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AfDB President Commits to Supporting C’River Health, Agricultural Sectors

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From Ene Asuquo, Calabar

The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has pledged substantial investment support for Cross River State’s health and agriculture sectors.

Speaking during a state banquet organized in his honor, Dr.

Adesina outlined bold plans to support primary healthcare delivery in addition to the investments they are already promoting in the state with the launch of the Special Agro Processing Zone project.

He commended the leadership qualities of the State Governor, Sen. Bassey Otu, noting that the Governor is indeed a “passionate, action-driven, and accountable leader, doing so much in infrastructure.

” He noted that with what Otu has done in partnership with Afrixem Bank for the Bakassi Deep Seaport project, Cross River State will soon be a very important logistics and industrial processing hub beyond Nigeria, covering the entire West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.

Adesina also pledged to support the Governor’s efforts in the revitalization of primary health centers and the state health insurance initiative. “We will help ensure that primary healthcare centers are not only revitalized but connected digitally to enable seamless access and portability of health records.” He also advocated for the adoption of a sustainable franchise-based business model for healthcare delivery, designed to improve nationwide access and quality.

Adesina expressed excitement over the launch of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) in Cross River, describing the project as a game-changer for the state’s economy.

In his remarks, Governor Bassey Otu reaffirmed his administration’s focus on driving economic independence and reducing overdependence on federal allocations. He outlined three strategic pillars: security, food security, and energy security, as central to unlocking sustainable development in the state.

Otu revealed that several dormant state-owned assets are being recovered and revitalized, significantly improving investor confidence and making Cross River one of Nigeria’s most attractive investment destinations.

He also emphasized efforts to integrate Cross River into regional economic corridors with Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea while expanding agricultural productivity through large-scale cocoa, cassava, and other crops. Reflecting on his recent annual vacation, he joked that he felt “younger and more energized,” ready to intensify efforts toward the state’s transformation. Otu thanked his deputy governor and cabinet members for their stewardship in his absence and described the state’s progress as divinely inspired.

Former Minister of Culture and Tourism, High Chief Edem Duke, in his welcome address, celebrated the banquet as a convergence of visionary leadership. He described Governor Otu as a “turbocharged” developer and lauded his commitment to infrastructure and economic growth. Turning to Dr. Adesina, Duke called him “Africa’s number one technocrat,” hailing his landmark initiatives like the electronic wallet for farmers and his legacy of driving agricultural transformation across the continent.

He praised both leaders for their alignment in vision and their dedication to inclusive development. “Dr. Adesina is not just a leader—he is a divine pathfinder, illuminating Africa’s future,” Duke declared.

Health

NCDC Warns of Cholera Surge, Gives Updates on Other Outbreaks

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 The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has issued a public health advisory following a significant surge in cholera cases across 30 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in nine states.

During a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, the Director-General of the NCDC, Dr                    Jide Idris, expressed concern over the rising number of cholera infections as the rainy season begins.

He warned that the situation posed a serious public health threat.

“As of April 28, 2025, over 1,141 suspected cholera cases and 30 deaths have been reported across multiple states, with Bayelsa, Lagos, Abia, and Zamfara among the most affected,” he said.

Idris attributed the outbreak to poor sanitation, inadequate access to clean water, and widespread open defecation.

He said the NCDC was working in collaboration with state governments, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, and development partners to strengthen surveillance, improve access to oral rehydration therapy, and promote hygiene education.

On Lassa fever, he reported a decline in weekly cases but warned that the disease remained persistent in endemic states such as Edo, Ondo, and Bauchi.

“We must not relax. The virus is still circulating in the rodent population,” he cautioned.

He also noted continued transmission of Mpox, with recent cases reported in Lagos, Rivers, and the Federal Capital Territory.

“While no deaths have been recorded in the past month, the virus continues to spread through close contact,” he added.

On Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM), Idris stated that outbreaks had occurred in Sokoto, Kebbi, and Yobe states, predominantly affecting children and young adults.

He said vaccination campaigns were underway in high-burden areas, supported by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and Gavi.

Idris further emphasised the urgent need for the rational use of antibiotics in managing the ongoing outbreaks, warning that misuse, particularly in cholera and Lassa fever treatment, could worsen antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

“We must remind our health workers and communities that not every illness requires antibiotics.

