NEWS
FEC Approves $1.07bn for Health Sector Reform

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a total of $1.
07 billion in financing for healthcare sector reforms under the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) program, as well as a N4.8 billion allocation for HIV treatment, signaling a major investment in Nigeria’s health sector. This was contained in a statement by the Ministry of Health through the Deputy Director, Information & Public Relations, Alaba Balogun in Abuja. The statement reads, “The announcement was made by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, who disclosed that the World Bank’s concessional financing arm, the International Development Association (IDA), has provided two concessional loans of $500 million each, alongside $70 million in grant funding from other international bodies.”The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, elaborated on the key components of the financing, stating that the HOPE program aligns with the administration’s agenda to strengthen human capital development.”Elaborating further, Prof. Pate explained that the funds will be directed toward improving governance in healthcare and enhancing primary healthcare services nationwide.“This financing will support recruitment, training, and retention of healthcare workers and teachers at the subnational level,” Pate said.“Additionally, $500 million is dedicated to expanding the quality, utilization, and resilience of the primary healthcare system, including emergency maternal and child health services.””As part of broader healthcare reforms, the council also approved N4.8 billion for the procurement of 150,000 HIV treatment packs over the next four months.”This initiative, Pate emphasized, underscores the federal government’s commitment to providing life-saving treatment and reducing healthcare costs for vulnerable populations.”Furthermore, the FEC discussed the implications of recent U.S. policy changes on Nigeria’s health programs, particularly regarding HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria funding”.A multi-ministerial committee, including representatives from the Ministries of Finance, Health, Defense, and Environment, as well as the Governors’ Forum, has been tasked with developing a transition and sustainability plan to mitigate potential funding disruptions.“This administration is committed to ensuring that those receiving treatment do not experience interruptions,” Pate assured. “We appreciate the U.S. government’s contributions over the years and remain committed to a constructive partnership while strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system with domestic resources.”With these decisions, President Bola Tinubu’s led administration has reinforced its focus on healthcare, human capital development, and financial sustainability, setting the stage for transformative improvements in the nation’s social services sector. FTHL Unions Expresses Confidence in CMD’s LeadershipFrom Joseph Amedu, LokojaThe Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja (FTHL), have denied the allegation of any industrial crisis in the hospital.The joint unions were reacting to the protest embarked on by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), FTHL, demanding the immediate reinstatement of its suspended President, Dr. Jimoh Umar.The doctors claimed that the Federal Government through the Minister of Health, Prof. Ali Pate, has approved the reinstatement of the suspended President, and demanded for its implementation.However, the Chairman of JOHESU), John Umoche; Chairman of NANNM, Abdulmalik Idris and Chairman of Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria, Dr Lawal Mohammed, FTHL, in a press Conference held in Lokoja, described the allegation as “unfortunate and inhuman”The unions collectively expressed confidence in the capacity of the current administration under the leadership of Dr. Olatunde Alabi, as the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of FTHL.They noted that the unions in its emergency meeting of unit excos of JOHESU and NANNM dissociated themselves with the content of the publication in its entirety.The unions also refuted the claim that the FTHL was having only 43 doctors, stressing that the hospital currently has a total of 228 doctors.According to him, the 228 doctors comprised 49 residents, 86 consultants, 42 medical officers, 43 house officers (HOs), and 7 others.”The said publication is a complete opposite of the situation in Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja(FTHL)and the author does not mean well for the hospital and the inhabitants of Kogi State.”It is expected that every staff member of the hospital, especially the front line healthcare providers be seen to be of high moral standard and not be found wanting in this regard or be given opportunity to exhibit or continue to exhibit misconduct.”No one should be seen or be exempted so as not to create a wrong impression in the minds of other health workers which could be a recipe for future anarchy.”The hospital is being governed by the top management staff under the leadership of the CMD and decisions on issues brought before her are taken at that level after serious evaluation and consultation with the public service rules,and not by an individual.”The management of (FTHL) is doing her best within the available resources and has instilled discipline and guarantee peace and security within the hospital community.”This effort should not be frustrated as we have confidence in the capacity of the current administration under the leadership of Dr. Alabi Olatunde Oladeji.”Any