The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved two major electrification projects worth a combined ₦213.7 billion to improve energy access in universities, teaching hospitals, and rural communities across Nigeria.
The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, announced the approvals while briefing journalists at the State House, Abuja, after the 7th FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Adelabu said the first project, valued at ₦145 billion, inclusive of 7.5 percent VAT, is for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of power systems under the Energising Education Programme (EEP), implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
It will be funded through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund and is expected to be delivered within seven to nine months.
The EEP is targeted at easing the energy burden on Nigeria’s public universities and tertiary teaching hospitals by providing reliable, renewable power supply.
The Minister noted that many institutions have faced severe electricity challenges, leading to blackouts and industrial actions, as they struggle to meet exorbitant utility bills from distribution companies.
“The absence of reliable power in most institutions has grown into a crisis. This initiative will bring relief to educational and medical institutions and improve the quality of education and healthcare delivery,” Adelabu said.
He listed the eight benefitting institutions from this phase of the programme: University of Lagos; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; University of Ibadan; University College Hospital, Ibadan; Federal University, Dutse in Jigawa State; and Federal University, Wukari in Taraba State.
The Minister added that the new projects build on earlier interventions executed with World Bank support, which have already delivered solar power installations to several universities, including the University of Abuja (3 megawatts), University of Maiduguri (12MW), University of Calabar (8MW), Nigerian Defence Academy (2.6MW), and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (5MW).
“These institutions are now operating without disruption to electricity supply. The new funding is intended to accelerate deployment to more campuses”, he said.
The second project, valued at ₦68.7 billion including VAT, is for the procurement and deployment of renewable energy infrastructure under the REA’s Agricultural Centres of Excellence initiative.
The programme aims to bring solar-powered electricity to rural communities and agribusiness clusters where grid access is unavailable. It is expected to be completed within three months.
According to Adelabu, the rural electrification project is designed not only to provide lighting for homes but also to power agro-processing activities and other productive uses to boost rural livelihoods.
“This project is meant to empower our rural dwellers by enabling them to engage in productive activities using solar-powered equipment. It’s a key part of our resolve to ensure that no Nigerian is left behind in the transformation of the power sector.
“The total cost approved for this project was N68.7 billion, inclusive of 7.5% VAT, with three months completion or delivery periods. For the Nigerian education, the total project amounts approved was N145 billion, inclusive of 7.5% VAT”, the minister said.
He emphasized that the deployment of off-grid renewable energy solutions aligns with the Tinubu administration’s broader agenda to promote inclusive growth and economic diversification through sustainable infrastructure development.
“The approvals granted today demonstrate President Tinubu’s commitment to transformative investments in power infrastructure that directly impact lives, learning, healthcare, and productivity,” Adelabu stated.
The Federal Government has approved the promotion of 51 Corps Commanders and 49 Deputy Corps Commanders in the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
FRSC spokesman, Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide, announced this in a statement on Thursday.
He said the approval was granted by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, who serves as the supervising authority of the FRSC.
According to him, the approval entails the elevation of 51 Deputy Corps Commanders to the rank of Corps Commander, 49 Assistant Corps Commanders to the rank of Deputy Corps Commander.
The FRSC spokesman said that the SGF expressed satisfaction with the “transparency and merit-based” approach of the exercise, and commended the Corps’ leadership for maintaining objectivity and professionalism.
Ogungbemide said: “The SGF emphasised that the promotion exercise reflects the current administration’s commitment to rewarding excellence, diligence, and hard work.
“He urged the newly promoted officers to rededicate themselves to the Corps’ corporate mission of eradicating road traffic crashes and promoting a safer motoring environment across the nation.”
He said the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, had congratulated the newly promoted officers, and stressed that the recognition was as a result of their dedication and performance.
“The Corps Marshal reiterated his commitment to enhancing staff welfare across the board, calling on all FRSC personnel to remain focused and contribute actively towards achieving the Corps’ strategic goals and safety mandate,” he said.
The Akure Division of the Court of Appeal in Ondo State on Thursday upheld the election of the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as the winner of the November 16, 2024, governorship election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The three-member panel of the Appeal court led by Justice Yargata Nimpar unanimously ruled in Aiyedatiwa’s favour.
It affirmed the decision of the lower Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which earlier validated the governor’s victory in the November 16, 2024 election.
The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate in the election, Agboola Ajayi, to affirm Governor Aiyedatiwa’s election.
