By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

In January 2025, Mallam Mohammed, a hardworking farmer from Wassa Local Government Area in Plateau state received a life changing diagnosis, he has Tuberculosis (TB). It was shocking to both him and his family .

But due to temporary ‘Stop Work Order’ that happened between February and March , contact tracing was delayed leaving his household vulnerable.

But by the time they resumed work and health workers traced the and screened the family in April, out of the 9 households, 3 already have TB, including two children that are less than 7 years old.

That is the testimony of a TB survivor.

Experts in the health sector have agreed that it is imperative for the three tiers of Government to expand Tuberculosis (TB), services in the country.

Among those who spoke at the 2026 pre-world TB day press conference, in Abuja, included Dr. Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo, Board Chair, Stop TB partnership, Dr. Charles Nzelu, Director, Public Health, Federal Minstry story of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Clement Adesigbin, ag. National Coordinator, National TB, Leprosy Buruli Ulcer Control program, Dr. Bethrand Odume, Chair, 2026 World TB day planning committee and Mayowa Joel Executive Secretary, Stop TB Partnership Nigeria.

The commemoration of World TB day, organized by Federal Minstry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, commenced on the 13th of March to 27th of March 2026, and the programs included School, Mosque and Church Sensitization,Pre-World TB Day Press Conference,Community Outreach, National Road Walk, and Ministerial Press Briefing.

In his presentation, Dr. Clement, lamented that in Nigeria in every 100,000 Nigerians about 219 are infected with TB, which is a lot for over 200million population, that means over 500,000 Nigerians are infected with TB.

Speaking on TB situation in Nigeria, “So, for today, we are looking at tuberculosis. These are all very high-end diseases. Some would call them neglected diseases.

“And the vision is that we should be able to free Nigeria of TB, of leprosy. You will tell me that’s a very tall order.

“And when you look at the situation, I’m sure you have heard that tuberculosis, Nigeria is a country with high burden of tuberculosis. Nigeria is first in Africa. Nigeria, is first from behind.

“The incidence rate of tuberculosis in Nigeria is 219 per 100,000. So if you put that by the side of our population, you will get a very large number, about 500,000. That’s huge. But we also need to know that there are countries with higher incidence rates”.

He noted that TB is associated with economic issues, social issues.

“Whenever you see poverty, you see under nutrition, you see overcrowding, joblessness, and all of that, you will see a high problem of tuberculosis. And that’s why all of us, everyone who has a role to play in ensuring we reduce poverty, everyone who has a role to ensure that there is no overcrowding, everyone who has a role that we can make sure that people have food on their table, then we can really defeat tuberculosis”, he said.

He therefore said all hand must be on desk, in order to compliment what the government is doing.

“So if you look at our provision of services, we are providing services in over 60% facilities in Abuja. We have over 25,000 facilities providing care. And that also means that we still have a lot to do”.

In her welcome remarks, Dr. Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo, Board Chair, Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, said the World TB day is commemorated globally every year on the 24th of March to raise awareness of the devastating health, social, and economic consequences of tuberculosis and to galvanize stronger efforts to end the disease.

The theme for World TB Day 2026 is “Yes! We Can End TB”, with the slogan “Led by the Federal Ministry of Health, Powered by the Communities.”

She said, “This theme underscores a fundamental truth: ending TB requires strong leadership from government, while communities remain the driving force for awareness, prevention, treatment adherence, and accountability”.

By David Torough, Abuja

The Deputy Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Benue State, Rev. Jonathan Ugbede, has cautioned politicians and members of the public against dragging the Christian body into partisan politics, insisting that the association remains apolitical.

Ugbede spoke on Monday while receiving a Certificate of Commendation from the Middle Belt Media Practitioners in Nigeria in conjunction with the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations at the CAN Secretariat, Makurdi.

He stressed that CAN is not a political platform and should not be used to advance partisan interests.
“Christian Association of Nigeria is not a political party.

We are not partisan and we do not want to be dragged into politics,” Ugbede said.

According to him, although individual Christians may belong to different political parties, the association itself must remain neutral.
“Every politician that is a Christian is a member of our church. You will find people from different parties among us, but that does not mean we should use the pulpit for politics,” he said.

The deputy CAN chairman also dismissed claims that some pastors recently endorsed a politician for public office, describing such reports as misleading.
“Yesterday I was told that 150 pastors gathered to endorse someone. I said they are not pastors. None of the recognised church leaders in Benue released their pastors to attend such a political gathering,” he stated.

He further warned that no individual or group should claim to speak on behalf of CAN without proper authorization from the association.
“No single person should go out speaking on behalf of CAN. When CAN wants to make a statement, we do it collectively through our leadership,” he said.

Ugbede also emphasised that the association’s role is primarily spiritual, particularly praying for leaders and engaging them constructively rather than attacking them publicly.
“The Bible instructs us to pray for the government in power. If we have any counsel for the governor, we will invite him and discuss with him,” he added.

While dedicating the award to the Assistant Secretary of CAN in Benue State, “Apostle General” Mike Ihenacho, Ugbede appreciated him for his support and guidance.
“I depend on him so much. This award, I first dedicate to him for his tireless support,” he said.

Ugbede, who is a pastor with the First Baptist Church, said he was surprised to receive the honour, noting that his involvement in interfaith dialogue and peacebuilding had been a personal commitment to service.
“I never knew anyone was taking note of what we were doing. For me, it is simply service to God and humanity,” he said, adding that he has been involved in interfaith activities for over a decade.

Earlier, leader of the presenting group, Dr. Terwase China Abigwa, who is the national secretary, coalition of civil society organizations in Nigeria, and member of the Middle Belt Media Practitioners said the recognition was in appreciation of Ugbede’s contributions to peace, justice and unity in Benue State.

