Category: Nigerian Tribune

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, on Thursday embarked on a working visit to Diffa in the Niger Republic as part of renewed efforts to deepen security and economic cooperation across the Lake Chad basin.

The visit came against the backdrop of recent military gains in the fight against Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents, particularly around border communities where thousands of Nigerian refugees remain in camps in neighbouring countries.

Diffa, which lies about 17 kilometres from Damasak in northern Borno, is currently home to thousands of displaced persons who fled insurgent attacks in their ancestral towns and villages.

Governor Zulum, who led a high-powered delegation, was received by his host, the Governor of Diffa Region, Brigadier General Mahamadou Ibrahim Bagadoma, alongside other senior Nigerien officials. Both leaders held a closed-door meeting that centred on strengthening joint patrols, intelligence sharing, and consolidating the fragile peace in liberated areas.

Speaking during the visit, Zulum explained that his administration was working to take advantage of the improved security atmosphere to return displaced farmers to vast and fertile farmlands around Dutchi in the Lake Chad basin. According to him, restoring farming activities remains key to the region’s recovery and food security.

On the governor’s entourage were a member of the House of Representatives, Engr. Bukar Talba, Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, and other senior government officials.

Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, has approved the full implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for health workers in the state.

According to the directive announced in a statement signed and made available to Journalists in Awka on Thursday by the State Head of Service, Dame Theodora Okwy Igwegbe, the 100 per cent salary structure takes effect immediately and applies to nurses, nurse anaesthetists, psychiatric nurses, community health technicians, dental therapists, medical laboratory technicians, radiographers, and physiotherapists.

The governor directed all relevant ministries, departments, and agencies, including the Local Government Service Commission, the Office of the Accountant General of the State, and the Accountant General for the local government system, to commence immediate enforcement of the directive.

Authorities have been instructed to circulate the notice widely and ensure full compliance across all affected establishments.

In celebration of this year’s World Cleanup Day, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), managers of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), mobilised staff to the Hajj Park wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Friday.

World Cleanup Day, held annually on September 20, mobilizes over 200 governments, citizens, and organizations around the world to tackle the waste problem and create global awareness in their local areas. This year’s theme tagged ‘Tackling fast-growing challenges: textile and fashion waste,’ is focused on dealing with the large volume of textile and fashion waste, which contributes to pollution.

The BASL team, led by Head of Safety, Nafisat Adeniran, engaged in a cleanup exercise, donated trash bins to the park to promote proper waste disposal and environmental hygiene. Adeniran said the initiative highlights the company’s commitment to sustainability and safety beyond the airport’s premises. ‘Our mission extends beyond managing a world-class terminal; we are dedicated to fostering a cleaner and safer environment for the entire community,’ she said. ‘This is a small step, but it reinforces our belief that a collective effort can create a significant positive impact,’ she said.

Also speaking on the initiative, BASL’s Acting Chief Operating Officer stated that the event is a key part of the company’s corporate social responsibility. ‘We believe in giving back to the community,’ he said. ‘The donation of these bins is a symbol of our commitment to not just a clean airport, but a clean city. We are proud to contribute to the global effort of making our planet a healthier place,’ he noted. He added that the event aligns with the company’s broader vision.

He said: ‘At BASL, we are continuously looking for ways to set the standard, whether it’s in aviation services or environmental responsibility. Our participation in World Cleanup Day is a testament to our ongoing commitment to a sustainable future.

BASL’s Head of Corporate Communications, Ajoke Yinka-Olawuyi, said, At BASL, we view sustainability as an interconnected responsibility. Waste management plays a critical role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including CO2, which is a key focus area for airports globally. By supporting World Cleanup Day, we are not only promoting environmental hygiene but also contributing to broader climate action goals. Every initiative, whether in reducing waste or lowering emissions, reinforces our commitment to building a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable future for aviation and the communities we serve.

WHAT is the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and why is it still important in Nigeria?

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, or PMTCT, is a set of interventions aimed at preventing HIV transmission from an HIV-positive mother to her baby during pregnancy, labour, delivery, and breastfeeding. Once we understand this, the key question becomes: what exactly are we preventing? Without these interventions, a woman has up to a 45 per cent risk of transmitting HIV to her unborn child. However, the good news is that with proper intervention, this risk can be reduced to less than 2 per cent. A significant number of infections can be prevented. It’s important to note that infants who acquire HIV from their mothers have less than a 50 per cent chance of celebrating their second birthday. It’s a killer disease.