The Justice Nimpar led panel of the appellate court dismissed Mr Agboola’s appeal, describing it as devoid of merit.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a one-year extension for the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, whose tenure was originally due to expire on August 31, 2025.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the extension is aimed at enabling Mr. Adeniyi to consolidate ongoing reforms and complete strategic initiatives under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Among the critical projects highlighted are the continued modernisation of the Nigeria Customs Service, the full rollout of the National Single Window Project, and the effective implementation of Nigeria’s commitments under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) protocol.
“The extension, approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, will enable Mr. Adeniyi to consolidate ongoing reforms and complete critical initiatives of this administration,” the statement read.
President Tinubu, the statement added, acknowledged Mr. Adeniyi’s “steadfast leadership and commitment to service” and expressed confidence that the additional year will further strengthen the Nigeria Customs Service in its core mandate areas—trade facilitation, revenue generation, and border security.
Mr. Adeniyi was appointed in 2023 and has since led a number of transformational initiatives aimed at repositioning the Service for efficiency, transparency, and greater alignment with global trade standards.
The Nigeria Customs Service plays a vital role in the country’s economic framework, serving as a gatekeeper for revenue collection and national security at the borders.
With the AfCFTA now entering critical stages of execution, the administration’s decision signals a continued emphasis on trade integration, digital systems enhancement, and cross-border efficiency.
The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has secured the suspension of moviebox.ng, a suspected piracy online site.
NCC, in a statement by its Director General, Dr. John Asein, said the breakthrough was possible with the help of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA).
Asein also warned the general public against falling prey to sites that promise free streaming and downloads as they do not only infringe on copyrights but also target unsuspecting users exposed to malware, financial scams, identity thefts and other fraudulent activities.
The statement reads: “Following its renewed campaign against online piracy, the Nigerian Copyright Commission, with the assistance of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), the Nigerian Registry for the country top level domain, has secured the suspension of MovieBox.ng, an online site known for streaming pirated copyright materials including movies, music and live sports from Nigeria and other countries.
“In a preliminary report issued by the Commission, it described the illicit operations as suggesting a coordinated attempt to sustain piracy operations through clone or fallback domains. It also showed a coordinated effort by the website to evade detection and takedown by using multiple mirror domains to promote and gain access to copyright protected contents and a domain history that aligns with known piracy operations.
“The Commission thanked NiRA for being responsive and called on other role players in the online space, especially Internet Service Providers and intermediaries to always act responsibly and expeditiously to take down notices and blocking directives as required under the Copyright Act, 2022.
“In the meantime, the Commission is also taking steps to make sure that other mirror sites for the platforms are deactivated.
“It again advised the public to be wary of pirate sites that promise free streaming and downloads as they do not only infringe on the copyright but also target unsuspecting users who are exposed to malware, financial scams, identity thefts and other fraudulent activities.”
The suspension, which takes effect from July 20, has been commended by right owner associations in the movie, music and broadcast industries as a welcome development.
They said it shows that Nigeria, through the relevant agencies and other stakeholders, is serious about its renewed fight against online piracy.
The NCC in the year launched the Stand Together against Online Piracy (STOP) campaign calling on all stakeholders – government agencies, ISPs, telecom operators, and industry leaders to stand together as frontline enforcement partners to protect creative content and guarantee the country’s digital future.
NCC, in a statement by its Director General, Dr. John Asein, said the breakthrough was possible with the help of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA).
Asein also warned the general public against falling prey to sites that promise free streaming and downloads as they do not only infringe on copyrights but also target unsuspecting users exposed to malware, financial scams, identity thefts and other fraudulent activities.
The statement reads: “Following its renewed campaign against online piracy, the Nigerian Copyright Commission, with the assistance of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), the Nigerian Registry for the country top level domain, has secured the suspension of MovieBox.ng, an online site known for streaming pirated copyright materials including movies, music and live sports from Nigeria and other countries.
“In a preliminary report issued by the Commission, it described the illicit operations as suggesting a coordinated attempt to sustain piracy operations through clone or fallback domains.
“It also showed a coordinated effort by the website to evade detection and takedown by using multiple mirror domains to promote and gain access to copyright protected contents and a domain history that aligns with known piracy operations.
“The Commission thanked NiRA for being responsive and called on other role players in the online space, especially Internet Service Providers and intermediaries to always act responsibly and expeditiously to take down notices and blocking directives as required under the Copyright Act, 2022.
