Nigerian lenders, under the aegis of Humanity Development and Empowerment Organisation (HDEO), has urged the Federal Government to remit to its members the N12 billion loans deducted from civil servants’ salaries but have not been credited to the lenders.
The outgoing HDEO National President, Dr. Osita Nebolisa, made the request during a leadership handover ceremony yesterday in Abuja.
Nebilisa said the loans, though deducted from workers’ pay slips and salaries, had remained unremitted.
The HDEO national president urged the newly elected executive, led by Mr. Dele Apanisile, to resolve the matter with the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
According to him, the association is a coalition of financial institutions, including commercial banks, microfinance banks, and finance companies, working collectively to promote equitable lending practices and financial inclusion for Nigeria’s workforce.
Nebolisa said: “One of our most pressing challenges remains the recovery of over N12 billion deducted but unremitted funds. I urge all members to provide unwavering support to the Exco in addressing this critical issue.
“The incoming leadership, comprising largely experienced members from the current team, brings valuable continuity to this effort.
“To those few who may have reservations, I appeal for unified support of their strategies to retrieve these funds and prevent future losses through the IPPIS deduction system.”
During his tenure from November 2022 to November 2024, Dr. Nebolisa, the founder of Visa Microfinance Bank Limited, recalled that over N6.2 billion loans were provided to more than 2,400 federal civil servants.
He said there was the signing of a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) in 2023, which established a framework for equitable access to credit while protecting stakeholders’ interests.
The new executive promised to build on the achievements of the past administration.
4 Main Page
IGP Egbetokun dismisses AI’s Report on police during protest against hardship
· ‘Viral video showing policemen scooping fuel fake’
From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja
Police authorities have faulted a report by Amnesty International (AI) of alleged police brutality during the #EndBadGovernance protests.
The police said the recent 34-page report by AI, which alleged police culpability in the deaths and arrests of protesters, as well as the use of force during the August protests contained falsehood and misinformation.
The Force Headquarters (FHQ) described the allegations as unfounded, misleading, and inconsistent with incident reports submitted to the Office of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) by affected commands.
The police reiterated that throughout the protests, it operated in compliance with established rules of engagement, including providing security for peaceful protesters.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun had issued directives to all police commissioners across the country on how to manage the protests, emphasising that officers should not deploy arms during the protests.
He directed that arms were only to be used when protests escalated into riots resulting in the loss of lives and damage to property.
A statement yesterday in Abuja by Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) Olumuyiwa Adejobi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), reads: “Even then, engagement with armed protesters was limited strictly to specialised armed units to restore order.
“The Nigeria Police Force recorded several unpalatable incidents during the protests, which were accurately documented and publicly shared. For example, in Borno State, four individuals tragically lost their lives, and 34 others sustained severe injuries following an attack by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP operatives who infiltrated the protest and detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
“Similarly, in another isolated incident, an unregistered vehicle rammed into protesters, resulting in two fatalities. These events, which accounted for the total of seven recorded deaths during the protests, were not caused by police actions.
“Furthermore, in Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Nasarawa, and Niger states, some protesters displayed foreign flags, destroyed public and private property, and attacked police personnel deployed to ensure their safety. The Police Force had to employ strategic measures, including the lawful use of tear gas, to prevent further escalation and ensure public safety.
“The use of tear gas is a globally accepted practice for dispersing unruly crowds and was applied judiciously without recourse to live ammunition.
“It is important to state that the police did not fire live ammunition nor cause the death of any protester. Officers demonstrated professionalism, restraint, and adherence to constitutional and international standards, even when subjected to attacks and injuries.”
Read Also: Fed Govt to fund innovations, transform economy
Adejobi said the arrests made during the protests targeted individuals engaging in criminal acts, such as treason, vandalism, robbery, arson, and looting.
The FPRO explained that the arrests were conducted lawfully, while those detained were treated within the ambit of the law.
“In a gesture of magnanimity, the Federal Government has since granted pardon to the individuals arrested during the protests, despite the severity of their offences, evidencing its commitment to reconciliation and national unity,” he said.
In response to Amnesty International’s allegations, the IGP has directed a comprehensive investigation into the claims.
Egbetokun also directed police commissioners in the affected states to submit further detailed reports on the incidents within one week.
The directive, he said, aimed to identify any deviation from the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and rules of engagement, irrespective of the security agencies involved.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to safeguarding the fundamental rights of all citizens, promoting the rule of law, and improving its operational standards based on constructive and objective feedback,” the statement added.
Also, the NPF yesterday dismissed a viral video purportedly showing uniformed officers scooping fuel from an overturned tanker.
It explained that those involved in the act were not members of the Force.
A statement by Adejobi said those in the video were personnel from a neighbouring Francophone country whose uniforms resemble those of the Nigerian police.
The officers in the video speak French, further confirming their non-affiliation with the NPF.
Adejobi condemned the spread of the misleading video, emphasising its potential to damage the police force’s reputation.
“Such actions undermine the integrity of the force and have far-reaching negative consequences for the nation,” he added.
Adejobi reiterated the commitment of the NPF, under IGP Egbetokun, to maintaining professionalism and ensuring public safety.
He urged Nigerians to verify information before sharing such to prevent misinformation and avoid national disunity.
2 Main Page
Fed Govt raises 2025 HIV response fund
· 36,066 on treatment in Kogi
· Niger records 2,647 cases in one year
· Ayedatiwa leads awareness road walk
From Osagie Otabor, Akure, Dele Anofi, Abuja, Justina Asishana, Minna, Olaide Oyelude, Lokoja
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, has said Nigeria is making progress in the effort to achieve the global target of ending HIV/AIDS by 2030 through a series of comprehensive and ambitious initiatives.