individual or group who may have disciplinary issues should sort it out at the management level as it has always been with other members of staff,” the unions said.The unions, therefore warned that it would no longer condoned any act that would truncate the peaceful coexistence of members of staff of the hospital, saying, “We would vehemently resist this as no one is above the public service rules”.They called on the Minister of Health to use his good office to nip the situation in the board, adding that: “we urge President Bola Tinibu, and other stakeholders to disregard the false rumor of crisis rocking FTHL. Diri Pays Unscheduled Visit to Schools, Frowns at State of InfrastructureFrom Mike Tayese, YenagoaBayelsa State Governor, Sen. Douye Diri has expressed displeasure at the state of facilities in some public schools in the state.Speaking in Kaiama at the end of an unscheduled visit to Saint Jude’s Girls Secondary School, Amarata-Yenagoa, and the Ijaw National Academy, Kaiama in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, Diri said the government’s budgetary provisions and expenditure in the education sector do not match the reality on ground.The governor directed the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Gentle Emelah, to immediately take steps to address dilapidated structures in schools across the state.At the Ijaw National Academy, the governor noted the absence of sporting facilities as well as the uncompleted dining hall and directed the commissioner to ensure that the contractor returned to site.He restated the commitment of his administration to development of the education sector giving its importance to nation building.Diri said he will undertake more unscheduled visits to schools and other government departments to see things for himself and called on relevant officials to take more serious maintenance of public facilities.He said with the progress made by the state in external examinations such as the West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO), it was necessary to put the right facilities in place to enable the students to perform better.His words: “I have been to Saint Jude’s and I am here at the Ijaw National Academy. I am not satisfied with what I have seen.“If schools that are in the urban, motorable areas are in this state, how would those in the rural, riverine communities be like?”In this second tenure, I will pay unscheduled visits to our schools, hospitals and other important government agencies.“Students are very important. I am not happy with the state of dilapidation I saw at St Jude’s. We must strengthen supervision.”I have directed the Commissioner for Education to ensure that your school is rehabilitated. I have also directed that between now and Friday, the completed basketball court be handed over to the school authorities in Saint Jude’s. This is a school that has been doing well and has made our state proud many times in basketball.”The Highlight of the visit was the governor, who was a teacher, returning to the classroom at the INA to teach senior secondary students preparing for Government as a subject in the upcoming WAEC examination.NEWS
How Bandit Kingpin, Kachalla Halilu, Purchased Gun Truck, Witness Tells Court

A witness, simply identified as “ABC,” on Friday, told the Federal High Court in Abuja how the notorious bandit kingpin, Kachalla Halilu, purchased a gun truck from Niger Republic to perpetrate terrorist acts in Nigeria.
ABC, who is the 1st prosecution witness (PW-1) in the ongoing trial of four suspects also linked to fleeing bandit leader, Bello Turji, made the revelation while being led in evidence by by Federal Government’s lawyer, David Kaswe, before Justice Emeka Nwite.
The four suspected terrorists were, on Dec. 23, 2024, arraigned on 11-count charge bordering on terrorism by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
The suspects, Musa Kamarawa; Abubakar Hashimu, a.
k.a. Doctor; Samuel Chinedu and Lucky Chukwuma, however, pleaded not guilty to the counts and the judge ordered their remand in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of their bail plea.NAN reports that Justice Nwite rejected their bail applications and ordered an accelerated hearing of their trial.
Besides, the judge granted an ex-parte motion moved by Kaswe, seeking the protection of the witnesses and identifying them with pseudo names.
The Federal Government, through the office of the AGF, had filed the 11-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/633/2024 against the eight defendants, four of whom were at large.
In the charge filed on Dec. 16, 2024, by M.B. Abubakar, Director, Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Musa Muhammad Kamarawa; Abubakar Hashimu, a.k.a. Doctor; Samuel Chinedu and Lucky Chukwuma were sued as 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th defendants.
While Bashir Abdullahi, Bello Turji, Aminu Muhammad and Sani Lawal, who were all at large, were sued as 3rd, 6th, 7th and 8th defendants respectively.
In count one, Musa Kamarawa; Abubakar Hashimu, aka Doctor; Bashir Abdullahi; Samuel Chinedu; Lucky Chukwuma; Bello Turji (at large); Aminu Muhammad (at large) and Sani Lawal (at large), sometime between 2018 and 2022 in Sokoto State, were alleged to have conspired among themselves to commit the terror act.
They were alleged to have provided material services to terrorists groups led by Turji, Kachalla Halilu, Danbokolo, Lawali, Atarwatse, Buderi and others, by procuring and supplying illicit drugs, including penta injections and cannabis plants (aka indian hemp); food items; military and police uniforms, camouflage.
