Category: Daily Trust

Senator Ned Nwoko has opened up on the cause of the problem with Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels, who is one of his wives.

In a viral video and social-media posts, on Saturday, the actress was seen accusing her husband of domestic violence.

In footage, Daniels was seen in tears while her friends consoled her.

She had said she was tired and could no longer tolerate alleged mistreatment by her husband. ‘In Ned Nwoko’s house, I am nothing, but in my house, I am a queen. Not again, I cannot stand the violence, it is too much,’ she said in the clip.

The matter gained further attention after Sammy West, Daniels’s brother, posted on his Instagram story accusing the senator of physically assaulting his sister, fleeing the scene and later sending men to intimidate the family.

Reacting in a statement on Sunday, Nwoko said the actress was battling with drug substance, which he claimed had taken a toll on their marriage.

‘Regina was not always like this. Her current battle with drugs and alcohol abuse is the root of our problem. She must continue her rehabilitation program, or I fear for her life and safety.

‘Now she has moved to a place where she will have unrestricted access to drugs. I have other wives, and none will ever accuse me of violence. Regina is the violent one here, slapping and hitting 3 staff in the past 48 hours and destroying property, including cars and windows, for no just cause.

‘The truth is, I have set a clear condition for her to accept rehab in Asokoro or outside Nigeria, especially Jordan, where she will not have access to drugs. A clear headed Regina would have taken moon to the hospital but instead she even threatened to kill our resident nurse(for exposing her drugs abuse).

‘While I took Moon to the hospital, a scene of chaos unfolded at home, orchestrated by Sammy, Regina’s main drug supplier. Another known supplier of drugs to Regina is the tiny evil devil called Ann.’

Daniels and Nwoko’s union has long been a subject of public discussion, largely due to their 40-year age difference.

Her Excellency, Hajiya Dr. Lami Ahmadu Fintiri, First Lady of Adamawa State, officially launched the Measles-Rubella (MR) Vaccination Campaign at Damre Primary Health Care Facility in Girei LGA.

In her remarks, Dr. Lami emphasized that vaccines are safe, effective, and lifesaving, urging parents and caregivers to ensure every eligible child is immunized. She described the campaign as a critical investment in children’s health and the state’s future, and called on local government leaders and their spouses to actively support the daily review meetings for effective implementation across all 21 LGAs.

She expressed appreciation to Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the Wife of the President, and First Lady of Nigeria, for her leadership in championing the national campaign, and thanked development partners-including WHO, UNICEF, AFENET, C-WINNS, APHPN, Helen Keller International, and CHIGARI Foundation-for their continued technical and financial support.

The Adamawa First Lady also lauded the State Ministry of Health, the Adamawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency, health workers, and traditional and religious leaders for their roles in mobilizing communities. She announced the distribution of freezers to all 21 LG cold stores to preserve vaccine quality and strengthen immunization logistics. Other speakers, including Hon. Felix Tangwami (Commissioner for Health), Alhaji Adamu Dalatu (Chairman, Girei LGA), Dr. Suleiman Saidu Bashir (Executive Chairman, ASPHCDA), and Dr. Umar Gana (C-WINNS NE Coordinator), commended the First Lady and Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri for prioritizing child health and effective public health interventions.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has become unpopular among Nigerians, noting that the growing defections into the ruling party will not guarantee its victory in 2027.

The coalition was reacting to comments credited to the APC National Chairman, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, that ‘key ADC figures’ would join the ruling party next week.

Yilwatda, who spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting in Jos, noted that key ADC figures would be received into the APC next week, adding that the said ADC chieftains had concluded their medicals and would soon be unveiled.

‘Next week, I will be receiving some notable figures from the ADC. Some of those who had earlier defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ADC are now returning to the APC.’ ‘In another two weeks, we will unveil yet another big figure who just finished his own medicals. He tried to unveil himself the day before yesterday, and you may have seen it in the news. But officially, we’ll be receiving him soon,’ Yilwatda said.