It is critically important that the government continues to prioritize PMTCT and focus on it so we can reach a point where mother-to-child transmission of HIV is no longer a public health issue. This is essential if we are to achieve an HIV-free generation by 2030. Nigeria alone contributes 22,000 new infections annually. This is alarming, making Nigeria one of the countries with the highest rates of mother-to-child HIV transmission. To be effective, PMTCT services must be made available across communities so that pregnant women can access care and achieve viral suppression. When HIV-positive pregnant women take their medication, their viral load drops significantly, and once it becomes undetectable, the risk of transmission to the unborn child is almost eliminated. As the saying goes, U = U – Undetectable equals Untransmittable.

What is CDC doing to support Nigeria’s efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and why is this support important?

The U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has been at the forefront of efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission in Nigeria. We provide both technical and financial support to the government to enable an effective response. Our support includes the procurement of ARVs and ensuring they are available in supported hospitals. CDC currently supports 1,204 health facilities across 18 states. Out of the 2,410 total PMTCT centres in Nigeria, CDC supports nearly 50 per cent through our implementing partners.

We offer a range of services, including HIV testing, which is the first step in prevention. We’ve also built the capacity of healthcare workers to provide ethical and safe PMTCT services to women in need. We provide essential supplies and support policy development to ensure services meet international standards. We also offer infrastructural support to health facilities, including basic tools such as weighing scales for adults and children, as well as monitoring tools to track women enrolled in the programme over time. Since women may have repeated pregnancies in the course of their reproductive years, we ensure continuity of care by tracking their progress across visits.

Is CDC’s support making a difference in closing the gaps in Nigeria’s PMTCT programme?

What challenges remain, and how can Through our partners, CDC provides extensive data management support, from field-level data collection to digital documentation. We’ve also introduced electronic platforms to transition from paper-based systems to digital records. We conduct periodic evaluations to assess impact. For example, between September 30, 2023, and October 1, 2024, we screened about 20,000 HIV-exposed infants. Only 19 tested positive, representing less than 1 per cent, compared to the 45 per cent risk without intervention. This means we averted HIV infection in nearly 9,000 infants – a clear indicator of our impact. Those give us feedback on what’s happening in the field and help us to address issues that may impede women from accessing services.

However, challenges remain. One major issue is access to services. According to the NDHS 2024, only 63 per cent of women attend ANC at least once during pregnancy. The remaining 37 per cent seek care elsewhere at traditional birth attendants or faith homes or even deliver at home or in the bush. These women significantly contribute to maternal and infant mortality over time. To address this, we’ve taken services to them in the community. One strategy is the Baby Shower Initiative, which brings HIV services to faith-based gatherings where pregnant women gather to care for their pregnancy and provide HIV services along with it.

How can communities and key stakeholders help women-especially those who are pregnant or planning to have children-access PMTCT services?

Ownership is critical, and it starts at the community level. There are key players within every community, and any public health intervention or program that lacks community context is likely to fail. Our programmes have adopted strategies that prioritise community involvement. We begin with community leaders, engaging them as advocates. They help mobilize and sensitise the community about the benefits of PMTCT and the importance of women taking ownership of their health. These leaders encourage women to attend antenatal clinics rather than deliver at home or in informal settings. Beyond leaders, we also involve local community members in designing programs that are tailored to the specific needs of each community. What is acceptable in one community may not be in another, so we ensure our training curricula and delivery programs are culturally sensitive and context specific.

Pregnant women themselves are vital members of the community and should also serve as advocates. They can share information about PMTCT with other women, whether pregnant or raising children, and guide them on where to seek help. We also identify and train community members who can serve as mobilisers and peer educators, helping women access services.

The government plays a crucial role in policy development and revision, creating an enabling environment for women to access care. In some cases, challenges like security issues or natural disasters, like the flooding in Rivers State, can hinder access. In such instances, government support has enabled us to reach affected communities, even across floodwaters, to continue service delivery.

When should pregnant women living with HIV start antiretroviral treatment, and why is early treatment important?

In the early days of HIV programmes, there were strict criteria for determining who should start medication. Today, science has shown the benefits of early initiation of treatment. This is why we now follow the ‘Test and Start’ approach: as soon as a pregnant woman tests positive for HIV, it is important she starts medication immediately, unless there is a medical contraindication. Starting treatment early helps prevent frequent illness. Without treatment, HIV weakens the immune system over time, leading to opportunistic infections and progression to AIDS.

Early treatment helps prevent complications such as tuberculosis, oral thrush, Kaposi’s sarcoma, and organ damage. It also reduces the risk of transmission to partners and babies, as it leads to viral suppression. When a person’s viral load becomes undetectable, it means the virus is still present but cannot be transmitted. This is the basis of the message: U = U – Undetectable equals Untransmittable. At the community level, early identification and treatment help stop transmission. At the individual level, it ensures people stay healthy and live longer, fuller lives.

