National News
USAID: What Nigerian Government Must Prioritize for Improved Health Care

USAID: What Nigerian Government Must Prioritize for Improved Health Care
By: Michael Mike
The United States Agency for International Development and stakeholders in the health sector have listed three key priority areas to work on for improved health care in the country.
The Chief of Party, USAID Integrated Health Programme, Marta Levitt on Tuesday urged the Bola Tinubu-led government to prioritize and invest in health insurance, family planning and nutrition to take the health sector to the desired levels where every citizen can easily access health care services at any time.
She noted that if government make these investments, there would be immediate impact on the sector which is presently bedeviled with many challenges including high out-of-pocket expenditures, and poor access to even basic health care services.
Speaking at a health seminar titled: “Implication of Changes in Government on Public Health Policies and Programmes in Nigeria,” organised to mark the 5th Anniversary of Sydani Group in Abuja, she said: “With the new administration, the potentials are endless, we need to hit while the iron is hot, make sure health is at the foremost. Invest in financial risk protection scheme. Health insurance scheme for Universal Health Coverage. The most important thing is for the administration to invest in health insurance to ensure that citizens are fully covered; and make sure that health insurance scheme is easily accessible.
“The second is family planning. The last is nutrition.”
Also speaking at the workshop, the EkitI State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani said in order to stop the issue of policy summersault there are strategies put in place to arrest this.
Filani, who is also the Chairman of the Furum of Commissioners for Health said the Forum is working closely with government at the federal level to address the challenges in the health sector.
He said: “We meet more closely, we look at each other and we address issues to accelerate performance at state level and we engage with our colleagues at the centre, with minister and heads of agencies.”
USAID: What Nigerian Government Must Prioritize for Improved Health Care
National News
Investments in circular economy have the potential to increase forex earnings- NESREA DG

Investments in circular economy have the potential to increase forex earnings- NESREA DG
By: Michael Mike
The Director General of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Prof. Innocent Barikor has affirmed that investments in the circular economy value chain have the potential to increase the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
Barikor made this statement recently during a meeting with the management of a plastic packaging recycling (rPET) company, Sonnex in Lagos.
He assured the team that the Nigerian government prioritizes circular economy, noting that the draft National Environmental (Plastic Waste Control) Regulations soon to be gazetted is one of the efforts to strengthen the legal framework for circular economy implementation in Nigeria.
He said: “Circular Economy falls under the Presidential priorities for the Federal Ministry of Environment, and the Minister is very keen on the success. Apart from tackling the problem of waste, green jobs have been created .
“The pellets and flakes you produce and export also generate foreign exchange. The Plastic Waste Control Regulations are awaiting official gazette and once gazetted, we would have connected the dots of the framework to implement circular economy in the plastic sector. We are deeply committed to ensuring the success of Circular Economy.”
Earlier, the Managing Director, Anil Mohinani intimated the NESREA boss on the process for the production of recycled PET bottles (rPET), whilst also highlighting the challenges faced by investors in the sector .
He listed some of the setbacks to include lack of a legal instrument to compel manufacturers in the food and beverage sector to embrace food-grade rPET, unfriendly policies by some foreign companies, and insufficient awareness .
“Europe and America create barriers to protect their international recycling business. There is unfair competition. In some countries such as Kenya, there is encouragement to invest in rPET recycling because there is a regulation in place,” he added.
Investments in circular economy have the potential to increase forex earnings- NESREA DG
National News
ISWAP Terrorists Kill Hunters’ Leader in Borno

ISWAP Terrorists Kill Hunters’ Leader in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Suspected ISWAP terrorists have killed the chairman of the hunters’ group in Garjang village, Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 5 a.m. on Sunday.
The victim, identified as Habu Dala, 53, was abducted from his home by the terrorists, who took him through Mulharam to Forfot villages in Damboa LGA.
Villagers mobilised in search of Dala and later found his corpse bearing gunshot wounds.
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI, members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), and the hunters’ group visited the scene.
The remains were evacuated to the General Hospital, Damboa, where he was certified dead and later released to his family for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.
ISWAP Terrorists Kill Hunters’ Leader in Borno
National News
Nine Injured in Kwali Farmers–Herders Clash

Nine Injured in Kwali Farmers–Herders Clash
By: Zagazola Makama
Nine persons sustained machete injuries in a clash between Bassa farmers and Fulani herders in Gomoni Village, Kwali Area Council of the FCT.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the fight, which broke out on Aug. 9 at about 3:30 p.m., followed alleged destruction of melon and maize farms belonging to the Bassa community by cattle.
It was gathered that the Nigeria army troops
along with joint team of operatives, and vigilantes were deployed to the scene following a distress call.
Six Bassa and three Fulani victims with varying degrees of machete cuts were taken to Rhema Foundation Hospital, Kwali, for treatment.
Authorities confirmed that the situation had been brought under control and normalcy restored, while investigation was ongoing.
Nine Injured in Kwali Farmers–Herders Clash
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