National News
French Government, Oyo State Launch N27.2 billion Public Health Care Project
French Government, Oyo State Launch N27.2 billion Public Health Care Project
By: Michael Mike
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and French Ambassador Emmanuelle Blatmann have launched a €55 million project in public health.
The project is financed by French authorities to be implemented by Ellipse Projects.
A press statement by the French Embassy on Friday read that “a decisive step was taken this Thursday towards the launch of the “Oyo Healthcare New Initiative”, as H. E. Seyi Makinde, Governor of Oyo State, Nigeria and Mr. Olivier Picard, CEO of Ellipse Project, signed a major Commercial Contract in presence of H.E. Emmanuelle Blatmann, Ambassador of France to Nigeria.”
According to the statement, this “Oyo Healthcare New Initiative Project” is key to the significant upgrade of the healthcare system in the whole of Oyo State, setting new standards in capacity, efficiency, and quality.
The statement revealed that the project would be financed with a concessional loan from France to Nigeria, through the French Treasury, of €55 million (N27.2 billion) over 40 years.
The French Ambassador said: “France is deeply committed to supporting initiatives in favour of quality public services in Nigeria, such as that of Governor Makinde, which will directly benefit the people of this State and set new standards in terms of public healthcare.” She added: “This is a great example of mutually beneficial French-Nigerian cooperation. We are definitely looking forward to the launch of this project – a partnership between the Oyo State government and a French private company whose savoir faire is renowned throughout the world, with financing from the French government, at very preferential conditions.”
The statement revealed that in detail, the project will provide particularly for the renovation, modernization, and extension of several State Hospitals in all the zones of the state with maternal and child health centres as part of Oyo state’s maternal and child health (Tomotiya) initiative, as well as emergency medicine and trauma management systems. Ring Road State Hospital in Ibadan will be the flagship centre.
The project will provide equipment for 200 Primary Healthcare Centres and 10 Dental Centres throughout Oyo State. The Oyo state Government has recently embarked on the upgrade and construction of new Primary Healthcare Centres, one per ward in the state. Over 200 of the 351 Primary Healthcare Centres have been completed.
The project provides for the supply of the highest quality technologies and equipment. It includes a large training component for local teams and technology transfer. Particular attention will be paid to environmental issues, in compliance with the most demanding international standards.
Under the project, the French Republic will make it possible for the Ministry of Health of Oyo State to benefit from direct technical expertise through an International Technical Expert whose arrival to Ibadan is planned for the first semester/quarter 2023, and whose duties include supporting the implementation of the project over its entire duration.
French Government, Oyo State Launch N27.2 billion Public Health Care Project
Four Soldiers Injured in Vehicle Accident on Mambilla Plateau
By: Zagazola Makama
Four Nigerian soldiers have sustained injuries in a vehicle accident on the Mambilla Plateau in Taraba State.
The accident occurred on Thursday while the troops were moving across the mountainous terrain of the area, Zagazola reports.
The Emir of Mambilla, Dr. Shehu Audu Baju, was said to have personally joined in the rescue operation to ensure that the soldiers received prompt assistance.
Following the rescue, the injured personnel were evacuated to the 20 Battalion Barracks in Serti for urgent medical care.
Community members and traditional leaders in the area have expressed sympathy and prayed for the speedy recovery of the soldiers, while also calling for the safety of other security operatives on duty.
Four Soldiers Injured in Vehicle Accident on Mambilla Plateau
UKNIAF, NGF Advance Electricity Reform with Nationwide Workshop Series
By: Michael Mike
The United Kingdom Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF), in partnership with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) have wrapped up a major national initiative to support State-led electricity market reforms.
The State Learning Workshop Series focused on Electricity Market Development, Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) and energy modelling software.
Workshops in Lagos, Calabar, Kano and Jos have been successfully completed, drawing participants from all the 36 States and the FCT and setting a strong precedent for what lies ahead.
These sessions equipped policymakers, regulators and stakeholders with the tools to design robust, sustainable and investor-ready electricity markets at the State level, in line with the provisions of the Electricity Act 2023.
Reflecting on the significance of this initiative, the Director-Legal/Head Power Desk at the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Mr. Chijioke Chuku,, stated that: “Nigeria’s electricity future depends on the capacity of our States to lead with vision, clarity, and technical precision. Through the workshop series, we are equipping States not just with knowledge, but with the confidence to take charge of their electricity markets. The NGF is proud to partner with UKNIAF in ensuring that the promise of the Electricity Act 2023 becomes a lived reality across the country.”
The sessions in the State Learning Workshops covered: The legal and regulatory pathways for setting up State Electricity Markets; Commercial models for private sector investment; Integration of State plans into Nigeria’s National IRP;
Practical training on the software platform for energy modelling.
The initiative drew from lessons learned in the course of UKNIAF’s work supporting the Akwa Ibom, Enugu, and Oyo State Governments—early movers in electricity market development—in setting up their markets.
It also drew from experience gained in the course of UKNIAF providing technical support to the Federal Ministry of Power in drafting both the National Integrated Electricity Policy and Nigeria’s first National Integrated Resource Plan, both of which were approved very recently.
With States now empowered by the Electricity Act 2023, this series is a timely and strategic effort to ensure capacity, coordination, and sustainability in Nigeria’s decentralised energy landscape.
UKNIAF, NGF Advance Electricity Reform with Nationwide Workshop Series
Three killed, others injured in bandits’ attack on Zamfara community
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits have killed three persons and injured three others in an attack on Galadi town, Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara.
Sources confirmed the incident saying the attack occurred at about 10:50 p.m. on Aug. 27.
The sources said the bandits stormed the town, shooting sporadically, which resulted in the deaths and injuries.
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA were mobilised to the scene. The corpses and injured victims were evacuated to Galadi Primary Health Care Centre for autopsy and treatment.
Meanwhile, a manhunt for the fleeing culprits has been intensified, as the bandits escaped before the arrival of the joint forces,” the sources said.
Three killed, others injured in bandits’ attack on Zamfara community
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