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Afeezras, Ibadan (2026)

04/11/2025

Tinubu Has Ordered AGF To Withdraw Court Cases Against Me — Natasha

Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has revealed that President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to withdraw all court cases filed against her.

The female lawmaker made the disclosure during a Facebook Live video on Tuesday morning, after she was allegedly prevented from travelling out of the country at the airport following what she described as a direct order from Senate President Godswill Akpabio to seize her international passport.

She explained that the President had already intervened in her case, saying there was no reason for her passport to be seized by Immigration officials.

There was no order. Yes, I know I have two Federal Government cases against me, of which the President of Nigeria instructed the Attorney-General of the Federation to cancel, to withdraw the cases,” she stated.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu actually spoke to Godswill Akpabio to terminate all the cases against me because he admitted, he agreed that they were politically witch-hunting me with cases. So there is no reason why my passport should be withheld at the international airport. You have no right to that, madam.”

Visibly upset, the Kogi Central Senator showed the immigration officers in the background, claiming they had withheld her passport for more than 20 minutes

“Is Godswill Akpabio so important? Why is he overruling boundaries?” she asked. “Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, has instructed the Comptroller-General of Customs to deny me exit, to withhold my passport. This is wrong.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan said this was not the first time her travel had been restricted.

Recall that the Federal Government filed a fresh charge against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan at the Federal High Court, Abuja, intensifying its legal battle against the female lawmaker. The new charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/195/25, was instituted on May 22, 2025, barely weeks after a similar charge, CR/297/25, was initially filed against her at the FCT High Court.

Both charges stemmed from allegations that Akpoti-Uduaghan made statements capable of harming the reputations of Senate President Akpabio and former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello.

04/11/2025

One Doctor Attends To 3,500 Patients — Minister Of State For Health

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, has revealed that Nigeria is facing a severe shortage of doctors, with one doctor currently attending to about 3,500 patients.

Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, Salako said the global shortage of healthcare workers has worsened migration across borders, including from Nigeria, as countries compete for limited medical personnel.

The press briefing comes amid the ongoing nationwide strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, which began on Saturday over unmet demands relating to welfare, working conditions, and government policies.

The resident doctors have expressed frustration over staff shortages, unpaid arrears, and the lack of a clear framework to retain medical professionals, all of which have contributed to the worsening doctor-to-patient ratio across the country.

“There is a shortage of health workers globally, and also in Nigeria. In Nigeria today, we have a ratio of one (doctor) to 3,500 of their patients. So, in general, there is a shortage.

“Even sometimes, when we want to employ, we may not get enough to employ to get to that level of the WHO recommendation. And it is because of that global shortage that is fueling migration across borders because once there is a shortage, it’s like a commodity — once there is a shortage, there will be movement,” he said.

Salako described the situation as a global challenge, worsened by Nigeria’s economic conditions, but assured all that the government is working to strengthen local capacity to produce more health workers.

“It’s a global issue that everybody is trying to address. For us in Nigeria, the economic challenges of the country are worsening the situation, there is no doubt about it. But like I said, we are rising up to address the challenge,” he added.

According to him, the government is investing in expanding the capacity of medical institutions to train more professionals, even though the impact will take time to manifest.

“Of course, that will take a while for them to graduate and fill the space. Some countries in the world have implemented policies that now turn their health workers into assets that they won’t send anywhere or push to other parts of the world.

“Nigeria is trying to go in that direction so that we keep those we can keep. Some of them can still go out to be assets that can earn revenue for the country when it’s well-structured,” he said.

Salako also addressed questions about the employment of locum (temporary) medical personnel instead of permanent staff in federal health institutions.

He clarified that the Federal Government has granted hospital chief executives waivers to recruit locum doctors temporarily, pending formal recruitment processes.

It is known that doctors are leaving, the migration rate is high, so chief executives of hospitals are being given the power to be able to replace those who will be on a locum basis,” he said.

The minister explained that the recruitment of permanent staff involves a complex approval process that includes the participation of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and multiple agencies.

“The process of engaging permanent staff is a little bit complex, and it’s not something you can do day in, day out.

“For you to do permanent employment, the Head of Service must be there, all kinds of people must be represented. There must be applications, there must be a screening process, all the processes that you normally do to engage people.

“After that, they have to be captured by IPPIS and so on. So, that is not something we can do on an everyday basis,” he stated.

According to him, the government has now adopted a two-tier approach — annual recruitment through waivers for permanent staff, and temporary employment of locum workers between recruitment cycles.

The minister added that the ministry is developing a universal protocol to guide medical directors on the employment terms of locum staff.