Reacting to the comment, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, said the scramble for membership from across the political spectrum by the APC underscores the party’s realisation that it has become ‘hugely unpopular with ordinary Nigerians who now hate the ruling party for the hardship it has brought upon them.’

Abdullahi maintained that the statement by the APC National Chairman underscored a deep realisation by the ruling party that it cannot be saved even if all the governors in Nigeria defected to the ruling party.

‘This is why even with all the governors and senators they have been bragging about, the APC is still desperate for ADC members.’

‘The truth remains that the APC realises that it has become the most hated party in Nigeria, and no amount of defections can save the party from Nigerians whose lives and livelihoods the ruling party has destroyed since it came to power.

‘Like we have noted earlier, the recent gale of high-profile defections to the ruling party is properly understood by ordinary Nigerians as a gang-up against the people by a ruling elite who have left the people behind in abject poverty and are only interested in self-preservation even as their people wallow in misery.’

The coalition wondered if the APC has run out of governors to seduce that it has now turned to shadowy references to unnamed ADC members, arguing that the Chairman would have mentioned the names of the individuals if they were prominent.

‘It is the same ruinous game that the PDP played at the height of its powers. The APC will also learn the bitter lesson that real democratic power lies with the people and not a few power merchants.’

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has said that over 21 million Nigerians have enrolled in the national health insurance scheme, surpassing its 2025 target.

The director-general of the NHIA, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, disclosed this in Abuja during a stakeholders’ engagement with self-financing government agencies.

The meeting, which brought together desk officers and focal persons from self-paying ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), aimed to strengthen collaboration and deepen understanding of the health insurance system.

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Ohiri, who was represented by Nuhu Ajodi, the director of the Formal Sector Department in the agency, said that under the President Bola Tinubu administration, the agency had achieved significant progress in expanding coverage and improving access to quality health care.

‘We have moved from below 12 million enrollees to over 21 million, surpassing the presidential target for 2025,’ he said.

He said the reforms under the National Health Insurance Authority Act 2022 had made health insurance mandatory for all Nigerians and repositioned the organisation to deliver on its mandate more effectively.

Ohiri added that the engagement with self-paying agencies was part of efforts to familiarise focal persons with NHIA’s processes, ensure transparency in premium computation and strengthen operational efficiency.

‘Our desk officers are NHIA ambassadors in their organisations. They are the first point of contact when enrollees face challenges and must be well equipped to respond,’ he said.

According to him, the Authority’s weeklong stakeholder engagements will also cover treasury-funded agencies and the organised private sector to further expand health coverage nationwide.

He said the NHIA was strengthening its collaboration with self-paying government agencies to enhance transparency, efficiency and stakeholder understanding of Nigeria’s health insurance system.

The director-general said the meeting aimed to familiarise NHIA desk officers and focal persons across self-paying agencies with the Authority’s operations, appreciate their roles in the health insurance ecosystem and improve collaboration.

According to him, participants were also expected to gain insight into how premiums are determined, including the rates and criteria used in computing contributions based on staff strength and salary levels.

‘This will promote transparency and help agencies plan and project their yearly budgets for remittance to NHIA to sustain coverage,’ he said.

He said the meeting also seeks to deepen participants’ understanding of the Authority’s mandate, legal framework, and ongoing reforms under the NHIA Act 2022, which makes health insurance mandatory for all Nigerians.

Soon after the Super Eagles trounced Benin Republic 4-0 in the final Group C match of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, there were different reactions from Nigerian football fans. Most of the reactions were indeed thought-provoking and irresistible. For instance, a businessman and football enthusiast, Chief Robsinson Okwudili, who doubles as the chairman of Liverpool Fans’ Club in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, wrote on his Facebook page: ‘So Nigeria can score 4 goals.’ Surely, the reaction of the socialite and avid football fan was borne out of the fact that the Super Eagles have become so unproductive that asking for as many as four goals from them is like ordering a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.

So, going into the must-win match against Benin Republic, only a few incurable optimists believed that the Super Eagles would record such a high score-line. Apart from the fact that they were going up against a team on top of the group with 17 points, the Super Eagles had not scored more than two goals in their past 9 matches in the qualifying campaign. Therefore, those who boasted that the Super Eagles would roast their opponents in Uyo based their predictions on patriotism and not empirical evidence.