“Inappropriate use during outbreaks is a silent pandemic that could undermine our ability to treat infections in the future,” he warned.

He urged Nigerians to adopt preventive measures such as regular hand washing, proper waste disposal, and early medical attention when symptoms of any of the listed diseases were observed.

“Public health is a shared responsibility,” Idris said, calling on the media and civil society groups to support risk communication and community engagement efforts

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General News

FRSC Gets New Sector Commander in Osun 

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 The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has appointed Mr Leye Adegboyega as the new Sector Commander for Osun RS11.1 Command.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adegboyega, who assumed on on May 2, took over from Mr Taofeeq Sokumbi , who has been redeployed.

NAN further reports that the new sector commander until his appointment was the Zonal Head of Operations at Zone RS11 Command Headquarters, Osogbo.

He was was enlisted into the service of the Federal Road Safety Corps on Nov. 1, 1993, and was appointed as the Personal Assistant to the Director of Operations, a post he held till 1998.

Adegboyega was later redeployed and appointed the pioneer Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to the erstwhile Acting Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the FRSC, Mr Danyaro Yakasai.

In 1999, he was redeployed to the then Department of Planning, Research and Statistics (PRAS) as the Staff Officer (Statistics) and in 2003, he was posted to Imo  Sector Command as Staff Officer (Operations).

The new sector commander was in 2005 redeployed to Owo Unit Command in Ondo State as the Unit Head of Administration and Human Resources, a position he occupied until 2009, as an Assistant Corps Commander l.

After several promotions and awards, he was promoted to his present rank of Corps Commander in April 2022.

The new sector commander was redeployed on April1, 2022 to the Federal Road Safety Command and Staff College, Udi, Enugu State, as Director of Coordination, a position he held till July 2023.

In July 2023, he was redeployed to Zone RS11 Command Headquarters, Osogbo as the Zonal Head of Operations.

Adegboyega was born in Abeokuta on  July 25,  1969, to the family of Late Pa Femi Adeleye and Mrs Felicia Adeleye from Ayetoro in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

He attended St. Andrew’s Primary School, Ibara, Abeokuta, from 1974 to 1979 and later proceeded to the prestigious African Church Grammar School, Ita-Eko, Abeokuta, from where he obtained the West African Secondary School Certificate (WASSCE) in 1985.

He bagged a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree in Political Science from the Ogun State University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, in the year 1992  and later did his mandatory one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)  in Enugu with the Federal Road Safety Corps.

Adegboyega received commendations for his outstanding performance and was subsequently given automatic employment by the FRSC Management in 1993.

He is married to Mrs Oluwayemisi Elizabeth and the union is blessed with four lovely children.

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JUDICIARY

Court Remands 6 Men Docked Over Alleged Breach of Peace, Unlawful Gathering

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A Grade A Customary Court at Mapo in Ibadan has remanded six men standing trial for alleged breach of public peace, following their inability to meet their bail conditions.

The defendants are; Ismail Oladipupo, Ridwan Raji, Biodun Gbadamosi, Usman Mohammed, Samuel Olowu and Sunday Akande.

Due to their inability to meet bail, the Court President, Mrs S.

M. Akintayo, ordered that the six defendants be remanded in Abolongo Correctional Centre in Oyo.

Akintayo had admitted each of the defendants to N200,000 bail after they all pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful gathering and conduct likely to cause breach of the peace.

The court also ordered that the defendants should provide two reliable sureties, one of whom must be a community leader.

However, the six men could not meet the bail conditions and therefore were remanded at the Abolongo Correctional Centre in Oyo town.

Akintayo subsequently adjourned the suit until June 24 for hearing.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Ayodele Ayeni, had told the court that the defendants committed the offences on April 14, at 12:45 a.m., at Agbaje Market, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Ayeni said that the defendants were arrested after they were caught using various dangerous objects such as cutlasses, broken bottles and stones, daring anybody to confront them.

According to him, the six men by their actions allegedly caused apprehension and fear in the entire community.

He stated that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 516, 416 and 249 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 vol. II Law of Oyo State 2000

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