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FG approves N4.8bn for HIV/AIDS treatment as Trump halts support

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The federal executive council (FEC) has approved an allocation of N4.5 billion for the procurement of HIV treatment packs to support Nigerians living with HIV/AIDS.
The approval by FEC comes after the US government granted an emergency humanitarian waiver, reversing a previous funding pause on HIV treatment in developing countries—including Nigeria.
The pause was initially ordered under an executive directive by President Donald Trump as part of a broader review of foreign aid.
Nigeria has been heavily reliant on international assistance for HIV initiatives, particularly from the US president’s emergency plan for AIDS relief (PEPFAR).
The federal government’s approved budget will facilitate the procurement of 150,000 treatment packs over four months.
This initiative aims to provide immediate relief and demonstrate Nigeria’s intent to build a more sustainable domestic financing model for health interventions.
Speaking on the approval on Monday after the FEC meeting, Ali Pate, minister of health and social welfare, said it underscores Nigeria’s commitment to ensuring continuous access to life-saving treatment for individuals affected by the virus.
“This allocation is critical for ensuring that those living with HIV continue to receive necessary treatments without interruption,” Pate said.
The minister said the FEC also set up a committee with membership drawn from the ministries of finance, budget, defence, environment and the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) to come up with a sustainability plan.
“This is about ensuring that no Nigerian loses access to treatment
Pate announced that the FEC has also approved the HOPE (human capital opportunities for prosperity and equity) programme, a $1 billion initiative aimed at enhancing governance and strengthening primary healthcare systems across the country.
“This programme is very much in line with the direction of this administration—to focus on investing in the human capital of Nigerians. People are at the centre of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the minister said.
He added that the funding, developed in collaboration with the International Development Association (IDA), allocates $500 million for governance improvements and another $500 million to enhance primary healthcare.
The minister noted that the governance component will incentivise states to recruit and train teachers and healthcare workers, while the healthcare portion will
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Next Benue monarch must be willing to die for his people — Alia

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has outlined the key qualities required for the next Tor Sankera, emphasising that the new traditional ruler must be a person of integrity, loved by the people, truthful, and willing to sacrifice everything—even his life—for his people.
Speaking on Sunday at the one-year Memorial Thanksgiving Mass and Reception for the late Tor Sankera I, HRH Chief Abu King Shuluwa, and the derobing of HRH Lady Elizabeth-Mary Shuluwa, Alia declared that the time had come to find a worthy successor.
“It is very clear to me that the next Tor Sankera must be a man of integrity, a man of the people, someone who is truth-friendly, someone who calls a spade a spade, and someone who is willing to take a bullet for the people of Sankera,” Alia stated.
He revealed that he had already urged the Tiv paramount ruler, Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, to expedite the process of selecting a new Tor Sankera to replace the late Chief Abu King Shuluwa.
“I know your children are vying for this position. Again, it must be someone with integrity,” the governor stressed.
Reflecting on the legacy of the late Tor Sankera I, Alia highlighted Chief Shuluwa’s tireless efforts to restore peace in Sankera despite ongoing security challenges.
“My uncle had a number of causes he was championing, primarily peace in his own domain—his kingdom in Sankera,” he noted.
While acknowledging the persistence of violent attacks in the area, the governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to achieving lasting peace.
He also urged traditional rulers to be vigilant and actively discourage crime within their communities, warning that those aiding and abetting criminal activities risk dethronement.
Alia extended his gratitude to the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Katsina-Ala, Most Rev’d Isaac Dugu, and the Tor Tiv, HRM Orchivirigh Prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, for their relentless efforts in fostering peace in Sankera.
Credit: PUNCH
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First set of deportees from US will be convicted Nigerians – Envoy

…arrival point is Lagos
The United States envoy to Nigeria, Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr. has said first set of deportees from US will be convicted Nigerians.
He also revealed that Nigerian deportees would be dropped in Lagos.
Mills Jr. also explained that convicted prisoners would be among the first set of Nigerian deportees.
He spoke during an audience with Nigeria Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
The envoy said: “Those to be repatriated would be dropped in Lagos.
There wouldn’t be room for whether it should be in Port Harcourt or Abuja.
“The first group will be convicted prisoners. Those who committed crimes and are in US prisons. Some of them are those who have clearly violated US immigration laws. They appealed but were denied yet they are still in the US. They have committed immigration crime, people who have been ordered to leave.”
He also spoke on AGOA which ends September this year but noted that it is left for the parliamentary group to push for its renewal.
I think this administration will concentrate more on trade and commerce. This relationship is strong and we want it sustained,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Odumegwu-Ojukwu has called on the US government to follow laid down conventions on deportation of persons in repatriating immigrants in their country.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu stressed that Nigerians in the US deserved dignified repatriation.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu asked the US Government to find a way of ameliorating the trauma of those to be deported including allowing them ample opportunity to retrieve their assets in America.
Nigeria also expressed concerns over the likely suspension of the Drop Box Visa System of the US Government.
Amb.Odumegwu-Ojukwu bemoaned the emotional and financial pains that many Nigerians in the United States were already experiencing since the new administration of the country indicated its resolve to repatriate some categories of people from the US.
She explained that the effect was far-reaching even to the hinterlands of Nigeria where for instance, several families including children relied on remittances from the US for their survival and education.
“With the new administration in the US, we want a situation where there will be commitments. If there will be repatriation, we want a dignified return.
“At the moment, we’re told that about 201 Nigerian nationals are in US immigration camps, and about 85 have been cleared for deportation.
Will there be any way of ameliorating their pains? This has been of great concern to not just Nigerian nationals in the US but family members in Nigeria who depend on them for survival, children whose school fees are paid for by these diasporans.
“We are asking as a country whether they will be given ample time to handle their assets or will they just be bundled into planes and repatriated? It will really be traumatic especially for those who had not committed any violent crime,” Amb. Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.
The minister also urged Washington DC to reconsider its possible suspension of the Drop Box Visa Policy such that Nigerians who had been travelling to the US for genuine reasons would not have to suffer unduly in procuring US Visa.
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Why FG must probe heavy claim USAID funded Boko Haram -Senator Ndume

Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District has asked the Federal Government to probe a claim by US Congressman Scott Perry that aborted United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded terrorist organisations, including Boko Haram.
You can’t say it’s just an allegation; it’s more than that,” the former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army said on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme.
“That’s why the Nigerian government and the National Assembly, especially, need to look into it to investigate and verify the veracity of such a very weighty allegation.”
The lawmaker, who has been in the National Assembly for more than 20 unbroken years, said the Nigerian government should be interested in the US congressman’s revelation, considering that there had been suspicions that foreign humanitarian agencies operating in Nigeria’s insurgent-ridded North-East zone sponsored terrorist activities.
Ndume said, “This development is very worrisome, especially because one of the terrorist organisations mentioned by Scott Perry is Boko Haram, and Boko Haram has ravaged not only the North-East but even (other parts of) Nigeria.
“You can remember Boko Haram bombed the police headquarters and the UN office in Abuja, and the casualties were enormous. So, the Nigerian government must be interested.
“I’m worried, but the Nigerian security agencies have raised this indirectly several times. Even the Borno State government was wary of the operations of the NGOs.
“I remember during the period of (Lieutenant General Tukur) Buratai, the Nigerian Army got intelligence and even raided the office of USAID or United Nations in Maiduguri. There was also a time when the governor got intelligence and security agencies raided one NGO that was providing training to some of their staff on how to use guns.
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