“In the meantime, the Commission is also taking steps to make sure that other mirror sites for the platforms are deactivated.
“It again advised the public to be wary of pirate sites that promise free streaming and downloads as they do not only infringe on the copyright but also target unsuspecting users who are exposed to malware, financial scams, identity thefts and other fraudulent activities.”
The suspension with effect from July 20 has been commended by right owner associations in the movie, music and broadcast industries as a welcome development.
The Copyright in the year launched the Stand Together against Online Piracy (STOP) campaign calling on all stakeholders – government agencies, ISPs, telecom operators, and industry leaders to stand together as frontline enforcement partners to protect creative content and guarantee the country’s digital future.
The rating came after submissions by members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and key government officials.
They include the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Christopher Musa, and governors, such as Chairman Northern States Governors’ Forum, Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe) and host Governor Uba Sani (Kaduna).
The rating was announced after the two-day roundtable on Government-Citizen Engagement organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF) in Kaduna.
Part of the communiqué made available after the sessions said participants:
• Commended the government’s high performance in delivering electoral promises in many areas, especially security, infrastructural development.
• Called for substantial investment in education to address the out-of-school children crisis, especially in the North.
Summing up the outcome of the event, Minister for Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said: “The verdict from most northern opinion leaders, technocrats, and academics, amongst others, is that the Tinubu Administration is a pro-North in all ramifications – from appointments to spending on the region in infrastructure, health, education, agriculture, livestock, housing, and the unprecedented opportunity it offers for the northern youth.
“The ministers and heads of parastatals who attended the event performed creditably in communicating the achievements of President Tinubu.”
Four ministers – Atiku Bagudu (Budget and National Planning), Muhammad Ali Pate (Coordinating Minister, Health and Social Welfare), Saidu Alkali (Transportation) and Aliyu Abdullahi (Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security) took turns yesterday to reel out what the government had done.
They provided proof that the North had fared well under the Tinubu Administration.
The event served as a platform to assess the administration’s performance and renew calls for more inclusive and transparent governance.
The communiqué reads: “In line with its objective of deepening dialogue between critical stakeholders and the public to drive inclusive decision-making, the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF) hosted a two-day interactive session on Government-Citizen Engagement themed ‘Assessing electoral promises: Fostering Government-Citizen Engagement for National Unity’ at the Arewa House, Kaduna, from 29th to 30th July 2025.
“The Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, HE Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, represented the President, HE Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, while Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar, Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties (Office of the Vice President), represented HE Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON.
“The Kaduna State Governor, HE Senator Uba Sani, served as the chief host. The Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF), HE Inuwa Yahaya, was also in attendance as a special guest.
“The engagement featured representatives of the Federal Government, led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume and included the National Security Adviser, members of the Federal Executive Council, heads of federal agencies, Chief of Defence Staff and security chiefs from the Northern part of the country.
“The event brought together government officials, security agencies, civil society organisations, academics, traditional and religious leaders, private sector representatives, and development partners to deliberate on electoral promises, governance, and strategies to strengthen citizen engagement for national unity.
“In attendance, also, were the leaderships of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, led by HE Muazu Babangida Aliyu, CON and the Arewa Consultative Forum, led by Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, Wazirin Dutse.
“In addition to opening remarks and goodwill messages, the Foundation acknowledged the graciousness of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in sending a high-powered delegation to the interaction, continuing the tradition of engagement that began with the October 17, 2022 session, as part of engagement with the 2023 presidential candidates.
“The keynote address, delivered by Prof. Tijjani Mohammed Bande, GCON underscored critical regional and national challenges, which, he said, were not in isolation from international events.
“Citing examples with other countries, he said Nigeria has shown resilience in tackling insecurity, poverty, and educational deficits. He advised the North to develop a mechanism for negotiating its interests within Nigeria that should be anchored on holistic national development goals.
“The interactive session reflected Northern Nigeria’s position, emphasising the region’s central role in sustaining Nigeria’s political stability and economic growth, and recognising its overwhelming electoral support for the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The session also featured plenary discussions across thematic areas of national security, governance and economy, agriculture and food security, infrastructure development, and human capital development.
“Stakeholders commended the government’s high and commendable performance in fulfilling many of its electoral promises, particularly in security, infrastructure, and economic reforms.
“At the end of the exhaustive and frank conversations over the two days, the summit makes the following observations and resolutions:
Key Observations
•The government demonstrated openness to dialogue and continuous citizen engagement.