What steps can women take to protect themselves and their babies from HIV during pregnancy and childbirth?

Women of reproductive age and especially pregnant women should get tested for HIV during every pregnancy with appropriate counselling. If a woman tests positive, then steps need to be taken; she needs to commence ART – antiretroviral therapy – immediately. Women living with HIV should discuss family planning options with their healthcare provider and partner. Unplanned pregnancies should be avoided to ensure proper care and monitoring. Pregnant women should attend antenatal clinics and avoid delivering at home or in the bush or on the farm. Regular viral load testing is essential to monitor treatment effectiveness. After delivery, babies should be brought in for early infant diagnosis to ensure timely intervention if needed.

After birth, the baby also needs to have some medications, which we call ARVs, to prevent HIV transmission. These medications are essential in ensuring the baby remains HIV-free. We take further steps to ensure the baby is protected until they reach what is called a ‘final outcome’, the point at which the baby can be officially discharged and declared HIV-negative. All 1,204 health facilities we support offer free services from start to finish.

There are specific times when medications should be taken, and it’s important for mothers to adhere to the schedule and attend hospital visits for monitoring, including viral load testing. This helps track progress and detects any issues early. If they experience any side effects-such as rashes or vomiting-they should report to the hospital immediately. Healthcare workers can help them manage these effects and stay on treatment.

What can be done to help pregnant and breastfeeding women stay in care and stick to their HIV treatment?

Healthcare workers need to be very sensitive to the needs of these women, be empathetic with their condition, and non-judgmental in their approach. Once they come into the service, they should ensure that the correct testing is done, which is free. If they are HIV-positive, they should commence medication as early as possible, and they should adhere to their medications. There are times when the medications should be taken; they should stick to it, and they should come into the hospital for monitoring by way of giving their blood for viral load monitoring so that healthcare workers can monitor their progress.

Joining a support group is also highly beneficial. These groups consist of women living with HIV who have gone through pregnancy and PMTCT. Sharing experiences helps reduce stigma, provide emotional support, and encourage consistent clinic attendance and adherence to treatment. After delivery, it’s crucial that the baby receives appropriate follow-up care. Once the baby is discharged, the mother must continue her HIV treatment for life. As of now, HIV treatment is lifelong, even after childbirth. Having a baby does not mean the mother is cured. She must return to the facility where she began treatment to continue receiving care.

Fortunately, treatment has become simpler. Instead of taking multiple pills, most patients now take a single fixed-dose combination tablet that contains three drugs. This makes adherence easier and improves quality of life. These medications are also safe and effective.

How can PMTCT services be better integrated into maternal and child health care to improve outcomes for mothers and babies?

We aim to make the programme as simple and sustainable as possible so that the government can take full ownership. On the policy side, we’ve worked to ensure that HIV services are integrated with maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) services. This means that at HIV service points, MNCH services should also be available, and at MNCH service points, HIV services should be provided.

This policy integration already exists within the government framework. Beyond policy, we ensure that healthcare workers are trained and capable of delivering integrated services. We also ensure that commodity supplies are available at all service points. A major achievement has been the integration of HIV services into the Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Week, which takes place twice a year. During this week, mothers and children under five receive a range of healthcare services at the community level. Now, HIV testing is part of this package. As healthcare workers go into communities, they not only provide general health services but also offer HIV testing and linkage to care for those who test positive.

Our approach brings together policy, technical support, and service delivery. We are breaking down silos and building a comprehensive, community-centred system that ensures no woman or child is left behind.

The National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has again overruled the National Working Committee’s (NWC) decision to dissolve the Akwa Ibom State Executive Committee of the party.

The party, through its National Publicity Secretary, Honourable Debo Ologunagba, had on Tuesday announced the dissolution of the exco and named a 31-member caretaker committee to oversee the state chapter till further notice.

The caretaker committee, according to the NWC, is chaired by Igwat Umoren.

His Deputy is Harrison Ekpo, while the Secretary of the committee is Borono Bassey.

‘The NWC calls on all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our Party in Akwa Ibom State to remain united and continue to work together for the progress of the Party’, Ologunagba had stated.

However, 24 hours after, Anyanwu addressed a letter on Wednesday to the chairman of the sacked exco, Mr Aniekan Akpan, asking him to ignore the ‘purported’ dissolution of the exco and stay put in office.