They were also alleged to have supplied , boots, caps and building materials, including bags of cement, cover zinc, bags of nails, M.M. iron rod, etc., to terrorist camps in the forests located in Zamfara, Sokoto and Kaduna States.
The offence was said to be contrary to Section 17 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
In count four, Kamarawa, Muhammad (at large) and Lawal (at large), sometime in 2021 in Sokoto State, allegedly aided and abetted the commission of acts of terrorism by acquiring a military gun truck from Libya and supplying same to a terrorist, Kachalla Halilu, at a cost of approximately N28.5 million (28,500,000).
They were alleged to have paid for the gun truck partly in cash and partly via electronic transfer.
The offence, the Federal Government said, was
contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
The offence, the prosecution also said was contrary to Section 8 (1) (b) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
Giving his testimony on Friday in Hausa Language, PW-1 said out of the four suspects in the dock, he only knew Musa Kamarawa who he called his childhood friend.
“Sometimes between 2021 and 2022, Musa is my childhood friend. He called me on phone and told me that he wants me to accompany him to Kano for the wedding fathia (ceremony) of the daughter of DSS Director of Sokoto Command.
“I prepared myself on Friday and I met him in his house. When I went to his house, I met him with one of his friends called Sani Lawal Jibia (8th defendant).
“Musa told me that we are going together with Sani. We used Musa’s Honda Accord 2018 Model car. Sani Jibia was the one that drove us to Isa Local Government in Sokoto State.
“We went to the local government chairman’s house and we met him in his house.
“Musa and the local government chairman excused themselves. I didn’t know what they were discussing.
“When they finished their discussion, Musa brought the key of the Hilux car.
“He told us that we are going with the Hilux and leaving his car in the chairman’s house. We left around 4pm to Katsina State.
“When we arrived in Katsina the same day, we proceeded to Kano.
“We arrived in Kano in the night and we started looking for hotel,” he said.
The witness said he and Sani Jibia lodged in the same hotel while Musa went and rented an expensive hotel in Kano.
“We slept in the hotel and left there around 11:30 in the morning and went to the venue of the wedding fathia.
“After the wedding, we left the place around 12 noon. We proceeded to the wedding reception,” he said.
He said after the wedding, they left for Sokoto State but had a stopover in Katsina.
“When we arrived in Katsina, we decided to sleep there because we could not make it to Sokoto that very day.
“In the morning around 10 am, we started our journey to Sokoto.
“We followed the road to Jibia, to Zurmi, from Zurmi to Kaura Namoda Local Government.
“When we went to Kaura Namoda town, Musa told us that he wants to go and bring something.
“We went to their house; I, myself, Musa and Sani Lawal. We greeted his in-law. From Kaura Namoda, we started our journey to Shinkarfi Local Government Area.
“On our way to Shinkarfi Local Government, Musa started calling unknown persons.
“He told us that he was talking with Kachalla Halilu. He said he wants to go and receive message from Kachalla Halilu,” he said
The PW-1 said when they got to Shinkarfi Local Government, they stopped and prayed.
“We stopped at one Alhaji Lawali Shop. We prayed there and drank water, then we started our journey again,”:he added.
He said after Shinkarfi, they got to a village called Galadi where they met military checkpoint.
“Musa told Sani to stop at the checkpoint because Sani was the one that drove the car,” he said.
He said after they left the checkpoint, Musa called Kachalla Halilu and asked him where to stop.
He said Kachalla told Musa that they should pull up where they normally stop.
“When we arrived the place, Musa told Sani to stop since he is the one driving.
“We were there when for sometime Kachalla came out from the forest with his boys.
“We were there less than 100 metres and Kachalla called Musa that he has arrived. Musa went and met him but I didn’t know what they discussed.”
According to him, after they finished their discussion, Musa came back with money inside a black leather.
“Kachalla and his boys were well armed with guns and blindfolded themselves (they covered their faces) and went back to the forest.
“But Kachalla was the only person that did not cover his face.
“After that, we turned back to the military checkpoint. Musa stopped there and gave some money to the military men.
“From there, we started our journey to Sokoto,” he said.
The ABC said on their way, Musa told them that he and Sani Lawal would accompany him to Cotonou in Benin Republic to buy a Peugeot 406 car.
He said Musa told them they would be going by flight.