“And like I said, we’re now developing a universal protocol to guide MDs and chief executive officers on how to employ locums — in terms of what the terms of contract are, how long they can work for, and to also ensure that they are given priority when the opportunity for regular employment comes,” he added.

04/11/2025

Trump Military Threat: ‘Nigeria suffering from failed leadership’ —Peter Obi

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has reacted to designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) by US President Donald Trump and the subsequent threat of a military action, saying the development was a result of failed leadership and poor governance in the country.

The former Anambra State governor who reacted to Trump’s threat to invade Nigeria with military force over alleged Christian genocide, said instead of waving away the threats, they should give every Nigerian serious concern.

In a post on his official X handle on Monday, Obi also expressed deep concern over Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), and called for diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and the US to resolve the imbroglio since Nigeria and America have always enjoyed a good relationship for many years.

In the post, Obi noted that Nigeria’s deteriorating security landscape is a reflection of a failure of competent leadership and committed governance by the present administration.

The recent pronouncement by the US government declaring Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ (CPC) and indicating possible military action should give every well-meaning Nigerian serious concern,” Obi said in the statement.

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has reacted to designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) by US President Donald Trump and the subsequent threat of a military action, saying the development was a result of failed leadership and poor governance in the country.

The former Anambra State governor who reacted to Trump’s threat to invade Nigeria with military force over alleged Christian genocide, said instead of waving away the threats, they should give every Nigerian serious concern.

In a post on his official X handle on Monday, Obi also expressed deep concern over Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), and called for diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and the US to resolve the imbroglio since Nigeria and America have always enjoyed a good relationship for many years.

In the post, Obi noted that Nigeria’s deteriorating security landscape is a reflection of a failure of competent leadership and committed governance by the present administration.

‘The recent pronouncement by the US government declaring Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ (CPC) and indicating possible military action should give every well-meaning Nigerian serious concern,” Obi said in the statement.

“According to Amnesty International, over 10,000 people have been killed in Nigeria since May 2023 and as I have repeatedly lamented, the unwarranted and unprovoked killing of Nigerians is most condemnable, and all efforts must be made to bring it to a stop. It is equally important to state that the terrible situation is significantly avoidable with competent leadership and governance.

“While the insecurity did not start with the present government, what is most unfortunate is the lack and absence of competence, commitment, prudent use of resources, patriotism and passion on the part of APC-led government/leaders to effectively govern, galvanise and lead Nigeria where no one is unwarrantedly oppressed and killed, a Nation where peace, truth and justice reign!

“As democracies, Nigeria and the US have long been strategic partners committed to regional peace and security. That relationship should not falter.

“The present situation calls for constructive diplomatic and any other plausible engagement by both nations aimed at addressing the prevailing and disturbing security concerns. Both countries must work in concert and expeditiously towards that purpose,” he wrote.

04/11/2025

Nigeria Immigration Seizes Senator Natasha’s Passport

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP-Kogi Central) has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of ordering the Nigerian immigration officers to seize her international passport at the airport.

Naija News reports that the lawmaker claimed that the action prevented her from travelling abroad.

In a viral video on Tuesday morning, the lawmaker was captured questioning immigration officials at the airport over the alleged confiscation of her passport.

She described the action as an unlawful restriction of her movement and a gross violation of her fundamental rights.

Natasha said: “Hello, fellow Nigerians. I’m Senator Natasha. Having completed my second year in office, I decided to take a week off. I’m at the airport here, and my passport has been withheld again.

“This same thing happened before when I was stopped from travelling even though I had committed no offence, and there was no court order restricting me. The officer in charge told me that the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, instructed them to withhold my passport and prevent me from travelling because he claimed that each time I go abroad, I ‘spoil the image of the country’ by granting interviews to international media.”

Expressing frustration over what she described as repeated harassment and intimidation, Senator Natasha called on authorities to intervene and end the embarrassment.

04/11/2025

Minister Uzoka-Anite provokes health workers strike set for Nov. 14

Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, comprising the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria, Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, has issued a fresh 15-day strike ultimatum to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The notice which is contained in a letter to the Ministers of Health, and that of Labour and Employment was signed by JOHESU National Chairman, Ado Kabiru and National Secretary, Martins Egbanubi. It indicated that the union has directed its members to begin nationwide strike on midnight of November 14, should its demands are not met.

JOHESU said it has issued the notice in line with the provision of Section 41 of the Trade Disputes Act Cap T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 as it highlights its demands to include; implementation of Memorandum of Understanding, MoU it signed with the Federal Government on October 29, 2024, to fast-track the payment of adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure, CONHESS as was done with Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, CONMESS on three (3) occasions since 2014.