•The administration’s delivery of electoral promises in security, infrastructure, and economic reforms was high and commendable.
•Northern Nigeria contributes significantly to national stability, development, and electoral outcomes.
•The problem of Almajiri and out-of-school children remains a key concern of Northern Nigeria.
•Equitable resource distribution is essential to address regional imbalances.
•Major infrastructure projects are advancing, including highways, gas pipelines (AKK), oil exploration (Kolmani), and rural irrigation schemes.
•Agricultural value chains and rural industrialisation are crucial for employment and food security.
•Ongoing economic and security reforms require inclusive and non-kinetic approaches.
•Strengthened federal-state collaboration is essential for regional prosperity.
Key Resolutions
•Made a case for institutionalised periodic government-citizen dialogue platforms at the national and state levels.
•Commended the government’s high performance in delivering electoral promises in many areas, especially security, infrastructural development
•Praised the increased equitable resource availability to subnational authorities.
•Urged substantial investment in education to address the out-of-school children crisis, especially in the North.
•Called for increased and accelerated infrastructural development in Nigeria; strengthening of agricultural value chains, livestock development, and establishing agro-allied industries for economic diversification;
•Continued support for economic and security reforms with inclusive, community-driven, non-kinetic methods.
•Engage civil society, traditional, and religious leaders in policy advocacy and public mobilisation.
•Promote responsible media practices to enhance public trust and national cohesion.
•Foster regional collaboration among Northern states to drive greater interface with the federal government.
“The summit concluded that Northern Nigeria acknowledges and commends the administration’s high performance in fulfilling its electoral promises in many areas and also appreciates subsisting challenges.
“Participants called for more commitment to transparency, fairness and equity as elements that would foster national unity and sustenance of our democracy.
“They further call for continued collaboration among government, citizens, and all stakeholders as the surest path to peace, justice, and prosperity in Nigeria.”
It was signed by Director General SAMF Abubakar Gambo Umar.
Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, former Niger State Governor Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, called on the North elite to rise above political differences and reclaim their collective responsibility toward regional progress.
He lamented the erosion of shared values and fragmentation of leadership voices in the region, noting that, unlike in the past, today’s political class has failed to speak with one voice or uphold the legacy of unity and vision exemplified by leaders like Sir Ahmadu Bello.
Dr. Aliyu acknowledged the significant presence of Northerners in the current administration, stressing the need for the region to rally behind those in government and reminding them that they represent broader Northern interests, not just personal ambitions or party lines.
“No politician from the North can claim today that we don’t have people in government.
“What we need is to own them, guide them, and ensure they act in our collective interest,” Aliyu said.
N20b spent on 4,300 PHCs in North
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Pate, said: “The Federal Government, through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, had disbursed over N20 billion for the funding of 4,362 PHC centres across the 19 Northern states and FCT, over the last two years.
“At least 274 projects had been executed across 35 tertiary hospitals in the Northern part of the country, serving over 4.5 million outpatients and 1.6 million inpatients.
“The President Bola Tinubu-led administration is committed to improving national health outcomes and matched words with action, with the provision of health infrastructure across all levels of healthcare delivery nationwide.”
Kaduna–Kano Rail project ready next year
Transportation Minister Alkali described the North as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the Tinubu Administration’s infrastructure drive.
He assured that the Kaduna–Kano standard gauge rail project, which was at 15 per cent stage in May 2023, would be completed next year.
According to him, the Kano–Maradi rail line had also seen massive progress, moving from five per cent to 61 per cent completion, with sections of the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri narrow gauge rail corridor also underway.
He added that the ministry has also begun the rehabilitation of the Lagos–Kano narrow gauge line to support freight movements and bring the inland dry ports into full use, particularly in Kano and Kaduna.
The minister described the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, a 1,068-kilometre stretch linking Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos states, as one of the signature projects of the government.
“The North is not left out. It is reaping big from this government’s infrastructure revolution. From roads and rail to inland ports and power, the evidence is on the ground,” Alkali said.
No more briefcase farmers, says Senator Abdullahi
Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security Aliyu Abdullahi said the Tinubu Administration met the food crisis in the country but responded with bold, data-driven initiatives.
“We are ensuring that only genuine farmers benefit from government programmes. No more briefcase farmers,” he declared.