Pate spoke yesterday at a virtual World AIDS Day media roundtable organised by the Global Fund.
The minister outlined Federal Government’s key strategies to combat the disease through the adoption of the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) to streamline resources and enhance accountability across national and sub-national levels.
“This approach ensures accountability and establishes robust reporting and monitoring systems,” he said.
Pate, who was represented by the Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Temitope Olori, said private sector engagement through the HIV Trust Fund had also been instrumental in mobilising domestic resources with major enterprises and philanthropists contributing to the fight.
The minister said a ₦1.3 trillion allocation to healthcare for 2025 had been proposed, marking a significant increase in funding, out of which ₦10 billion was earmarked for antiretroviral treatment and prevention, targeting support for at least 100,000 Nigerians living with HIV.
He said the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) provides funding for vulnerable groups, including those affected by HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, through a one per cent revenue contribution from the Consolidated National Fund.
According to him, Nigeria is prioritising the domestic production of HIV-related commodities, including condoms, antiretroviral drugs, and rapid test kits, to enhance sustainability.
Pate said discussions would be held with pharmaceutical companies to establish production facilities through government tax waivers on equipment.
The minister announced that production is expected to begin by the end of 2025, contingent on meeting the World Health Organisation (WHO) prequalification standards.
“This initiative aims to reduce dependency on foreign exchange and lower costs,” he said.
Pate also said workforce development is another cornerstone of the strategy, with over 40,000 health workers trained this year and a target of 120,000 by 2025.
The minister said the government had intensified prevention efforts with the Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme, testing over four million expectant mothers in 2023, which surpassed expectations.
“We have mapped 40,000 health facilities offering HIV services to ensure broader access to care,” he said.
Pate noted that significant challenges remained, including stigma, discrimination, and the criminalisation of key populations.
“Stigma and discrimination deter people from accessing medication and care,” he said, stressing the importance of addressing these issues.
According to him, the efforts to combat HIV/AIDs were facing funding constraints at the sub-national level, though recent reforms granting autonomy to local governments offer hope for improved resource mobilisation.
Pate emphasised the critical role of data in ensuring accountability and effective planning, saying efforts to improve data quality and digitise health records are included in the broader strategy to modernise Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“Reliable data enhances transparency and coordination with international partners,” he said, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to programmatic and financial sustainability.
The Executive Director of Global Fund, Peter Sands, warned of donor fatigue and risks posed by funding cuts.
He emphasised the need for more investment in prevention and treatment.
The United States Global AIDS Coordinator for the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), John Nkengasong, highlighted the programme’s support for local manufacturing in Africa, a key pillar for sustaining the HIV response and enhancing health security.
“We have committed to purchasing 15 million made-in-Africa HIV rapid tests and millions of antiretroviral doses, contingent on their meeting stringent regulatory and cost-effectiveness standards,” he said.
Nkengasong linked regional manufacturing to broader global health resilience, particularly in crises like COVID-19.
He acknowledged some challenges, including affordability and maintaining quality standards, saying: “Cost remains a barrier for many. We must avoid premium pricing for locally manufactured products.”
Also, the acting Executive Secretary of Kogi State Agency for the Control of Aids (KOSACA), Ibrahim Anate, has said 36,066 people are receiving HIV/AIDS treatment in the state.
He said the state government was taking steps to stem the rise of the deadly disease.
Anate spoke yesterday in Lokoja, the state capital, during this year’s commemoration of the World AIDS Day organised by the Centre for Integrated Health Programmes (CIHP) in collaboration with the Kogi State Agency for the Control of AIDS.
Anate announced that the state was “seriously fighting the scourge and we are giving the awareness to all the communities and the hard-to-reach areas of the awareness of HIV in Kogi State”.
He added: “The state government under Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo is striving hard to see that people that are living with HIV/AIDs are on treatment and those pregnant women that are HIV-positive deliver babies that are negative.”
Also, the Niger State Commissioner for Secondary and Tertiary Healthcare, Dr. Bello Tukur, has said out of 85,170 clients counselled and tested from January to October 30, a total of 2,646 tested positive with HIV and 88 of them were expectant mothers.
Tukur said said the state had 33,937 people living with HIV and were receiving treatment.
The commissioner said over 30,000 people were on lifesaving drugs in the state.
Tukur said this while addressing reporters during the commemoration of this year’s World AiDS Day at the General Hospital in Minna, the state capital.
The commissioner noted that despite these figures, the state remained committed to sustaining the best practices that helped it in reducing the HIV prevalence to 0.7 per cent, the lowest in the Northcentral.
Tukur, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Muhammad Gana, said there were no facts on who tested positive for HIV in the course of the year.
“The early infant diagnosis for the total number of infants who had a first virologic HIV test sample collected for the year under review from PMTCT sites stands at 86.
“Out of this total number of samples sent, none were found to be HIV positive. All those that passed through the PMTCT services turned out HIV negative.”
Also, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa yesterday led a road walk to increase awareness on the need to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the state.
The road walk was also meant to mobilise support for people living with the virus.
Aiyedatiwa led the road walk from the Government House at Alagbaka to the MKO Abiola Democracy Park in Akure, a distance of about four kilomtres.
Addressing the participants, the governor said his administration was committed to eradicating HIV/AIDS through various interventions.
He listed the state’s procured HIV test kits for all health facilities, established monitoring and evaluation programmes for family life and HIV education in secondary schools as part of the interventions.
Aiyedatiwa called for stronger collaboration among civil society organisations (CSOs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and religious groups to achieve the state’s goal of zero new HIV infections by 2030.
“As a government of the people, we are committed to the sustainability of HIV prevention in the state. We shall continue to provide enabling environments, social policies, and programmes to facilitate HIV/AIDS prevention,” he said.