JOHESU noted that the trade dispute has become necessary due to the inability of the FG to address this age-long flagship demand in spite of the personal intervention and assurance from President Bola Tinubu, when the National JOHESU executives visited him on June 5, 2023 to facilitate the suspension of ongoing strike of health workers at the time.

JOHESU said despite Mr. President’s personal assurance and subsequent Memorandum of Understanding, MoU and Resolution signed and reached at various conciliation meetings with Federal Government representatives, its flagship demand has not been actualised.

The health workers revealed that promises on implementation by FG representatives have always been hinged on approval of the Presidential Committee on Salaries, PCS which has not met since August, 2023 when the current Executive Council of the Federation was inaugurated.

JOHESU said several meetings with government have failed and the climax of what it calls the FG insensitivity to address its welfare issues since 2014 was the embarrassment and discriminatory treatment of JOHESU National representatives at a supposed tripartite meeting on Wednesday, October 29 at the Federal Ministry of Finance.

According to JOHESU, it was invited alongside the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives and the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD. However, after exercising patience to allow the presiding chairman and Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite to entertain the challenges of NARD which was on the verge of a strike, she refused all entreaties to allow any representative of JOHESU to make submission which it says is most antithetical to relationship management and rules of engagement in industrial relations.

JOHESU stresses that it has clearly observed that its continued show of understanding to Government and a connectivity of empathy to consumers of healthcare who may suffer when over 85% of healthcare workers in the value chain of the health sector go on strike has never been reciprocated by the Federal Government, which leaves it with no choice than to now take its destiny in its own hands, by resuming the suspended strike action of October 30, 2024 which is about one year old.

04/11/2025

Tinubu orders immediate end to resident doctors’ strike

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to take decisive action to end the ongoing strike by resident doctors and ensure their prompt return to work.

Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Salako, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja while addressing journalists.

He said the President’s directive followed mounting public concern over the nationwide disruption of healthcare services.

Salako apologised to Nigerians affected by the strike and assured that the Federal Government was working tirelessly to restore normalcy in hospitals.

“Mr President has expressly directed that we must ensure resident doctors resume work without delay,” the minister stated.

According to him, the government has been in continuous dialogue with leaders of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, regarding 19 outstanding issues raised by the union.

He stated that the dispute originated from a circular issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, NSIWC, which created division among healthcare professionals.

It was gathered that the circular was later withdrawn to pave the way for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, CBA, that includes the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, and the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU.

Salako noted that the CBA committee had convened 12 meetings before talks were suspended due to disagreements over salary structures and the appointment of non-doctor health workers as consultants.

To bridge the divide, the ministry engaged a professor of industrial relations to mediate between the disputing unions, with an interim report already submitted to the government.

He revealed that the Tinubu administration recruited over 14,000 health workers in 2024 and plans to employ an additional 23,000 personnel across 78 federal health institutions within the year.

The minister also announced that the President approved an upward review of the retirement age for clinical health workers to 65 years and released N21.3 billion to offset outstanding arrears, with 60 percent already disbursed.

Salako appealed to the striking doctors and other unions to cooperate with the government in achieving lasting stability within the health sector, emphasising the importance of collaboration.

“The health sector operates as a team; no cadre can function effectively in isolation,” he said.

04/11/2025

ECOWAS Silent As U.S.-Nigeria Tensions Escalate Over Trump’s Military Threat

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), led by Sierra Leone President, Julius Maada Bio, has yet to make any official statement on the growing diplomatic row between Nigeria and the United States following President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) and his threat of possible military intervention.

Naija News recalls that President Trump, on the 31st of October, announced that Nigeria had been placed back on the CPC list over alleged persecution of Christians and what he described as “genocide-like killings.”

“The United States will not stand by while Christians are being slaughtered in Nigeria,” Trump said, adding that his administration was considering “fast, vicious, and decisive” military action to end the violence.

His remarks came after several members of the U.S. Congress reportedly pressured him to act, citing reports of religiously motivated attacks in parts of northern Nigeria.

President Bola Tinubu swiftly rejected the U.S. decision, insisting that religious persecution has no place in Nigeria, and that the country’s constitution guarantees freedom of worship for all faiths.

The Nigerian government also dismissed Trump’s threat as “misinformed and unnecessary,” arguing that the violence in parts of the country was driven by criminality and insecurity, not religion.

Despite the firm response from Abuja, Trump doubled down on his earlier statement, saying the U.S. was “ready to act” if the Nigerian government failed to protect Christians and curb extremist violence.

04/11/2025

Tension Rises: Tinubu Plans Major Ambassadorial Appointments After Trump’s Threat To Strike Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu is reportedly on the verge of concluding the long-awaited appointment of ambassadors to Nigeria’s foreign missions worldwide, following months of mounting pressure over the absence of envoys in key global capitals.

