the explosions.

    A witness said explosions were heard at Igbei Road, Igbo Shade and along Auchi–Okene Road, close to Winners Junction.

    Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has pledged to support victims of Wednesday’s fire in Auchi.

    He described the incident as painful and unfortunate, noting that it had brought grief and distress to families, motorists and residents.

    Okpebholo, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Patrick Ebojele,

    commiserated with the Otaru of Auchi, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Aliru Momoh Ikelebe III.

    He said the incident was a painful reminder of the dangers associated with the transportation of petroleum products on the country’s highways.

  • 250 elders praise Tinubu’s initiative

    250 elders praise Tinubu’s initiative

    Over 250 senior citizens in Edo State have praised the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme (RHIESS).

    They have benefitted from the N1.9billion disbursed through RHIESS.

    They said the Federal Government had shown commitment to their welfare.

    The senior citizens spoke at the Government House, Benin City, at the Renewed Hope Initiative’s annual social investment programmes aimed at improving the quality of life of elderly Nigerians.

    Madam Agnes Akhamentalor from Edo Central, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, said they were surprised when they were called to be part of the beneficiaries.

    She urged Senator Tinubu to continue to remember the poor and needy.

    Speaking at the event, Senator Tinubu said the scheme was a demonstration of a compassionate government that valued the dignity, comfort and well-being of its elderly population.

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    Represented by the Coordinator, Office of the Governor’s Wife, Edo State, Mrs Edesili, she said the celebration of senior citizens every December was in recognition of their immense contributions to nation-building.

    “As we approach the festive season, it is important that we prioritise our elderly citizens. They have walked difficult paths so that younger generations may enjoy smoother roads. It is our moral duty and joy to ensure they live their later years in comfort, good health and dignity,” she said.

    She urged senior citizens to remain hopeful, active and engaged; stressing that ageing gracefully was beyond longevity.

    Special Adviser on Health to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Dr. Andrew Iyamu, said empowering vulnerable groups was a service to God and humanity.

  • Ondo RHA coordinator seeks support for President’s agenda

    Ondo RHA coordinator seeks support for President’s agenda

    Ondo State Director General and Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA), Mr Victor Olabimtan, has called on Nigerians, particularly voters in Ondo State, to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    He said the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda was laying a solid foundation for sustainable national development.

    In a statement he signed and made available to reporters in Akure, Olabimtan said the RHA recently launched nationwide was not a campaign platform, but an enlightenment initiative aimed at disseminating accurate information about Federal Government’s reforms and opportunities.

    He said Ondo State chapter of RHA had Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as chairman, while local government, ward and unit coordinators would soon be inaugurated to deepen grassroots engagement.

    Olabimtan said the initiative would strengthen outreach and mobilisation by working closely with All Progressives Congress (APC) structures from the national level to wards, while also promoting public enlightenment through town-hall meetings, road shows, market engagements, faith-based visits and community dialogues.

    He said President Tinubu had demonstrated purposeful leadership, noting improvements in the economy, infrastructure and youth empowerment since assuming office.

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    Olabimtan cited ongoing road projects nationwide, including the Lagos-Calabar Super Highway passing through Ondo State, increased investor confidence, growth in the stock market, diversification into solid minerals, expanded access to educational loans, faster passport processing and the easing of fuel scarcity.

    He said Tinubu’s federal initiatives aligned with Governor Aiyedatiwa’s drive to transform Ondo State from a civil service economy to an industrial hub, with plans for a refinery and seaport advancing, and renewed attention to federal roads in the state.

    Olabimtan recalled that President Tinubu won 67.14 per cent of the votes in Ondo State during the 2023 presidential election, noting that Governor Aiyedatiwa had challenged RHA to work towards increasing the President’s vote share and total votes in future elections.

    He lauded Governor Aiyedatiwa for the confidence reposed in the RHA leadership and urged residents to support the initiative in spreading information about government policies and programmes aimed at improving the lives of Nigerians.

  • ‘Declare former anti-graft agency head national hero’

    ‘Declare former anti-graft agency head national hero’

    About 130 civil society groups, united under the Nigerian Human Rights Community (NHRC), have urged the Federal Government to declare Muhuyi Ramingado, former chairman of Kano State Anti-Corruption and Public Complaints Commission (PCACPCC), as a national anti-corruption hero.

    The groups said the recognition would honour Ramingado’s courage and integrity.

    They also believed it would help protect him, as they claimed his life was at risk after exposing large-scale corruption involving powerful people in Kano State.

    Speaking at a news conference in Lagos yesterday, NHRC Deputy President, Babatunde Adeleke, said he was deeply concerned about what he called ongoing harassment, intimidation and persecution of Ramingado for his strong stand against corruption.

    “Ramingado risked his life for the good of Nigerians. Today, he is being hunted for exposing stupendous corruption running into billions of naira. By declaring him a national hero, the Federal Government will inspire millions of Nigerians and send a strong signal that integrity and courage still matter in our country,” he said.

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    The NHRC said that while Ramingado was in office, he launched major investigations into Kano State’s public finances after citizens complained. He reportedly uncovered over N20 billion in corruption, much of it tied to mismanagement and theft of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    The groups said there were attempts to bribe and pressure Ramingado to stop his investigations, but he refused and continued what they called his “duty to God and mankind.”

    The coalition also claimed that the Kano State Government removed Ramingado from office without due process, only because he investigated corruption involving officials.

    Since then, the NHRC said, he and his family have faced ongoing threats.

    The groups also alleged that about two weeks ago, armed men forced Ramingado into a vehicle and drove him overnight from Kano to Abuja under heavy security.

    “If armed bandits had attacked that convoy, there was only a slim chance that he would have survived,” Adeleke stated.

    The NHRC called for an immediate end to all alleged harassment, intimidation and surveillance of Ramingado and his family.

    They asked the police to stop what they described as unlawful monitoring by corrupt politicians and urged the Federal Government to end all trials they said were started as retaliation.

    The coalition compared Ramingado’s fight against corruption in Nigeria to battling drug cartels in Colombia, where strong criminal groups violently resisted being held accountable.

    “We hereby draw the attention of the world to the consistent persecution of one of Nigeria’s most outstanding whistle-blowers. They are planning to silence him. We do not want him to be killed,” the groups said.

    The NHRC also urged the Federal Government to strengthen anti-corruption and whistle-blower protection laws, saying corruption is still one of the biggest threats to Nigeria’s development, democracy and security.

    Adeleke pointed to estimates that Nigeria loses about $18 billion each year to corruption, plus billions more through illegal financial flows and bribes.

    He warned that unchecked corruption leads to poverty, insecurity, banditry, and terrorism.

    “Corruption continues to undermine Nigeria’s integrity, scare away foreign investors and compromise the future of Africa’s largest democracy,” he said.

    Several civil society leaders from around the country attended the news conference. They promised to keep rallying local and international support to protect Ramingado and to push for accountability for those involved in corruption.