‘For the purpose of clarity, that press release (by Ologunagba) should be discountenanced because there was no formal sitting of the National Working Committee (NWC) in which such decision was taken’, the National Secretary stated.

Anyanwu, who further declared the purported dissolution as ‘null and void and of no effect’, said Ologunagba, as the National Publicity Secretary of the party, had no powers to take any actions on behalf of the NWC, except when expressly directed to do so.

‘The State Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State stands undissolved.

‘Please, consider this letter as the rightful authority for you to continue in your duties as provided in the PDP Constitution, 2017 as amended’, he further directed the sacked chairman.

In Uyo, Akpan too has refused to comply with the directive of the NWC, describing it as ‘false’, as he remains the state chairman.

‘We have it on good authority that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party that claimed to have dissolved the state executive council did not convene any formal meeting to take such a decision.

‘The National Secretary of the party, Samuel Anyanwu, has issued a press release and conveyed a letter to us showing that there was no such meeting and affirming that no formal NWC meeting was held to dissolve the state executives of the party in Akwa Ibom’, he told journalists.

Tribune Online reports that the scenario playing out is a repeat of what happened last week when the National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, wrote the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) notifying it of the decision of the NWC to postpone state congresses in Cross River, Plateau and Kebbi States to a new date after due consultations.

Anyanwu also immediately wrote to the INEC urging the commission to ignore Damagum’s letter because the congresses scheduled for Saturday, September 27, would be held.

The congress was indeed held in Cross River, returning Mr Venatius Ikem as the state chairman, though on Monday, September 28, the NWC disowned the congress, calling it a ‘carnival.’

Findings showed that the PDP moved to reposition the party in Akwa Ibom, following the defection of Governor Umo Eno to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in an a bid to cut ties between him and the state exco.

But Akpan, not willing to let go and now backed by some influential party leaders in Abuja, is staying put in office.

Before now, Governor Eno, in a leaked video, had spoken of his intention to work with both the structures of the PDP and the APC in the state for the unity of the state.

‘As a matter of fact, contrary to some insinuations, I want to run both parties (APC and PDP)? Far from it. And what is wrong with being interested? We would not leave the PDP for thieves to hijack and use it against us.

‘If anybody thinks we are going to do that, they have something coming. We will lead the structure of the party (PDP) so that they can work together (with APC). So that people don’t come from outside and think that Mr Eno has moved, let me come and hijack the party. Let the structure of the party remain.

‘They have done their congresses. That’s my position,’ the governor had revealed.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday reaffirmed Lagos’s leadership role in disaster preparedness and response, but quickly called for collaboration among state agencies when confronting emergencies and national challenges.

Governor Sanwo-Olu gave this position while speaking at the first-ever National State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMA) Conference hosted in Lagos, themed: ‘Strengthening Sub-National Emergency Management for a Resilient Nigeria,’ held at Balmoral Conventional Centre, Ikeja, emphasising that no state in the country can tackle disasters in isolation.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Kadir Obafemi Hamzat, noted that every state in the country faces its own set of challenges, ranging from floods, fires, epidemics, industrial accidents, or the unpredictable impacts of climate change, saying these issues do not recognize borders as they put the nation’s systems, leadership, and ‘commitment to safeguarding lives and livelihoods to the test.’

The governor described the conference as a crucial step towards collaboration and forging the strong partnerships that would define the future of emergency management in the country.

‘Every State in Nigeria faces its own set of challenges, be it floods, fires, epidemics, industrial accidents, or the unpredictable impacts of climate change. These issues do not recognise borders; they put our systems, our leadership, and our commitment to safeguarding lives and livelihoods to the test.

‘This gathering marks the beginning of a new era: one where State agencies collaborate rather than operate in isolation; where knowledge is shared, lessons are learned, and every citizen, from the North to the South, can have faith in a dependable, coordinated response system,’ he stated.

Governor Sanwo-Olu outlined key investments his administration had made through the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), saying that they include: Lagos Emergency Response Rescue Unit (LRU), the LASEMA Mobile App and Call Centre Upgrade, Partnerships and Training, among others.

The governor cited real-life examples of Lagos’ preparedness, including the rapid deployment of rescue teams during flash floods in Ikorodu and Ajegunle, as well as coordinated operations that saved lives during a building collapse in Mushin, noting that the effectiveness of the reforms by the state government underscored the critical importance of being prepared, working together, and investing in emergency management.

‘We need to keep weaving disaster risk reduction into our governance at every level, embrace new technologies and innovations, and, most importantly, empower our citizens with the awareness and strategies they need to be prepared,’ he charged.

