Category: Nigerian Tribune

Adamawa and Bauchi have pledged to strengthen and fund policies aimed at returning married and pregnant girls to school, as part of efforts to tackle child marriage and keep more adolescent girls in education.

The commitments were made at a side session of the Gender and Inclusion Summit 2026 (GS-26), organised by Malala Fund and the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC), with the theme, ‘Education Ends Child Marriage: From Evidence to Action in Nigeria’s Northwest and Northeast.’

Speaking at the session, Adamawa State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Dr Umar Garba Pella, said the state government would make the re-entry guideline for married and pregnant girls a key component of its 2027 appropriation to ensure its sustainability.

‘We are at a point where we must be deliberate about girls, especially adolescent girls,’ Pella said.

He said the government was conscious that development partners operate within defined project cycles, stressing that the government must take ownership of policies and programmes initiated with external support.

‘Whatever we are doing with partners, we are conscious of the fact that every partner is only running a project cycle. And whatever it does, it will finish. The only one that is permanent is government,’ he said.

Pella said Adamawa would therefore make the re-entry guideline ‘central or key’ in the 2027 budget, describing funding as essential to sustaining the policy.

He also stressed that marriage or pregnancy should not permanently end a girl’s education.

‘We are not against marriage… marriage should not stop you, stop school. It shouldn’t be a threat to going to school,’ he said.

The commissioner called for stronger sensitisation involving religious organisations, traditional rulers and communities to address social and cultural barriers preventing married and pregnant girls from returning to school.

In Bauchi State, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Ibrahim Ahmed, who represented the commissioner, said the state government would publicly launch its gender-responsive education policy and re-entry guidelines before the end of September 2026.

‘Before the end of September this year, we are going to have the public launch,’ Ahmed said.

He said the commitment was part of the state government’s broader response to the out-of-school challenge, noting that the governor had declared a state of emergency in education partly because of the number of children out of school, including married women, pregnant women and adolescent girls.

Ahmed said Bauchi would also intensify community-level engagement and tracking of adolescent girls using an approach similar to the system employed during immunisation exercises.

Under the approach, ward and village heads would compile lists of adolescent girls, while school principals and alternative learning centres would maintain enrolment records to enable officials to reconcile the figures.

‘By that, we will be able to identify those numbers of out-of-school children. This will give us accurate data on that,’ he said.

The commitments by the two states came against the backdrop of concerns over the link between education and child marriage.

In her welcome remarks, Malala Fund representative Nabila said one in three young women in Nigeria was married before the age of 18, with the proportion approaching one in two in parts of the Northeast and Northwest.

She cited the latest Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey as showing that the median age at first marriage was 16.6 years among women with no education, compared with 21.7 years among women with secondary education.

Nabila said new research suggested that child marriage could decline by as much as two-thirds if every girl completed secondary school.

She noted that Nigeria already had frameworks, including the National Strategy and Costed Action Plan on Ending Child Marriage, the Child Rights Act and the National Re-entry School Guidelines, but stressed that implementation remained the major challenge.

‘The question is no longer whether we have good policies. It is whether these policies are actually reaching girls,’ she said.

She added that research estimated child marriage costs Nigeria nearly $10 billion annually through its impact on health, education and women’s earnings, while reducing the likelihood of completing secondary or higher education by about 23 per cent.

In her goodwill remarks, the First Lady of Kwara State and Chairperson of the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum, H.E. Amb. Prof. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, said investment in girls’ education was an investment in the country’s future.

‘When we invest in a girl’s education, we are investing in her agency, her economic potential, her ability to make informed choices, and ultimately, in the strength and prosperity of our communities and our nation,’ she said.

Abdulrazaq said policies providing pathways for married and pregnant girls to return to education were essential, but stressed that their value depended on implementation.

‘Policies that provide pathways for married and pregnant girls to return to education are essential but their real value lies in their implementation,’ she said.

She said the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum had advocated the domestication of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act and Child Rights Act, while supporting interventions around school needs, nutrition for mothers and children, menstrual hygiene, life skills and digital literacy.

She added that the forum had also continued advocacy against sexual and gender-based violence, child labour and child marriage.

Meanwhile, Kano State Technical Adviser to the Governor on Education, Tajuddeen Ahmed, who represented the Commissioner, said the state had already begun implementing its re-entry guidelines and gender-responsive education budgeting framework.