Apart from Chief Okwudili, the reaction of another football fan, Jessica Ngodoo Tsejime, a staunch fan of Chelsea and the Super Eagles, caught my attention. After the resounding victory over Benin Republic, she also wrote on her Facebook page: ‘Where was VO9 from the beginning of the WC qualifiers’? Obviously thrilled by the hat-trick and the overall performance of the Galatasaray’s point-man, she was simply stating that had Osimhen been there right from the beginning, we wouldn’t have been in such a mess. I couldn’t agree more with her because whether you like him or not, Oshimen, for now, is the force that propels the Super Eagles. Once he is not present, the team struggles to score.

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Indeed, we can’t discuss the precarious situation of the Super Eagles in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers without a mention of Oshimen. Despite his enormous contributions, he inarguably contributed significantly to the failure of the Super Eagles to qualify automatically for the World Cup. In the 10 matches played by the team in the qualifiers, Osimhen, who is the livewire of the Nigerian senior national team, featured in only five matches. At this point, it is not necessary to go into why he missed the matches, but it is on record that due to unconvincing reasons, the former African Footballer of the Year was conspicuously missing when Nigeria struggled to get results in the first four matches against Lesotho, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Benin Republic.

Osimhen’s absence in the four matches cost Nigeria 9 points. The Super Eagles managed to pick only three points out of a possible 12 following identical 1-1 draws against Lesotho, Zimbabwe and South Africa before the 1-2 defeat to the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in Abidjan. In all these matches, the powerful forward was absent, but the moment he returned, he did so with a bang. He scored a brace against Rwanda in Kigali in Super Eagles’ third away match of the campaign. Osimhen followed up with another goal in the next home match against Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, the match ended in a painful 1-1 draw because immediately he was substituted, his teammates conceded that backbreaking equaliser. Osimhen couldn’t conceal his disappointment as he condemned his teammates publicly and in private.

Although the deadly goal-poacher didn’t score in his third match of the campaign, which was the match day 7 clash with Rwanda in Uyo, many believed it was because of the injury he suffered early in the encounter. In order not to aggravate the injury, he was taken off and replaced with Tolu Arokadare, who eventually scored the only goal in the hard-fought 1-0 victory.

In fact, there was a little controversy over the Osimhen injury as some Nigerians doubted if it was serious enough to keep him out of the next match against South Africa. Whether he was seriously injured or not, the influential player returned to his club while the Super Eagles flew out to South Africa for the crucial match against the Bafana Bafana. In the end, Nigeria missed the chance to win the maximum points as the match ended in a 1-1 draw. An own goal by Nigeria’s captain, William Troost-Ekong put Bafana Bafana in front, but Calvin Bassey netted the equaliser before halftime.

Even as he didn’t score when he returned for the second to the last fixture against Lesotho at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in South Africa, he contributed immensely to the 2-1 victory that revived the team’s hope of at least a playoffs ticket. However, in the final group match, the former Napoli striker was on fire, scoring a hat-trick as the Super Eagles romped to a 4-0 win over Benin Republic.

In summary, Osimhen alone netted six out of the 15 goals the team scored in 10 matches. Let’s not forget that he played only five matches. Apart from Ekong, who scored one for and one against Nigeria, Semi Ajayi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Dele-Bashiru, Frank Onyedika, Tolu Arokadare, Calvin Bassey, Adams Akor and Frank Onyeka managed to score a goal each in the roller coaster campaign.

The foregoing highlights Osimhen’s role in the present ordeal of the Super Eagles. Without undermining or questioning his patriotism, had Osimhen shown more understanding and cooperation, he would have saved us those unnecessary permutations. As it is, Nigerian football fans who used their calculators to see how the Super Eagles would possibly make it to the World Cup without playoffs are left with no choice than to continue with the energy draining and time-consuming calculations.

