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France Invests €3 million Annually in Nigeria’s Health Sector, Says Envoy
France Invests €3 million Annually in Nigeria’s Health Sector, Says Envoy
By: Michael Mike
France annually invests €3 million in health in Nigeria as part of its collaboration towards assisting in the wellness of Nigerian, the Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of France to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Jean Francois Hasperue has said.
Speaking at the weekend during a breakfast debate in Abuja hosted by the French Embassy in Nigeria to mark the World Health Day, Hasperue said France sees health as one of the fundamental rights of human being and must be enjoyed by all without discrimination and in that light contribute massively towards the Global Health Fund.
He said: “We are already working with Nigerian government on health issues. Firstly, France is the second country in the world with the most contribution to the Global Fund on Health, it gives you an indication how we care about health across the globe.
“In Nigeria for example, France invests €3 million in health in Nigeria every year, we still did that last year, we are working with Nigerian government on different aspects, on humanitarian aspect and infrastructure as well.
“At present we have a project on building and renovation of hospitals in Oyo state, and we are planning to multiply this kind of project with government towards development of network of health infrastructure. Not only that, we have private companies investing in health, we have a French company in a joint venture to produce medication in this country as well. We try to mobilize our collaboration with the government and private companies towards improving health care in Nigeria.”
He noted that Nigerian government is not unaware of the importance of investing in the health sector as it is one of the sector it gives priority to
The envoy said: “The government of Nigeria is surely interested in the health and well being of its citizens for they have asked us to partner with them in this sector. I believe health should be at the centre of the plan of a nation. It should be the topmost on government plan for it is basic need.”
He added that: “Health and security are very important. People need to thrive and develop their activities in a country and once you have good health and secured environment you are on the right track. With good health and creativity of Nigerians, you can be whatever you want.”
On the choice of students for the debate to commemorate the World Health Day, he said: “We want to have an event to mark the event and we thought instead of having debates by specialists we feel we should give the floor to students, the ones who own the future of this nation and as well as France. We wanted to ask them want they think about health.”
The debate with the topic: “Access to healthcare: a fundamental right or duty?” was anchored by Gloria Tameko, Aisha Gueye, Rayan Saimua and Oriane Boa, all students of Lycee Francois Marcel Pagnol in Abuja and moderated by Dr. Andrew Marbell, the Nutrition and Health Programme Manager with Action against Hunger, Nigeria.
Key points of their submission is the need to make health accessible to all without prejudice and the need to improve healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
France Invests €3 million Annually in Nigeria’s Health Sector, Says Envoy
News
Ammunition falls from moving vehicle near ABU Zaria, eyewitnesses suspect supplies for bandits
Ammunition falls from moving vehicle near ABU Zaria, eyewitnesses suspect supplies for bandits
By: Zagazola Makama
Passersby and students of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria were startled on Tuesday when several rounds of ammunition reportedly fell from a moving passenger bus along the Zaria–Katsina highway.
Zagazola Makama understand that the incident occurred directly in front of ABU Zaria’s main gate, causing brief panic among pedestrians and motorists.
One of the witnesses, who simply identified himself as Musa, said the ammunition fell from a commercial vehicle heading towards Katsina.

“We suddenly saw the bullets drop from the bus as it sped past the gate. Before people could understand what happened, the vehicle had already disappeared,” he said.
He added that some bystanders quickly gathered the ammunition and alerted security operatives stationed around the area.
Another eyewitness, a student who preferred not to be named, described the incident as “strange and frightening,” noting that many feared the ammunition could be linked to supplies to armed groups operating in parts of Kaduna and Katsina States.
Security personnel later arrived at the scene and recovered the ammunition.
Ammunition falls from moving vehicle near ABU Zaria, eyewitnesses suspect supplies for bandits
News
Security forces arrest “Gwandara” notorious kidnap kingpin, logistics supplier in Bwari Abuja
Security forces arrest “Gwandara” notorious kidnap kingpin, logistics supplier in Bwari Abuja
By: Zagazola Makama
Security forces have arrested a notorious kidnapper and major logistics supplier to bandits identified as Y’au Ibrahim Dauda, popularly known as “Gwandara 01”.
Zagazola Makama gathered that the suspect was apprehended by the Scorpion Squad at about 5:40 p.m. on Thursday in Bwari following actionable intelligence.
According to sources , Dauda has been on the wanted list of security agencies for his alleged role in several coordinated kidnapping operations within the FCT, particularly across the Bwari axis, from 2024 to date.
Investigations further linked him to multiple abductions around the Garam area of Tafa LGA in Niger State and Bwari, including the kidnapping of a pastor in 2024 at the El-Rufai Estate, near the Nigerian Law School, Bwari.
The sources said that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang and recover their weapons.
Security forces arrest “Gwandara” notorious kidnap kingpin, logistics supplier in Bwari Abuja
News
VP Shettima Returns To Abuja After Successful Engagements At G20, AU–EU Summits In South Africa, Angola
VP Shettima Returns To Abuja After Successful Engagements At G20, AU–EU Summits In South Africa, Angola
By: Our Reporter
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Abuja from Luanda, Angola, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 7th African Union–European Union (AU-EU) Summit held in that country.
The Vice President had on Sunday departed South Africa for Luanda after a successful outing at the 2025 Group of 20 (G20) Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, where he also represented the President.
In Angola, Senator Shettima delivered President Tinubu’s statement in which the Nigerian leader intensified the nation’s call for Africa to secure permanent seats with veto-wielding authority on the United Nations (UN) Security Council, insisting that comprehensive reform of the global governance system is long overdue.

The President, in his statement, also tasked the European Union (EU) with co-creating peace and security initiatives alongside its African partners, anchored on African-led frameworks as a pathway to achieving sustainable stability across the continent.
The Nigerian leader reaffirmed the country’s firm commitment to advancing peace, security and democratic governance across Africa, and collaborating with the European Union to build a more stable, just, and prosperous world.
Earlier at the first session of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, the President urged world leaders to come up with a more equitable and responsive system to manage global financial flows and sincerely address the recurring debt crises in a manner that meets the needs of all nations.
In his speech delivered by VP Shettima on Saturday, President Tinubu noted that the multilateral frameworks, currently being relied on, no longer reflect the complexities of the present world, as they were “built in an era far removed from” the present challenges.
At the third session of the G20 Leaders’ Summit on Sunday, the President called for a global framework that benefits communities hosting critical minerals in Nigeria and Africa, ensuring value addition at the source.
He also backed the creation of global ethical standards for Artificial Intelligence (AI), aimed at accelerating development across the world.
VP Shettima Returns To Abuja After Successful Engagements At G20, AU–EU Summits In South Africa, Angola
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