The minister added that the declaration of a state of emergency on food security was still in effect, as the government continues to deploy measures aimed at increasing production, stabilising prices, and improving access to food.
“Our priority is simple: ramp up production, reduce food prices, and ensure equitable access to support.
“We met a food crisis and responded with data-backed, targeted actions,” Abdullahi said.
He said that the Agro-Pocket initiative alone cultivated over 133,000 hectares of wheat across 15 states in the North — exceeding the initial target of 130,000 hectares — with Jigawa accounting for over 50,000 hectares.
According to him, rice farmers have also been supported through a plan targeting 44,500 producers, and this is being backed by robust extension services to address the unacceptable extension-to-farmer ratio of 1 to 25,000.
Abdullahi said one of the key steps taken was the development of a farmer data audit and registry to eliminate middlemen and “briefcase contractors.”
In the livestock sector, he said, government interventions included the development of grazing reserves, livestock villages, transit shelters, and the ongoing formulation of a national dairy policy.
Abdullahi called on North’s leaders and communities to reject impostors who manipulate the system and short-change real farmers.
Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, described the Sokoto–Zaria Highway as a vital economic corridor.
He said four contractors were currently on site along the stretch.
Hospitals and health centres across the states were gripped by silence as a nationwide strike emptied wards and emergency units as a result of nurses strike.
Hospitals discharged patients, and only skeletal or emergency services were available in some facilities.
The workers are demanding improved staffing, better facilities, and recognition in healthcare decision-making.
The Federal Government appealed to the nurses and midwives to call off the seven-day warning strike.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, made the appeal after a meeting with the leadership of the association yesterday.
According to spokesman of the ministry Patience Onuobia, the minister implored the association to step back from the action, saying that a strike was not the best solution to industrial disputes.
The minister urged the association to embrace dialogue while the government continues to work on addressing their concerns.
The meeting will continue tomorrow while the government works out a resolution to the dispute.
The association on July 10 issued a 15-day ultimatum to the government.
Some of the demands include: creation of a department for Nursing in the Federal Ministry of Health; shift duty allowance for nurses at 30 per cent consolidated; 20 per cent specialist allowance; upward review of uniform allowance of N300,000 per annum; constitution of Governing Board of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN); constitution of board of Federal Health institutions to reflect fair representation of nurses.
Others are: upward review of call duty allowance at four per cent consolidated; centralisation and re-categorisation of intern Nurses; payment of 35 per cent teaching allowance to all nurses; payment of peculiar excess workload and burnout allowance to nurses; payment of retention allowance to nurses in order to mitigate brain drain; and tax waiver for health professionals.
Unlike the doctors who frequently go on strike, the strike by the nurses is the first time in more than 40 years.
Patients groan
At the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, the bustling corridors and emergency ward were ghostly quiet—no staff, no patients, only abandoned beds and idle equipment.
Isolo General Hospital mirrored the scene, with most departments shut and only a few units operating at skeletal capacity.
Igando General Hospital was perhaps the starkest, its maternity ward lined with unattended mothers, their calls for help echoing in deserted halls.
“The doctor came earlier and assured me I’ll be discharged soon,” said Grace, a patient waiting anxiously amid the staff absence.
Patients groaned as nurses in government hospitals across Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, withdrew their services to press home their demands.
At the General Hospital in Kubwa, critical services at the government-owned facility were either skeletal or completely halted.
In the Emergency Male Ward, the impact of the industrial action was immediately visible, as the ward stood empty and devoid of patients.
“There are no nurses to attend to the patients. We had to discharge all of them. We will only attend to emergency cases that don’t require admission.
“If they’re admitted, there’s simply no one to care for them,” a medical doctor said.
The Special Clinic was largely unaffected, with consultations continuing as usual, while staff at the Dental Clinic confirmed that the absence of nurses had not significantly disrupted services.
Rising from an emergency congress held at the Nurses’ Lounge of the hospital, the nurses and midwives resolved to align with the directive in the interest of the workers.
Many nurses who had earlier reported for duty were seen returning home, singing solidarity songs and chanting jubilantly in support of the strike.
State Chairman, Comrade Olufunmilola Familu, said the association’s demands include the employment of more nursing personnel, provision of adequate facilities for hospitals and health institutions, and the creation of a directorate cadre for nurses at the Federal Ministry of Health, among others.
The Kwara State chapter of NANNM joined the strike.
Its State Council Chairman, Alhaji Aminu Sheu, said: “We are joining the strike because it is the directive of the national body.”