He recalled that girls participated in the July launch of the guidelines, after which the Commissioner directed officials to identify communities where schools were needed to enable girls to return to education.

According to him, partners subsequently identified locations and worked towards establishing and resourcing schools.

Ahmed said the Executive Secretary of the state’s education agency later visited one of the communities and, within about 48 hours, obtained the names of 104 married girls who had dropped out of school but wanted to return.

He said subsequent planning focused on providing teachers, teaching materials and other resources required to support their return.

He also highlighted the scale of the education challenge in Kano, noting that although the state had about 4.7 million primary school pupils, 52 per cent of whom were girls, the number dropped sharply to about 516,000 at junior secondary level and 480,000 at senior secondary level.

He attributed part of the decline to inadequate classrooms and schools, particularly beyond primary education and in communities where girls face greater barriers to accessing secondary schools.

Senior Programme Officer, ACE Charity, Dr Hassana Shuaibu, said her organisation supported the development of re-entry guidelines in Kano and Adamawa by first listening to the girls and other stakeholders affected by the problem.

She said consultations involved girls, husbands, school heads, teachers and community leaders, allowing the guidelines to address realities that were often missed in policy design.

In Kano, she said some girls seeking to return to formal education found alternative learning centres inadequate because they wanted to study subjects such as biology, chemistry and physics. She added that some girls also did not identify with facilities referred to as ‘women centres.’

In Adamawa, Shuaibu said married and pregnant girls were technically allowed to return to school, but the process was largely unstructured and depended heavily on individual school heads.

She said the policy domestication workshops therefore provided an opportunity to adapt the national guidelines to state realities, with girls participating directly in the process.

‘Once they listened to the girls, that was the game changer,’ she said.

Shuaibu warned, however, that launching the policies was only the beginning, stressing that implementation must ultimately translate into actual opportunities for girls to return to school.

The Team Leader, Centre for Girls Education, Habiba Mohammed, said safe spaces and life-skills education were critical to keeping girls in school.

She said her organisation trains mentors and works with community and religious leaders as well as role-model mothers to support girls, while addressing issues including self-esteem, rights, menstruation, marriage and education.

‘We encourage girls to go to school and complete at least 12 years of schooling. When girls are able to do that, issues of early marriage will never come up, because by the time a girl is completing secondary education, at least she’s 18,’ Mohammed said.

She clarified that the programme did not seek to prevent girls from marrying but to ensure they were empowered to make informed decisions about when to marry and were adequately prepared for adulthood.

Executive Director, Education as a Vaccine, Toyin Chukwudile, said a Joint Action Grant covering Bauchi, Adamawa, Kano, Kaduna and Borno states was designed to bring different organisations together around a common strategy.

‘What makes this model really good and I think worthy of replication, is the fact that it’s not about just fragmented investments,’ she said.

Chukwudile added: ‘It’s not one organization that can do all of that.’

She described the approach as ‘an investment in a joint strategy,’ stressing that addressing barriers to girls’ education required coordinated action among government and development partners.

Sharing her personal experience, 17-year-old Rachel Emmanuel Ose, an adolescent mother and advocate from Kaduna State, said she became pregnant at 14 while in Senior Secondary School One in February 2021 and was forced to leave school because pregnant girls were not allowed to continue their education.

She said she faced mockery and stigma before receiving support from PACE Initiative after giving birth. Following training on her rights and encouragement to return to school, she secured her family’s consent and enrolled in a nearby government school at SS2.

Ose, who aspires to become a nurse, called on education authorities to establish dedicated learning arrangements for adolescent mothers and provide childcare facilities to enable them to attend classes without being separated from their babies.

‘I would love the Ministry of Education, the Commissioner, to please create schools for just adolescent mothers, where we can come with our baby, even if they provide for us a facility that will keep our baby, so we don’t worry about that, all is just to go and attend our class, come back, carry our baby,’ she said.

Nollywood actress, Omotunde Ogundimu, has made an emotional appeal to Nigerians for financial assistance as she continues her battle with cervical cancer.

Ogundimu, who disclosed that she has been battling the illness since 2024, broke down in tears while speaking about her health challenges and the difficulties she has encountered during treatment.

The actress made the appeal during an interview with Biola Adebayo, which was subsequently shared on social media.

