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Nigeria’s Government To Release N50bn For Primary Health Fund, Issues Executive Order To Curb Escalating Drug Prices
The federal government will infuse N50 billion into primary health care as the first tranche of the basic health care fund, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammed Ali Pate, said on Wednesday in Abuja.
The health minister said the FG has recruited 2,497 doctors, midwives/nurses, and Community health extension workers.
Speaking at the fourth edition of the Ministerial Press Briefing, he also disclosed that President Bola Tinubu will soon issue an Executive Order to address the escalating costs of prescription drugs.
The minister noted that the first tranche of money to be released represented an increase from N25 billion allocated in 2022 towards the basic health care fund.
He said the infusion of funds will breathe new life into the country’s primary healthcare facilities, ensuring that quality care is accessible to all citizens.
“First and foremost, let me underscore the key role of primary healthcare in ensuring the well-being of our citizens. Since assuming office, we have prioritised the revitalisation of primary healthcare facilities across the nation, ensuring they are adequately equipped and staffed to provide essential services to communities.
“Through sustained investment and strategic partnerships, we have expanded access to vital healthcare services, particularly in rural and underserved areas, improving health outcomes and reducing the burden of preventable diseases,” Pate said.
He noted that the country has also recorded a substantial increase in the number of women who attended their first antenatal care to equip them with the right information and care to improve their pregnancy outcomes and reduce maternal and child mortality.
The minister stated that to sustain and continue to build on the gains, in the last six months, government had also recruited 2,497 doctors, midwives/nurses, and Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) to bridge the gaps due to attrition, while an additional 1,400 health facilities now have Skilled Birth Attendants to assist in deliveries at the health facilities.
According to him, this intervention had increased the number of health facility deliveries to as high as 230,000 deliveries per month.
He added that the federal government had also made substantial strides in expanding health insurance coverage to millions of Nigerians and safeguarding them against the financial hardships associated with healthcare expenses.
He noted that since the beginning of the administration, about 750,000 more Nigerians had been enrolled in health insurance, stressing the commitment to providing access to quality health for all Nigerians through the Vulnerable Group Fund and the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
Pate also announced that since the launch of the HPV vaccine in October 2023 across 15 states plus the FCT, the federal government had successfully vaccinated more than 4.95million eligible girls aged 9-14 years representing 80 percent of eligible girls.
He said the phase 2 introduction is scheduled for May 2024 in Anambra, Borno, Cross-river, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Kwara, Kogi, Ondo, Rivers, Oyo, Sokoto, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Yobe, Plateau and Zamfara.
He described the rising cost of pharmaceuticals as a pressing concern, promising that a decisive action to address the issue would be taken.
He said an executive order will soon be issued to curb escalating drug prices in the short term, while the mid to long-term goal involves the domestication of imported drugs within the next three years, in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade.
By Francesca Hangeior
The Oyo high court in Ibadan has sentenced Olaniyan Gbenga Amos to 63 years imprisonment over a string of investment fraud.
The presiding judge, Olusola Adetujoye, convicted Amos alongside his company, Detorrid Heritage Investment Limited.
Amos was arraigned by the Ibadan zonal directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 30-count charge bordering on fraudulent dealings.
The charges bordered on false pretences, an offence contrary to section 1(1)(a) and punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.
“That you Olaniyan Gbenga Amos and Detorrid Heritage Investment Limited on or about 18th of June, 2020, at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N995, 000.00 (Nine Hundred and Ninety-five Thousand Naira) only from Bada Titilope, when you falsely represented to him that the money is meant for registration and investment with Crime Alert Security Network with a promise of 30% return on Investment in 6 weeks (30 working days), which representations you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence of Obtaining Money under false pretence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006,” part of the charge sheet reads.
“That you Olaniyan Gbenga Amos and Detorrid Heritage Investment Limited on or about 29th of January, 2020, at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N920, 000.00 (Nine Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira) only from Onifade Isaac Olawale, when you falsely represented to him that the money is meant for registration and investment with Crime Alert Security Network with a promise of 30% return on Investment in 6 weeks (30 working days), which representations you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence of Obtaining Money under false pretence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
After the plea was taken, Sanusi Galadanchi, counsel to EFCC, opened the prosecution’s case on February 17, 2022.
Galadanchi called eight witnesses, tendered several exhibits, and closed the case on January 24, 2023.
Afterwards, the defendant filed a no case submission, which was rejected by the court.
The court also ordered the defendant to enter his defence against the prosecution’s case.
Subsequently, Amos opened his case and testified as the lone witness for himself and on behalf of the second defendant, his company.
The defendant closed his case on October 17, 2024.
During the court proceedings on Monday, Adetujoye convicted and sentenced the defendant to seven years imprisonment on each count of 6, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23 and 24.
The judge discharged and acquitted him on counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 respectively.
The court ordered that the sentence should run concurrently.
The judge also ordered the defendant to make restitution to the victims.
In December 2023, Amos was convicted and sentenced to 75 years imprisonment by Bayo Taiwo, a judge of the Oyo state high court, for a similar offence.
The defendant also has two other ongoing trials before federal high courts in Ibadan.
Tension as no fewer than 26 soldiers were reportedly killed when their truck hit an improvised explosive device in restive Borno State, Northeast Nigeria.
Another 20 soldiers were also reported to have been seriously wounded and taken to the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army hospital in Maiduguri, the state capital.
Military sources on Tuesday evening revealed that the incident occurred when a military truck conveying soldiers from Damboa to Maiduguri hit a landmine.
According to the source, “Twenty-six Nigerian soldiers were killed today (Tuesday) as they were moving from Damboa to Maiduguri, Borno State capital. The incident happened when their truck hit a landmine, killing 26 soldiers on the spot. Twenty other soldiers were equally wounded and have been taken to the 7 Division, Nigerian Army Hospital for treatment.”
The deadly blast one of sources who pleaded anonymity said occurred while the handing over ceremony of the former General Officer Commanding 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Haruna, to the new GOC for the Division, Brig-Gen. V. I. Una Nwachukwu, was taking place.
The incident comes amid increasing violence in northeast Nigeria in recent days, with the death toll rising to at least 50 people.
The region has been plagued for decades by armed groups, including the ISIL affiliate in West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram, with violence flaring up in recent days.
The Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on Telegram on Tuesday.
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, had earlier told Nigeria’s defence minister and military chiefs that Boko Haram and ISWAP were entrenching themselves in Lake Chad islands, Sambisa Forest, and Mandara mountains on the border with Cameroon due to “military setbacks.”
Meanwhile, the military has yet to confirm the incident as efforts to speak with the Acting Director, Nigeria Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Apolonia Anele were unsuccessful as she could not be reached on telephone as at the time of filing this report.
SAHARA REPORTERS
Rilokwah Jatau, a 23-year-old student of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), was found dead in an apparent suicide in the university’s senior staff quarters.
The discovery was made on April 27, 2025, by Emmanuel Gyawo, a security officer at the university, who was directed by Professor Shedrack Jatau to check on his son.
Upon arriving at the residence, Gyawo found Rilokwah hanging from the ceiling.
Professor Jatau, who was reportedly out of state at the time, was informed of the incident. A team of police detectives, led by the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) of Angwan Lambu, was dispatched to the scene.
The body showed no signs of violence, and no suicide note was found. Rilokwah was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Keffi, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor. His body has been deposited in the hospital morgue.
Police sources say investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
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