04/11/2025

Afenifere faction renews state police demand after Trump’s threat

Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, led by Oba Oladipo Olaitan, on Monday, demanded the immediate creation of state police and full implementation of the 2014 National Conference report, warning that continued centralised policing is fuelling insecurity across the country.

The call was made in the wake of the threat by President Donald Trump to invade Nigeria over alleged Christian genocide.

Afenifere said rising international condemnation of insecurity in Nigeria, including recent comments over possible foreign intervention, was a direct consequence of the government’s failure to reform the policing system and restructure the country.

In a statement by its leader, Olaitan, and National Publicity Secretary, Justice Faloye, the group described the Federal Government’s delay in decentralising the security architecture as responsible for the loss of thousands of Nigerian lives in the last decade.

The statement read, “Regardless of whether the killings are described as religious or ethnic genocide, the fact remains that lives are being wasted due to the continued refusal to create state and local government police.”

It recalled its May 29, 2025, mid-term assessment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, where it warned that the centralised police structure placed full responsibility for rising killings across the country on the President.

Afenifere also criticised the government for what it called “overcentralisation of governance,” citing the absence of Nigerian ambassadors in key countries such as the United States, which it claimed weakened diplomatic leverage amid global concerns about Nigeria’s security crisis.

The statement read, “Nigeria suddenly faces the threat of foreign intervention without diplomatic buffers. The Presidency cannot directly manage diplomatic relations; ambassadors must be appointed immediately.”

According to Afenifere, failure to restructure and establish state police may plunge the country into sectarian conflict under the guise of humanitarian intervention.

The organisation urged Nigerians to reject foreign involvement and unite behind local solutions to ethnic and sectarian tensions.

04/11/2025

Gov Diri joins APC as PDP woes continue

Home News Gov Diri joins APC as PDP woes continue

News
Gov Diri joins APC as PDP woes continue
written by Our Reporter November 4, 2025

By Myke Agunwa
Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, on Monday, formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), ending weeks of speculation about his political future and deepening the gale of defections that has recently swept through the opposition party.
The defection ceremony, held at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa, was marked by pomp and celebration as thousands of supporters from the state’s eight local government areas thronged the venue to welcome the governor into the APC fold.
Supporters dressed in white T-shirts bearing APC insignia and Diri’s portrait flooded major streets of the state capital, singing and drumming as they marched in solidarity convoys before converging at the stadium.
Governor Diri, who tendered his resignation from the PDP last week, said his decision to join the APC was driven by the need to align Bayelsa with the “centre of power” to attract greater federal attention and development to the oil-rich state.
“Today marks a new dawn for Bayelsa State. This is not about politics of bitterness or division. It is about unity, progress, and ensuring that Bayelsa benefits fully from the programmes and policies of the federal government.
We have to move forward as one people, beyond party lines, to deliver good governance to our citizens,” Diri told cheering supporters.
The defection attracted a galaxy of APC stalwarts and South-South political heavyweights, including Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, former Delta Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa of Ondo, former Edo Governor Adams Oshiomhole, and Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh.
Party leaders described Diri’s defection as a “historic realignment” that would strengthen the APC’s presence in the Niger Delta ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Oshiomhole, in his remarks, praised Diri’s “bold and patriotic decision,” saying it reflected the growing national appeal of the ruling party.
“Governor Diri has shown that leadership is about putting the people first,” Oshiomhole said. “His entry into the APC is a clear sign that Nigerians are embracing the politics of development, not division.”
However, The PDP has reacted angrily to the governor’s defection, describing it as a “betrayal of trust” and a “selfish move motivated by personal ambition.”
In a statement issued in Abuja, PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba said the party was “deeply disappointed” by Diri’s decision, adding that the governor had benefited immensely from the PDP and should have remained loyal.
“Governor Diri’s defection is unfortunate but not surprising, given the sustained pressure and inducements from the ruling party. The PDP remains strong and will continue to defend the interests of the people of Bayelsa.
“The governor’s decision does not reflect the will of the people of Bayelsa, who have always stood firmly with the PDP since 1999,” Ologunagba said.
He noted that the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) would soon meet to deliberate on the latest development and take appropriate action.
Diri’s exit is the latest in a string of high-profile defections that have hit the PDP in recent months, threatening to erode its influence ahead of the 2027 polls.
Analysts say the defections reflect growing discontent within the PDP over internal leadership disputes, especially the ongoing power tussle between acting National Chairman Umar Damagum and National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, which has split the party into two rival factions.
The crisis has already forced the postponement of the party’s planned national convention and led to multiple suspensions within its National Working Committee.

Afeezras

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