Speaking about her condition, Ogundimu said the treatment she had undergone had also left her dealing with severe side effects.

‘I have been battling cervical cancer since 2024. The treatment I received also has side effects such as my buttock hurting me when I go to urinate,’ she said.

The actress, who said she is currently struggling to raise funds for further treatment, expressed exhaustion over her prolonged health battle.

‘I just want to be okay. I am exhausted. I want a peaceful life,’ she said in tears.

Appealing to Nigerians and well-meaning individuals for support, Ogundimu said she was uncertain where else to turn for financial assistance.

‘I plead with Nigerians to have mercy on me. I still need to be treated. Please have mercy on me. I don’t know who to call and where to get money from again. Please just help me,’ she pleaded.

Her emotional appeal has continued to draw attention from fans and colleagues in the entertainment industry, with calls for support for the veteran actress as she seeks funds for her ongoing treatment.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Federal Government to provide clarity on the real impact of rising FAAC allocations, saying higher naira figures must be measured against currency value, inflation, and state obligations.

Reacting on Wednesday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the increase in FAAC distributions should be assessed beyond the headline numbers.

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) noted that while FAAC allocations have grown in naira terms, their value in foreign currency has declined due to exchange rate changes.

‘In 2019, FAAC distribution was approximately ?7.85 trillion, worth about $25.6 billion at the prevailing exchange rate. By 2025, FAAC had risen on paper to approximately ?21.9 trillion, yet its dollar value was roughly $14.6 billion. So while the naira figure has increased significantly, the dollar value is lower,’ he said.

He described this as a case where nominal increases do not automatically translate to improved purchasing power.

Using the minimum wage as an example, Atiku said nominal increases must also be weighed against what citizens can buy.

‘In 2019, ?30,000 was worth roughly $83. By May 2023, that same ?30,000 was about $65. Today, with the minimum wage at ?70,000 and an exchange rate of around ?1,320 to the dollar, that amount is about $53.

‘The concern is that while the figure on the payslip has risen, the real value and what it can buy in food, transport, electricity, health and housing may have reduced,’ he said.

Atiku said the key test of revenue growth is what it delivers to citizens and how it addresses existing obligations.

‘If FAAC allocations have increased, Nigerians should see the impact in food prices, transport, electricity, healthcare, housing and jobs, and in the purchasing power of salaries,’ he stated.

He also referenced debt data, noting that a September 2026 report based on Debt Management Office figures showed that 12 states with governors nearing the end of their terms carry a combined debt burden of approximately ?5.3 trillion, comprising ?2.16 trillion in domestic debt and about $2.33 billion in foreign obligations.

‘If revenues have grown, the expectation is that states should also be able to reduce debts, clear pension and gratuity arrears, and fund projects. Nigerians deserve to know how the allocations are being applied,’ he said.

Atiku urged the government to apply the same scrutiny to government expenditure, tax concessions, import waivers, revenue exemptions, duplicated and abandoned projects, to ensure resources are used efficiently.

‘Fiscal responsibility should apply across board, not only when citizens seek relief from high costs of living. Revenue is important, but the measure of success is what it buys, what debts it settles, what infrastructure it delivers, and how it improves living standards,’ he said.

He said Nigerians experience the economy through daily costs.

‘Nigerians live in the real economy. It is measured by what their income can buy at the market, in transport, schools and hospitals. More naira does not automatically mean more prosperity. The focus should be on value, affordability and outcomes,’ Atiku said.

He said that the priority should be policies that support cheaper transportation, moderate food prices, manageable energy costs, and stronger purchasing power.

‘The central questions remain: what is the value of the money? What has it delivered? What obligations has it settled? And are Nigerians better off? Until these are addressed, discussions around FAAC should go beyond the figures announced,’ the statement added.

The 2027 governorship candidate of the Accord Party in Oyo State, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, has promised to fix the deplorable Bodija Market road within his first 100 days in office if elected governor of the state.

Hamzat made the pledge during a visit to traders and residents at Bodija Market on Tuesday, where he interacted with members of the trading community and inspected the condition of the market environment.

The governorship hopeful, who was accompanied by his supporters and associates, moved through the busy market as traders and residents gathered around him during the visit.

Speaking on the challenges confronting traders and residents in the area, Hamzat identified the poor state of the road as one of the major concerns requiring urgent government intervention.