“He told us that we would go to Lagos first before going to Cotonou.
“The two of us agreed that there is no problem since we are going by flight. After 6.pm, we arrived in Sokoto and went to Musa’s house directly.
“After eating food in Musa’s house, I went to my house. I left Musa in his house together with Sani Lawal because Lawal used to sleep in Musa’s house,” he said.
He said Musa called him after some days and when he got there, he met him together with Sani in his parlour.
He said Musa told him he would be going to the Old Market to confirm the exchange rate naira to cefa.
“After he called, he said it was expensive.
“He then called Ilela, a border town between Nigeria and Niger Republic. He said the price there was cheaper than Old Market price.
“He called one of his nephews, Abdulmalik, who stays in the house.
“He told Abdulmalik that he would send him to Ilela and that he would give him someone’s number so that when he gets there, he should call him.
“Musa went to his room and brought the money that he received from Kachalla,” he said.
When the Federal Government’s lawyer asked him the currency of the money, he said it was in naira.
“He did not tell us the amount of the money. He gave Abdulmalik the money and transport fare for him to go to Ilela.
“From there, I wanted to go home and he gave me N20, 000 that I should go and buy food.
“I didn’t know when Abdulmalik came back from Ilela,” he said.
The witness said Musa called him and told him.that they would be going to Cotonou on Friday and that the naira had been converted to cefa.
He said Musa, however,told him that they would be going by road because the flight was expensive.
“Musa called Aminu (7th defendant), his elder brother, because Aminu used to go to Cotonou all the time.
“Aminu came from Kamarawa to Sokoto. In the morning when we were going to Cotounu, we went to where we usually get car to Kamba Local Government in Kebbi State.”
He said he, Musa, Aminu (7th defendant) and Sani (8th defendant) went together.
“When we arrived in Kamba, we arrived at a village called Doli Kaila. From Doli.Kaila, we entered canoe to Lolo in Benin Republic.
“From there we chartered a car to Malabe, from Malabe, Musa Chartered a car to Cotonou directly.
“We arrived Cotonou around 9pm. We went and looked for a hotel. Musa told the driver that we would hired his car back to Malabe when going back to Sokoto.
“That night, Aminu, elder brother to Musa, called one agent. In the morning, the agent came. We entered motorcycle to where they sell the cars.
“We went there checking round 406 hash colour car. We went to the owner of the car. He is a Lebanese.
“They agreed to sell the car at 1.8 million cefas. The Lebanese gave us 200 cefas as our shares.
“I, Sani Lawal and Amina Muhammed shared the money,” he said.
The PW-1 said Musa then asked the agent where they could get a gun truck, also called “Koke or Buffalo.”
“We were taking to a place where the car is sold
“We saw the car (gun truck). We asked the price and we were told the price was 25 million cefas. Musa told us that it was too expensive, we cannot buy it.
“Musa asked Aminu to call one of his friends that they do business together to ask him where we could get the car.
“That person, I didn’t know him, told Aminu that we could get the car in Libya.
“That Libya car has a seria number, that Nigerian Customs (officers) don’t allow such a car (gun truck) to enter Nigeria when they see it,” the witness said.
He, however, said Aminu’s friend told them that they could get new gun truck in Gaya, Niger Republic.
“All these discussions happened in Cotonou before we came back,” he said.
According to him, Musa called Aminu, his elder brother, to call somebody that could drive the 406 car to Gaya, from Gaya to Nigeria.
The lawyer asked the witness to tell the court what happened in Niger Republic.
He said: “We arrived there on Sunday and it was a work free day. When we entered, we saw the cars (gun trucks), many in Gaya, Niger Republic.”
He said Musa called someone they did not know.
“He met us at Malabe and we went to Gaya together.
“Musa entered the front seat of the car, I, Sani Lawal and Aminu entered the back seat.
“They called the owner of the car. Musa and his elder brother and the person that took us there started discussing the price with the owner of the car.
“They left me and Sani Lawal because they don’t what us to know the price of the car.
“After they have finished discussing about the car, Musa came to the car and took the money. He count the money. The money was not complete,” he said.
When Kaswe asked if Musa later bought the gun truck, the witness said: “Yes, he bought the gun truck.”
On how the gun truck was delivered to Musa, the witness said: “We left Aminu, Musa’s elder brother there, because he is the one that knows the road.
“Aminu was the person that delivered the car to Nigeria,” he said.