Personally, I am not too disturbed because I still believe the Super Eagles have the capacity to qualify for the World Cup via the playoffs. They want to do it the hard way, so I am sure they know how difficult it is going to be. One important thing about the Super Eagles that some of us have come to understand is that they play when they want to play and disappoint when they want. Whenever their backs are to the wall, they fight aggressively.

Moreover, I am motivated by two reasons to believe that the Super Eagles will still make it to the 2026 World Cup: the narrow escape against Lesotho in Polokwane and Onyeka’s goal against Benin Republic in Uyo. Let me explain. Had it been the gods didn’t roll the goal-bound ball slightly away after the silly misunderstanding between Stanley Nwabali and Semi Ajayi in the final seconds of the must-win match with Lesotho, it would have been the end of the road for Nigeria. If Onyeka didn’t score the fourth goal against Benin Republic, the Super Eagles would have missed the playoff ticket despite the mauling of the Cheetahs. That invaluable goal gave Nigeria a slight edge over Burkina Faso, who missed the fourth playoff ticket because of an inferior goal difference. So, I say there is still hope for the unpredictable Super Eagles.

The recent confirmation of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan as the new chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has once again brought Nigeria to a familiar crossroads; one defined by cautious optimism, skepticism, and the perennial yearning for credible elections. In a country where the integrity of the ballot often determines the trajectory of democracy, the expectations on the new electoral umpire are immense. Professor Amupitan must realise that he is stepping into a position that carries both the weight of national trust and the scars of public disappointment.

Since 1999, Nigeria’s democratic journey has been marked by moments of promise and peril. Each electoral cycle brings with it a mix of hope and frustration. From the heavily disputed elections of the early 2000s to the relative improvements witnessed in 2011 and 2015, Nigerians have remained firm in their demand for a process that truly reflects their will. However, the 2023 general elections, though technologically ambitious with the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and IReV portal, exposed deep operational and institutional flaws. Many Nigerians still feel that INEC failed to meet their expectations of transparency and fairness.

Professor Amupitan inherits this burden of disillusionment. His appointment comes at a critical juncture when citizens’ confidence in electoral institutions is waning. The credibility deficit that followed the last election must be urgently addressed if Nigeria is to avoid further voter apathy and civic disengagement. It is not enough for the new chairman to make lofty promises; he must demonstrate, through concrete actions, that he understands the magnitude of his responsibility.

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The foremost task before him is to rebuild trust. Trust, once broken, is not easily restored. Nigerians must see in him a man committed to the sanctity of the ballot, not a servant of political interests. His background as an academic and legal scholar should serve as a guiding compass for impartiality and adherence to due process. The laws establishing INEC give it sufficient independence, but history has shown that leadership character is what determines whether that independence is exercised or surrendered to political pressure.

The new INEC chairman must also strengthen the institution’s operational capacity. The 2023 elections were plagued by logistical lapses-late arrival of materials, malfunctioning BVAS devices, and poor coordination in result transmission. These challenges were not merely technical; they reflected deeper managerial weaknesses. To correct them, INEC under Amupitan must embrace early planning, transparent procurement processes, and rigorous training of ad-hoc staff. The commission must also deepen collaboration with civil society groups and development partners to ensure electoral reforms are implemented effectively.

Equally important is the need to maintain neutrality in the conduct of off-cycle and by-elections. These smaller polls often serve as a litmus test for INEC’s preparedness. Unfortunately, they have frequently been marred by allegations of manipulation and voter intimidation. Professor Amupitan must prove that his commission can deliver credible by ensuring that Anambra election meet expectations. The performance of INEC in this contest will signal to Nigerians whether the commission has learned from its past mistakes.

Moreover, the new chairman should prioritise the completion of ongoing electoral reforms. The Electoral Act 2022 remains a strong foundation, but its implementation has been inconsistent. Issues such as internal party democracy, campaign financing, and digital transmission of results require clearer operational guidelines. Amupitan should work closely with the National Assembly and other stakeholders to refine these provisions and ensure that the law serves its intended purpose, which is to make elections freer, fairer, and more transparent.