He promised that his administration, if given the mandate by the people of Oyo State in the 2027 governorship election, would prioritise the rehabilitation of the Bodija Market road and ensure that the project was completed within his first 100 days in office.

According to him, good road infrastructure remains critical to the growth of commerce and the well-being of residents, particularly in major commercial centres such as Bodija.

He also pledged to introduce a monthly loan scheme for traders, saying the initiative would provide them with access to affordable funds to expand their businesses and improve their livelihoods.

The proposed loan scheme, he said, would be designed to support small-scale traders who often struggle to access conventional bank loans because of stringent requirements and high interest rates.

Hamzat stressed the need for the government to create an enabling environment in which traders and other small business owners could thrive, noting that supporting the informal sector was essential to strengthening the state’s economy.

He said his administration would place emphasis on infrastructure development, economic empowerment and policies capable of directly improving the standard of living of ordinary residents.

The visit provided the candidate with an opportunity to engage directly with traders, listen to their concerns and present his plans ahead of the 2027 election.

Bodija Market is one of the major commercial hubs in Ibadan, attracting traders, buyers and other businesses from different parts of the city and beyond. The condition of roads and other infrastructure around such commercial centres has remained a major concern among residents and business operators.

Hamzat’s visit comes as political activities ahead of the 2027 elections gradually intensify, with candidates and political parties expected to take their campaigns and policy messages to various communities across Oyo State.

The Accord Party candidate appealed to the people to support his political agenda, promising that his administration would focus on practical solutions to challenges affecting residents rather than making promises without corresponding action.

He maintained that the proposed intervention at Bodija Market would be part of a broader commitment to improving infrastructure and creating opportunities for traders and other residents across the state.

The governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kwara state, Professor Abdulmumeen Olayinka Ajia, has flagged off his campaign programme ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking with loyalists and party supporters at the popular Oja Oba, Ilorin, on Wednesday, Ajia, who is a US university lecturer of Business Administration in the Lincoln University, pledged to establish functional education and healthcare systems that would improve lives of residents if elected governor in 2027.

The NDC governorship candidate, who said that his ambition was not to take over government for personal enrichment, added that his campaign was driven by a desire to improve the wellbeing of the people and create opportunities for children of ordinary citizens to excel through education.

‘I will never be party to anything or anyone that will corrupt the system’, he said, adding that his prayer was to see the children of others also succeed in society.

Ajia also asked the electorate to hold him accountable if elected but he failed to perform, saying public office should be about service and responsibility rather than personal gain.

He said he would pursue and emulate educational initiatives associated with the party’s vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, which he said had enabled children from disadvantaged backgrounds to attain greater heights.

Ajia, who described the PDP and APC as ‘beds of the same feather’, said his campaign would not be centred on abusing other candidates.

The campaign programme, which featured music, tour around the Ilorin metropolis, among other activities, also saw the NDC flag bearer engaging with residents and business owners during the tour.

As part of activities surrounding the campaign, he visited traditional leaders, including the Balogun Alanamu of Ilorin and the Balogun Fulani of Ilorin Emirate, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, to seek their blessings ahead of the 2027 election.

He also stopped at the scene of an accident around Taiwo Road, where he sympathised with victims and sought their contact details, pledging to provide immediate support.

The Aresaadu of Iresaadu in Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State, Oba Abraham Oyerinde, has appealed to the Acting Governor of the state, Chief Adebayo Lawal, to intervene over an alleged plot to dethrone him.

The monarch alleged that the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Ademola Ojo, had, in September 2025 and September 2026, written separate letters to the Chairman of Surulere Local Government directing the commencement of a process to nominate another candidate for the Aresaadu stool.

Oyerinde alleged that the move was based on the claim that a court judgment had nullified his appointment as the substantive Aresaadu.

In a statement, the monarch urged the Acting Governor to direct the immediate stoppage of meetings allegedly commenced by the Chairman of Surulere Local Government and the Emiolu Ruling House to nominate a fresh candidate for the Aresaadu stool, which he said had not been declared vacant by any court of competent jurisdiction.

He said, ‘It is of extreme importance and urgency to again call your attention to a disturbing matter as it relates to the injustice meted on me as Aresaadu of Iresaadu, HRM Oba Abraham Olafimihan Adeyeye by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters headed by Hon Ademola Ojo.