On what Musa did with the gun truck when it arrived in Nigeria, the PW-1 said: “He called me that I should come and escort him that he wanted to go and greet his mother and he would also deliver the gun truck to Kachalla Halilu.”
He said when they got to Kachalla Halilu’s camp at Sububu Forest, they (Kachalla and his boys) started shooting guns into the air in celebration mood.
“They started shooting guns, that there car has arrived,
“I was afraid and Musa started laughing that why am I afraid and I told him that I don’t used to hear sound of guns like this,” he said.
When the lawyer was asked him what happened next, the witness said the bandits started taking photographs with the gun truck.
“They delivered the gun truck to him (Kachalla) 2and stood by the car (gun truck) to start snapping pictures,” he said.
He said he took pictures with Kachalla Halilu, Musa and the gun truck.
“Sani Lawal snapped pictures with Kachalla Halilu again. I snapped together with someone who I didn’t even know.
“After the photograph, we left the forest and went to Shinkarfi and entered Hilux car to Sokoto.
“On our way, Musa gave me N200, 000 and also gave Sani N200, 000,” he said.
When the lawyer asked him how he got to the police station when he got to Sokoto, the witness said: “When we arrive Sokoto, I went to my house and Musa went to his house and Sani Lawal went to Musa’s house.
“After some months, I was told that Musa was arrested.
“Musa’s wife called me and said Musa told her that I should switched off my phone before the police would come and arrest me.”
On his he got to the police station, the PW-1 said: “In the morning, I reported myself to state CID, Sokoto Command. I went to the state’s CID Command, I met a police man where I was investigated.”
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until May 23 and May 26 for cross examination and continuation of trial.(NAN)
NEWS
Edo governor Suspends Public Safety Response Team

Gov. Monday Okpebholo of Edo has ordered the indefinite suspension of the Public Safety Response Team (PSRT), led by Kelly Okungbowa.
This is contained in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ikhilor, on Friday in Benin.
Ikhilor stated that the decision followed numerous complaints of extortion, harassment, and unruly behaviour by PSRT members, which the state government had received.
He emphasised that such misconduct would not be tolerated.
“The state government remains committed to maintaining law and order.
“The PSRT was originally established to enhance public safety and combat illegal activities within communities.
“The government will thoroughly review the PSRT’s structure, operations, recruitment, and training to ensure professionalism, fairness, and respect for human dignity,” he said. (NAN)
NEWS
Enugu Governor Orders Relocation of Spare Parts Markets

Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State has signed an executive order to relocate all motor spare parts markets in Enugu to the newly constructed International Motor Spare Parts Market at Nsude.
Report says that Nsude is in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Signing the order on Friday at Government House, Enugu, Mbah said motor spare parts dealers would move from their current locations to the international market.
He assured that the government had considered all necessary safety measures for the new market.
The governor stated that construction was ongoing, with efforts focused on opening roads and installing essential facilities.
“Our hope is that, in the next few months, significant progress will be visible.
This is an international market offering comprehensive services.“There will be a clinic, fire service, and a truck park. Challenges in the existing market will be resolved in the new location.
“We are also ensuring that dealers live close to the market, with residential areas nearby.
“It is an ideal neighbourhood concept where traders can live comfortably while staying near their businesses,” he said.
Speaking to journalists, Dr Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, Managing Director of Enugu State Investment Development Authority, said the new site provides more space for dealers.
Ogbu-Nwobodo noted that the new market is a well-planned commercial hub with modern facilities, security, recycling systems, and opportunities for dealers to own shops.
He explained that many traders previously struggled because their apprentices had nowhere to establish businesses after training.
“The location is strategic, as travellers heading to the Middle Belt, South-South, Onitsha, and Nnewi must pass through the market.
“This move will boost the state’s economy, and the shops will be both available and affordable,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Mike Nomeh, President of the Enugu Market Spare Parts Dealers Association, told journalists the association welcomed the relocation to Obofia Nsude.
Nomeh thanked the governor for fulfilling his campaign promise, adding that the dealers had agreed to relocate.
“In our general meeting, we resolved to move, so there is no dispute.
“Apart from Coal Camp, our members operate in Abakpa, Emene, Eke Obinagu, Gariki, Presidential Road, Old Artisan, and other locations in Enugu.
“Since 1999, many promises were made to relocate us, but none were fulfilled until Mbah came,” he said. (NAN)