Sheu, however, commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for increasing nurses’ salaries in the state for the third time, in line with federal directives.
“We joined the strike to show solidarity with the national body and to avoid any disciplinary consequences,” he added.
Similarly, the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC) chapter of NANNM joined the strike.
Its chairman, Lawrence Oyeniyi, lamented that nurses are frequently sidelined in healthcare decision-making, which negatively impacts service delivery.
In Bayelsa, public hospitals abruptly discharged patients.
At the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Yenagoa, only a few patients were seen wandering around the wards without medical attention. Some said they had been waiting to see doctors since 8 a.m., while others with scheduled appointments were left unattended.
Chairman of NANNM at FMC Yenagoa, Mr. Liberia Progress, who led the enforcement team, confirmed that no skeletal services would be available during the strike.
Nurses across state and federal health institutions in Niger also joined the nationwide strike.
Several primary healthcare centres, including the Kpakungun PHC, Tunga PHC, and General Hospital Minna, had no nurses in sight.
Nurses at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) were also on strike, leaving only resident doctors to attend to patients.
In Delta, nurses at the Central Hospital, Warri, downed tools, and patients were turned away.
In Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Adeoyo Hospital discharged patients on admission.
Many wards were empty, with only a few critical patients remaining — but with no nurses to attend to them.
A relative of a patient in the female ward, Mr. Adegoke Rahman, said some patients had been told to go home.
Mr. Samuel Biyi, an outpatient, said he came to treat a leg wound but was not attended to.
Medical and other health services at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia, the Abia State capital, were also grounded as nurses joined the strike.
Similarly, activities at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in Edo State were paralysed.
A child who feeds is a child who can learn. A people who are empowered and catered for will birth a society that will replenish the roots from which it emerged.
As Nigeria battles with poverty, community displacement, and youth unemployment, the Northern part of the country often seems to bear a disproportionate weight of these developmental challenges. But for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, addressing multidimensional poverty in the region requires not just funding but also structural reforms and inclusive community engagement.
Two years into the administration, the indelible impact of the Renewed Hope Agenda on social investment and humanitarian support across the North has become the subject of countless testimonials.
From the non-government and philanthropic perspective, the Renewed Hope Foundation, empathically and skillfully led by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has donated tens of billions of naira in all parts of Northern Nigeria in the form of proactive direct support for widows, orphans, and indigent elderly citizens, as well as structured support through skill-building programmes and entrepreneurship support for Nigerians in remote rural and urban communities at a time when the Renewed Hope Initiative is already providing hundreds of scholarships across the north.
From the government’s perspective, a key pillar of the Tinubu administration’s strategy has been the expansion and deployment of the National Social Register (NSR) as a tool for precisely identifying and targeting vulnerable households. As of mid-2025, over 13 million households and 48 million individuals from Northern Nigeria had been enrolled into the NSR, creating one of the most comprehensive databases on poverty in the region.
This data-backed approach has allowed the federal government to launch more effective Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programmes. Out of the targeted 15 million households nationwide, over 60.4 percent are in the northern zone, a deliberate effort to close the region’s historic poverty gap.
So far, N297 billion, about 44 percent of all national disbursements, has been paid to 3.9 million northern households as part of the ongoing conditional cash transfer programme. These transfers are helping millions of families meet basic needs such as food, shelter, and healthcare, while incentivizing school attendance and healthcare access, among other numerous benefits.
However, the Tinubu administration has gone beyond cash transfers. Under the intentional leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Nigeria for Women Programme (NFWP) has been significantly scaled up across Northern states. In Kebbi, Niger, and Taraba States alone, 241,880 women have received enterprise support and agro-processing equipment to enhance their productivity and business potential. Sixteen Northern states have signed Subsidiary Loan Agreements, signalling their commitment to scaling up the initiative. This demonstrates strong alignment between federal and state governments, a collaboration essential for sustained growth and development in the region.
To grow an inclusive economy where women can contribute more significantly to the growth of household wealth, and by extension, national GDP growth, President Tinubu’s Women Agro Value Expansion Programme has ensured that modern agricultural tools have been distributed to women smallholder farmers, and over 5 million female farmers have been empowered with mechanisation support, access to farming inputs, and market linkage services. This is not only expanding their productivity; it is solidifying their place in the nation’s agricultural economy, long dominated by male stakeholders.