Public communication will also be crucial. INEC must learn to communicate promptly, clearly, and honestly with Nigerians. During the 2023 elections, the commission’s credibility suffered greatly because of its silence and lack of transparency when challenges arose. Nigerians can forgive genuine technical glitches, but they will not tolerate secrecy or perceived manipulation. The new chairman should therefore build a culture of accountability within the commission, where information is shared openly and responsibility is taken when things go wrong.

Ultimately, Professor Amupitan must remember that history will judge him not by the titles he holds, but by the integrity of the elections conducted under his watch. The task ahead is daunting, but not impossible. In the end, Professor Amupitan must not disappoint Nigerians.

The Headquarters of the Nigerian Air Force has donated the sum of Twenty Three Million Naira (?23,000,000) to the victims of the September 14 airstrike that killed 8 people and injured 30 in the Buhari community in Yunusari the Local Government Area of Yobe State.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, said the jet was targeting ISWAP members when the village was mistakenly attacked.

Represented by the Air Component Commander, Joint Task Force North-East Operation Hadin Kai, Air Commondore Umar U Idris, said the NAF Headquarters expressed deep regret over the unfortunate incident and commiserated with the families of those who lost their loved ones and others who sustained various degrees of injuries.

Donating the gesture to the victims, the Chief of the Air Staff distributed ?1,000,000 (One million Naira) each to the families of eight deceased persons and ?500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) each to the Thirty (30) injured persons.

He further said the NAF has embarked on quick-impact projects in the Buhari Community, including the installation of a solar-powered borehole to provide potable water to the community.

He added that additional projects are underway to support and provide livelihood opportunities to the affected community.

In his remark, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, commended the NAF for its efforts and pledged the state government’s commitments to achieve the objectives of its operations.

The governor, represented by his Special Advisor on Security Matters, Brigadier General Abdulsalam Dahiru (Rtd), said the incident was not intentional, noting that it was a mistake while targeting a Boko Haram enclave.

The chief commissioner of the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), Bashir Abubakar, has said that the organisation received 1,802,267 complaints from the public over its 50-year history.

Speaking in Abuja at a news conference to mark PCC’s 50th anniversary, Abubakar said that 1,279,489 of such complaints were resolved and closed, while 522,778 are pending.

‘In the last 50 years, we have handled complaints, restoring hope to Nigerians. From resolving disputes to policy changes, our interventions have strengthened governance by holding institutions and officials accountable.

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‘We look into complaints against ministries, local bodies, public institutions, private firms and others under the Companies and Allied Matters Act.

‘PCC’s contribution to nation-building is profound. Its success is evident in 1,802,267 complaints received, of which 1,279,489 were closed in 50 years, with 522,778 pending’.

He said PCC’s work had led to the amendment and removal of unjust regulations, enhancing administrative fairness.

The chief commissioner said that despite the commission’s achievements, it faced significant challenges, particularly inadequate funding, adding that, ‘Limited budgetary allocations have constrained our logistics, capacity building and operational efficiency.’

He, however, said the organisation remained resolute and is restructuring its operations to align with global best practices, leveraging technology for efficient case management to ensure swift justice.

The number of children that died before reaching the age of 5 has dropped to 110 per 1,000, the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, 2023-24 has shown.

The survey stated the figure reduced from 132 per 1,000 children in 2018 survey.

According to the survey, which was released on Friday by the Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, the rates were estimated directly from information collected as part of a retrospective pregnancy history in which female respondents listed all of the children to whom they have given birth, along with each child’s date of birth, survivorship status and current age or age at death.

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It added that during the five years immediately preceding the survey, the neonatal mortality rate was 41 deaths per 1,000 live births.

‘This means that approximately, one out of every 25 infants dies within the first month of life,’ it stated.

It added that the infant mortality rate was 63 deaths per 1,000 live births, meaning that one out of every 16 children dies in the first year of life.

‘The under-5 mortality rate was 110 deaths per 1,000 live births. This means that one out of every 9 children dies before their fifth birthday.