Abigwa noted that the deputy CAN chairman had consistently lent his voice against insecurity in the state and promoted interfaith dialogue and harmony among religious groups.

In goodwill messages, the Methodist Bishop of Makurdi and Chairman of the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), Rt. Rev. Edoka Amuta, who presented the award on behalf of the group, said Ugbede had demonstrated strong leadership and the ability to unite the various blocs within CAN.

On his part, Assistant CAN Secretary, Rev. Mike Nkiri, who is a pastor with the Organization of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), also commended Ugbede’s leadership, describing him as a man of few words whom God is using to achieve significant milestones in the association.

Similarly, the Benue State Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Dr Timothy Kume, described the recognition as well deserved.
“If not because of him, the ship of CAN would have gone underg

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

Organizer of the Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers, on Tuesday, has denies diversion of fund for the conference.

In a statement issued by the organizer
Lenders Consult International Limited and signed by its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr.

Shina Philips, in Abuja.

The company was responding to a report published on March 3, 2026, by an online news platform that alleged funds intended for the organization of the Nigeria Police Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers had been diverted.

The company described the allegation as false and said the report failed to include its own side of the story.

According to the firm, it instituted and has been the organiser of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, described as the country’s longest-running football awards programme.

The company said its collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force began after it proposed organising an annual Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers as part of efforts to support capacity building within the force.

It explained that the retreat brings together officers from the rank of Commissioner of Police and above to engage in peer review and exchange ideas on policing and security challenges.

The firm said its proposal included an arrangement where it would approach potential sponsors to fund the conference and retreat, adding that the plan was formally approved and has been operational since 2019.

“Arising from our desire to support the Nigeria Police in their capacity-building efforts, we approached the police authorities with a proposal to organize an annual Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers, bringing together senior officers from the rank of Commissioner of Police and above to engage in peer review and cross-fertilization of ideas.

“Our proposal included an obligation that, as initiators, Lenders Consult International would be responsible for approaching potential sponsors to fund the retreat. This arrangement was well-received and approved from the outset. This arrangement is official and has been in place since 2019,” the statement reads in part.

It stated that the maiden edition of the conference was held in 2019, with the Lagos State Government serving as the host sponsor.

According to the company, the event was declared open by the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented at the time by then Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

Subsequent editions of the conference were held in Uyo in February 2022 and later in Owerri between 2022 and 2024, before the 2025 edition in Abeokuta.

“We kicked off the maiden edition in 2019 with the Lagos State Government as the host sponsor. The event was declared open by His Excellency, late President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, represented by His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo GCON, the then Vice-President. The Conference and Retreat have subsequently been held in Uyo (February, 2022), Owerri (October, 2022, 2023, 2024), and Abeokuta (2025).

The company insisted that it has never received any funds from the police to organise the conference, as the conference is a private initiative in support of the Nigeria Police.

“We would like to state very strongly that we have never, at any time, received any money by way of funding from the Nigerian Police for the sponsorship of the event. As a corporate entity, we have worked tirelessly to keep the Conference and Retreat afloat, even when sponsorship funds were inadequate to cover the event’s costs.

“For the sake of emphasis, we restate that Lenders Consult International, our MD/CEO, and any member of our staff, have at no time received any money from the Nigeria Police, nor have they ever shared any purported loot with retired IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, any past Inspector-General of Police, or Force Public Relations Officer.

The company further stated that the Conference has been a catalyst for police transformation and reforms.

“The Conference has been very impactful and has led to major transformations in the Police Force. One of the key takeaways from the Nigeria Police Conference and Retreat includes, among others, the establishment of the Police Institute in Abuja.

The company further stated that it later proposed the establishment of an annual Nigeria Police Awards and Commendations to recognise outstanding officers within the force.

According to the statement, two editions of the awards have been held in 2024 and 2025 in Abuja and were fully sponsored by the company and its partners.

It also said Philips, described as a FIFA-licensed football agent, had maintained a longstanding working relationship with senior police officers through various projects.

The statement added that he was appointed a consultant to the police in 2020 and tasked with coordinating activities for Police Week 2020, which was later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company said that since the appointment, Philips had continued to support police initiatives without receiving payment, adding that some official trips he undertook alongside the immediate past Inspector-General of Police were self-funded.

Reaffirming its position, the firm described itself as a responsible corporate organisation. It said it had maintained cordial relations with the media since launching the Nigeria Pitch Awards at a world press conference in 2011.

“We have acted as a responsible corporate body by supporting the Government as best as we can. In furtherance of the desire to continue to motivate the officers and men of the Nigeria Police, we again proposed the idea of an annual Nigeria Police Awards and Commendations, which the police authorities embraced. Two editions of the awards have been held in 2024 and 2025 in Abuja. The awards have been fully sponsored by Lenders Consult International and our partners.

“Our MD/CEO, Dr. Shina Philips, has been a patriotic citizen and a FIFA-Licensed Agent who has handled the transfer of some Nigerian footballers. He has enjoyed a strong relationship with the former Inspectors-General of Police and the officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force while working on the Projects. He holds the Nigeria Police in very high esteem and is committed to partnering with them to make their job of policing Nigeria easy.

“In recognition of his commitment, he was appointed a Consultant to the Police in 2020 and tasked with serving as the sole consultant for the Police Week 2020, which was sadly aborted by COVID-19. Since then, he has continued to make his contributions without receiving any pay. It is based on this appointment that he has had to travel with the immediate Inspector-General of Police. Some of those trips were self-funded, and at no time was any money paid to him or the Company for any of them.