Across the north, where skills acquisition remains essential in all efforts to unlock youth potential, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation has trained 1,000 youths, 54 percent of whom are from Northern states. These beneficiaries received hands-on training in automobile mechanics, solar power installation, and agricultural practices to equip them for sustainable livelihoods.
The Tinubu administration has gone a step further. In order to deepen support for internally displaced populations, the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) and the humanitarian ministry cultivated 10,000 hectares of farmland, specifically for households displaced by conflict. These agricultural initiatives are tailored to promote both food security and income generation within affected communities.
Recognizing that shelter is fundamental to recovery, the federal government constructed 289 housing units for IDPs in Nasarawa, Zamfara, Kano, Kaduna, Borno, and Katsina States. Additionally, seven Skills Acquisition Centres have been completed in Niger, Borno, Katsina, Kano, and Zamfara, providing ongoing training hubs for community development and touching lives.
President Tinubu’s social investment strategy also hinges on partnerships. Beyond federal funding, the government has built strong alliances with Non-Governmental Organizations, state governments, and private sector actors to expand reach. This synergy is structured in a manner to avoid duplication of efforts. The administration has developed a collaborative platform that enables state and local governments to align with national initiatives. Through this model, federal policies are better localized and federal resources reach those in need more efficiently.
For example, in Kwara State, the federal government inaugurated the Volunteers for Citizens Assembly on Community Engagement across all 16 local government areas. The platform encourages grassroots participation, monitors service delivery, and helps shape programme design based on community feedback. Close monitoring shows that this has been effective in achieving its aim.
The Renewed Hope Debit Card initiative was launched through a partnership between the federal government and the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA). This initiative provides cash and service access in a dignified, transparent, and traceable manner eliminating the long queues and middlemen historically associated with welfare programs.
Despite these gains, the administration acknowledges that much remains to be done. The North continues to face a significant multidimensional poverty gap, requiring deeper coordination between national and subnational actors.
Federal authorities have encouraged sub-national governments to design and implement complementary social investment programmes, using the National Social Register to identify and reach their poorest populations. The goal is to ensure that interventions are not only top-down, but tailored to the specific needs and realities of each community.
The government has also called for data-driven, collaborative models across the board where NGOs, local businesses, and civil society actors pool resources and expertise. Stakeholders are further urged to support essential services like education, healthcare, and economic empowerment, especially for IDPs and rural women.
In the evolving social support landscape, the government fully recognizes the role of the media and civil society organizations in ensuring transparency, accountability, and feedback.
Consequently, the administration not only ensures that reporting on both the impact and the gaps of government programmes, especially in the north, are highlighted, it ensures that policy remains rooted in public need and performance.
To build the momentum necessary for deeper and sustained transformation in the North, the Tinubu administration has charged media to amplify advocacy campaigns around gender equality, healthcare access, and education reform.
The Renewed Hope Agenda, as it plays out in the North, is taking shape not only in numbers but in lives transformed from a widow receiving her first cash transfer, to a displaced farmer tilling new land, and to a young man installing his first solar panel after completing technical training, among several other instances too numerous to highlight here.
The social investment story in Northern Nigeria is still unfolding. But for millions of people long ignored, this administration’s approach is not just offering something visible, but doing so with dignity and hope.
Bature, a civil society advocate, writes from Jos, Plateau State
The Presidency has dismissed as false and implausible the claim by former National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ralph Nwosu, that he was offered three ministerial appointments to back out of plans to align the ADC with the opposition coalition.
Responding on Wednesday via his verified X handle, the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, described Nwosu’s allegations as a fabrication lacking credibility.
“From his words as reported, you know that he lied,” Bwala stated in the post, referring to Nwosu’s suggestion that senior officials of the Tinubu administration had offered him multiple ministerial slots in exchange for abandoning his party’s coalition pressure.
Bwala presented three key points to counter Nwosu’s allegation.
“No government official(s) of whatever rank in our government can promise or grant ministerial slots but Mr President,” he said, adding that if such an offer were to be made, it would have come directly from President Tinubu himself and not from any intermediaries.
He also questioned Nwosu’s failure to name those allegedly involved in the purported offer.
“The same courage he mustered saying he was promised slots by the officials could have been used in mentioning their names and positions in this government,” Bwala argued.
Mocking the opposition’s efforts to form a united front, the presidential aide concluded, “they are painfully graduating to association of jesters or Association of Disorganised Characters.”