‘Among the states, Kano had the highest neonatal mortality rate (59 deaths per 1,000 live births), Kebbi had the highest postneonatal (41 deaths per 1,000 live births) and infant (90 deaths per 1,000 live births) mortality rates, Yobe had the highest child mortality rate (96 deaths per 1,000 live births), and Jigawa had the highest under-5 mortality rate (161 deaths per 1,000 live births).

Speaking on the survey, Salako said it showed priority gaps that require urgent and coordinated responses.

‘These findings will be translated into policy change and programme action. Hence as a country we will continue to strengthen the health system across all levels towards addressing the noted gaps for better health outcomes,’ he added.

On his part, the chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Isah Kwarra, said the completion of the report demonstrated what is possible when institutions and partners work with a shared vision to strengthen Nigeria’s data systems, ensure accountability in the use of public resources and build a stronger foundation for national development planning.

Former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr. Supo Ayokunle, has said the Federal Government cannot deny the reality of what he described as a ‘Christian genocide’ in parts of northern Nigeria.

Speaking on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television, Ayokunle made a passionate case that thousands of Christians have been deliberately targeted and massacred by violent Islamist groups over the years under the guise of enforcing Sharia law.

The former CAN president insisted that what has taken place over the past decade fits the definition of genocide, saying the pattern of targeted killings, destruction of churches, and displacement of Christian communities was deliberate.

‘When we are talking of genocide, is it because they have not killed many Christians? They also said that if any Muslim opposes their agenda, they will see that also as an enemy. We are not saying that they didn’t kill others, but there was genocide of Christians in Nigeria because they killed our members in large numbers,’ Ayokunle maintained.

Recalling his own experiences, Ayokunle narrated how he personally witnessed the aftermath of gruesome attacks in parts of Adamawa and Benue States.

‘Three weeks after I visited Mubi, they attacked Mubi and levelled Mubi down. I was an eyewitness. I saw many people they maimed in Benue State. They maimed people, cut hands, cut ears, as if they were inanimate objects that can be cut down anyhow. So if we are saying that there was genocide of Christians, why should anybody be disputing that?’

He further dismissed arguments suggesting that more Muslims were killed in the North, explaining that the population ratio and the sect’s ideology accounted for that.

‘Didn’t the people say that they will wipe away the Christians from the North? If you are saying now that they kill more Muslims in the North, don’t we have more Muslims than the Christians in the North? And besides, didn’t they say that if any Muslim who opposes them, they will wipe that person away? Killing of the Christians was not unintended; the real motive was to establish Islamic Sharia in the North and wipe away the Christians.’

Ayokunle reminded Nigerians that warnings about these violent sects were sounded long ago, even when he led CAN, yet little was done to stop them.

‘It is not now that we have been crying about the atrocities of the Islamic sects that had been violent and had been targeting Christians for a long period of time. When I was at the helm, I cried out because it is so painful when you are losing your members week after week, losing churches which it took our forefathers years to build, to an unreasonable sect that wanted to wipe away Christians from the North, and possibly from Nigeria.’

He backed his claims with data, citing reports by international bodies that documented Boko Haram’s deliberate campaign against Christians.

‘I’m not saying this just without data. Let me quote from the 2013 report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom:

‘Boko Haram is an Islamic sect that sees the federal and northern state governments, as well as political and religious elites, as morally corrupt. Boko Haram begets the West and the secular state and seeks the universal implementation of pure Sharia law.”

He added that ‘pure Sharia law’ as conceived by the sect meant the exclusion or elimination of Christians.

‘Their targets include churches, individual Christians, persons engaged in un-Islamic activities-those are Christians-Muslim critics, northern elders, schools, police stations, government buildings, newspapers, and banks.’

Citing further evidence, Ayokunle noted that the report documented several attacks specifically targeting Christians:

‘Boko Haram has attacked churches on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day three years in a row from 2010 to 2012, killing Christians and destroying churches. In January 2012, they called on Christians to leave northern Nigeria. On July 30 that same year, they attacked a Christian area of Kano, killing 45 and damaging churches. Earlier, they had bombed several churches after the government declared a state of emergency in three states.’