‘The Ministry has just issued a fresh letter in September 2026 to the Chairman of Surulere Local Government, directing him to instruct Emiolu Ruling House to nominate a candidate for appointment as a parallel Aresaadu while I am still on the throne.

‘Not only that the Court of Appeal (in Appeal No CA/1/291/2002) had ruled that it is not the turn of Emiolu Ruling House to present candidate for the throne, but also the subsequent suit (Suit No HOI/4/2019) filed by Emiolu Ruling House to challenge my appointment has since been dismissed without any appeal on it.

‘I had made an earlier appeal in an open letter published in Tribune of 28th October 2025 in this regard when the Ministry issued a similar letter to the Chairman of Surulere Local Government sometime in September 2025 to initiate the process of appointing a parallel Aresaadu from Osunbiyi Ruling House, the process that had been concluded, supervised and documented by Government officials more than Seven years ago which culminated into the approval by Former Governor Abiola Ajimobi.’

The monarch further appealed to the Acting Governor to urgently direct the withdrawal of the letters issued by the commissioner and order the stoppage of any meeting organised by the Chairman of Surulere Local Government and the Emiolu Ruling House to nominate a fresh candidate for the Aresaadu stool.

He maintained that the stool had not been declared vacant by any court of competent jurisdiction.

Oyerinde also called on the state government to nullify any process for the fresh nomination of a candidate to the Aresaadu stool, describing such a process as an illegality and a violation of subsisting court orders.

He further urged the government to sanction any erring officials found culpable in the alleged process.

THE Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), on Tuesday appealed to Nigerians to refrain from comments capable of prejudicing the ongoing trial of former Governor Nasir el-Rufai, of Kaduna State or exacerbating the security situation in the country.

This is even as the apex Islamic body urged the Federal Government and the judiciary to ensure that individuals with vested interests do not use the legal system to execute a sectarian agenda against the former governor.

In a release by its Secretary General, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, the NSCIA stated that it had refrained from commenting on the controversy surrounding El-Rufai’s prosecution or that of any political figure.

This, according to the council, was because it not only considered the former governor’s prosecution as a standard judicial process, but also believed that the judiciary had inherent capacity to uphold justice.

The body, however, stated that recent developments raised serious concerns suggesting an extraneous involvement of an underlying religious bias against El-Rufai.

‘The NSCIA has persistently refrained from commenting on the controversy surrounding the ongoing prosecution of El-Rufai or any political figure.

‘The restraint was because the council hitherto considered the prosecution as a standard judicial process and believed that the judiciary has inherent capacity to uphold justice.

‘However, recent developments in the public domain have raised serious concerns that suggest an extraneous involvement of an underlying religious bias against the former governor,’ the NSCIA stated.

The council, therefore, cautioned against comments that could either prejudice the fair trial of the former governor or exacerbate the country’s security situation.

‘Consequently, the council calls upon the Federal Government and the judiciary to ensure that individuals with vested religious interests are strictly prevented from weaponising public institutions or the legal system to execute a sectarian agenda against him,’ it stated.

‘Furthermore, the council appeals to the general public to refrain from incendiary comments that could prejudice the fair trial of El -Rufai or exacerbate the security situation in our nation.’

The NSCIA, prayed to Allah to grant peace, stability and security to the country.

The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has kicked against the alleged obstruction of the convoy of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, during his visit to Benue State on Tuesday, calling for an immediate investigation into the incident by the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies.

It described the incident as a sign of desperation by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to stifle the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party alleged that Obi’s convoy was obstructed by suspected state-sponsored miscreants while he was travelling to Yelwata to visit families affected by the killings in the area.

The Nigerian Tribune recalls that armed herders attacked Yelwata on June 13, 2026, killing and maiming villagers.

An anniversary memorial report on the Yelwata massacre put the number of deaths at over 271.

The reaction was contained in a statement issued by Mr Anthony Ehilebo, the Special Adviser (Media and Communication) to the presidential candidate of the APM, Governor Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday.

Ehilebo said the incident was ‘deeply disturbing and totally unacceptable’, particularly as it occurred barely 24 hours after Obi joined other opposition leaders to show solidarity with Makinde at the inauguration of the Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Office, held on Monday in Abuja.

He alleged that the APC, rattled by recent political developments, was resorting to intimidation and harassment to frustrate opposition activities ahead of the elections.

The APM also rejected the explanation by the Benue State Government that Obi had not sought prior permission before visiting the state.

Ehilebo cited Sections 41(1) and 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee freedom of movement and the right to freely assemble and associate.

‘Every Nigerian, presidential candidate or otherwise, has a constitutionally guaranteed right to enter, live and move freely within any state in Nigeria to conduct legitimate activities without prior permission or notice,’ he said, adding that ‘setting up roadblocks and engaging thugs to stop opposition candidates have no place in a constitutional democracy.’

The APM called on the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the incident with a view to bringing the perpetrators to justice.

The party reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful electoral process, saying it would not be deterred by attempts to frustrate political participation.

‘We shall not be deterred or cowed by the antics of those who seek to make peaceful participation impossible,’ Ehilebo added.

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has brought his reconciliation effort in the Ijaw National Congress (INC) to a close by hosting a mega unity reception at the Ijaw House in Yenagoa.

The well-attended event brought together leaders of the Ijaw ethnic nationality, stakeholders and contestants in the disputed April 2026 INC election that produced the High Chief MacDonald Igbadiwe leadership.

The inauguration of the executive in Warri, Delta State, outside the traditional Ijaw House in Yenagoa, generated controversy that threatened the foremost Ijaw socio-cultural organisation until Governor Diri intervened and constituted a reconciliation committee, chaired by a former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Dr Matthew Seiyefa.

At the reception, Governor Diri implored stakeholders to bury the hatchet in the interest and cohesion of the ethnic group.

He also urged the new INC leadership to unify the people, and build an institution that will protect the identity of the ethnic nationality.

Diri said the Ijaws should speak with one voice that commands a seat at every table where Nigeria’s destiny is decided.

He further challenged the INC to eschew rivalry, narrow interests and old divisions, emphasising that the Ijaw nation’s collective glory should come before personal ambition.

‘This gathering tells Nigeria, Africa and the world that the unity, solidarity and indivisibility of the Ijaw nation are non-negotiable.

‘Most Ijaw people cherish and will defend this sacred unity. When we stand together with shared purpose and destiny, no force can weaken us. The Ijaw nation stands at a critical crossroads and must embrace the responsibility of unity.

‘We must understand what is at stake. If we fail to act together, others will decide our future without us. We will live with their decisions instead of helping shape them. The time to organise is now. Our relevance, resources, dignity and shared future depend on what we do today,’ the governor said.

Acknowledging the Igbadiwe-led INC, Diri, who is known as the governor-general of the Ijaw nation, maintained that this was not a time for division, but a time for unity, and that every son and daughter under the INC must unite for their dignity, destiny and greater glory.

In his remarks, chairman of the event and one-time deputy governor of Rivers State, Sir Gabriel Toby, lauded Diri for his timely intervention in resolving the leadership crisis within the organisation.

Sir Toby equally praised Dr Seiyefa and other members of the reconciliation committee for their selfless efforts and sacrifices on such a critical assignment.

He charged the INC president to be a team player, work effectively to represent the collective interest of the Ijaw nation, and embrace issues that promote peace, unity and progress.

The Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, King Bubaraye Dakolo, who is the chairman of Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers and also chairman of the Conference of Ijaw Traditional Rulers, and Elders (CITRE), equally encouraged Igbadiwe to see his position as a call to service and to unite all zones of the congress.

While speaking, Chief Igbadiwe expressed gratitude to Governor Diri for not allowing the INC to disintegrate under his watch.

He assured that the INC will work with the governor, other leaders, traditional rulers, youth bodies and relevant stakeholders towards actualising the mandate of the Ijaw nation.

National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has clarified that traditionally packaged food products such as yam, fufu, moi moi and ogi are not under its regulatory control.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made the clarification during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday.

She also raised fresh concerns over the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption, warning that its abuse poses serious risks to public health and can contribute to wider social problems.

‘For many years, we were not using international standards. We allowed a lot of things that shouldn’t be allowed into the country to come in… In terms of substandard falsified medicines, we created them in this country.

‘Decades ago, we had controlled patent medicine dealers, and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria is mandated to be the agency in control of that. That responsibility was taken from the council for many years, and by the time it was returned, the country was flooded with illiterates about handling medicine, which is part of why we have an open drugs market. The problems that have been there for decades cannot be changed overnight, but we are changing it,’ she disclosed.