The State Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Olugbenga Oyerinde, in his welcome address, noted that the conference provided an avenue for states’ emergency management agencies to be united by a common purpose to strengthen Nigerian residents in the face of emergencies and disasters.

The commissioner described the conference as a new chapter, witnessing, for the first time, a gathering of all the States’ emergency management agencies, Federal institutions, private sector leaders, international partners, and frontline respondents ‘under one roof, united by a common purpose to strengthen Nigerian residents in the face of emergencies and disasters.’

‘Today, through this conference, we are proudly declaring a new chapter. We are the most prominent reactions to readiness and from recovery to resilience. Where, for the first time, all the States’ emergency management agencies, federal institutions, private sector leaders, international partners, and frontline respondents are gathered under one roof, united by a common purpose to strengthen Nigerian residents in the face of emergencies and disasters,’ Oyerinde said.

Also speaking, the Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar Abubakar, noted that the agency remained committed to working with each and every state emergency management agency to protect and tackle disasters in the country.

She assured that the agency would strengthen early warning systems, improve data, forecasting, and information management, expand grassroots capacity building, and uphold transparency and accountability in all its interventions in the communities, explaining that Lagos is a city that continues to inspire the nation as a model of resilience, innovation, and determination in emergency management.

The Guest Speaker, Dr. Leke Pitan, in his address, titled ‘From Risk to Readiness: Strengthening Disaster Preparedness at the Sub-National Level’, Pitan, recalled the purpose behind the establishment of LASEMBUS, noting that it was created to enhance emergency management with ambulances strategically stationed across key locations.

Pitan explained that these ambulances were deliberately positioned in traffic-prone areas, allowing medical teams to provide timely treatment and attend to patients before they reach the hospital.

He further highlighted that LASEMBUS operations were later integrated with other critical emergency response agencies, including the Fire Service, Police, and Traffic Management personnel, adding that the dedicated emergency line 767 was introduced, and subsequently, the National Toll-Free Emergency number 112 was adopted to further strengthen response coordination.

The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has said that the energy and creativity of Nigerian youths are critical in driving the potential of the country’s tourism sector.

The Minister spoke in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, during the unveiling of a platform, ‘ Visit Ekiti, an initiative of a personal photographer to the former governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, aimed at showcasing the rich cultural and tourism potential of the state.

At the event, which was attended by stakeholders within and outside the state, including entrepreneurs, the platform of Visit Ekiti was unveiled, where tourists, foreigners and individuals can see tourist sites to visit in Ekiti State.

Olawande, who was represented by Adedamola Ogunmola, commended the brain behind the concept, noting that it aligned perfectly with the mandate of the ministry for the youths of the country.

He added that the tourism sector has the potential to enhance the socio-economic development of the country, appealing to stakeholders to invest in the sector, which would also provide job opportunities for the youth in the country.

The minister who described Ekiti as one of the states with huge tourism and cultural heritage and sites, said, ‘This vision is in perfect harmony with the Renewed Hope Initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which seeks to create a Nigeria where every citizen-especially the youth-has access to opportunities for growth, innovation, and prosperity.

‘In this light, Visit Ekiti stands as a timely and strategic partner. Tourism thrives on the enthusiasm and ingenuity of young people-whether as tour operators, digital marketers, cultural curators, or eco-guides. This venture will create employment, inspire entrepreneurship, and strengthen community pride across Ekiti.

‘Ekiti’s hills, waterfalls, festivals, and traditions are treasures waiting to be unlocked. With Visit Ekiti, these treasures will be polished, packaged, and presented to the world.

‘Visit Ekiti embodies these priorities by showing how cultural heritage and enterprise can be woven into the national fabric of hope, resilience, and renewal.

‘The launch of Visit Ekiti is not just the unveiling of a company-it is the unveiling of a dream: a dream to showcase the rich cultural heritage, the breathtaking landscapes, and the profound history of Ekiti to Nigeria, Africa, and the world.

‘Tourism is more than leisure; it is a vehicle for economic growth, job creation, and cultural preservation. By investing in tourism, we invest in our people, our youth, and our future.’

Speaking, the Lead and Creative Director of Visit Ekiti Limited, Ayodeji Ogunro, said the initiative was conceived to drive and develop arts, culture and tourism in Ekiti State.

He explained that the project would, in no small measure, open up the state to the rest of the world and, in turn, bolster the state’s economic development and create employment opportunities in line with the shared prosperity agenda of Governor Biodun Oyebanji.

Ogunro said, ‘ Visit Ekiti is more than a tourism campaign; it is our strategic blueprint for economic transformation. It is the engine that will create jobs, empower our communities, and draw investment into world-class resorts and eco-tourism ventures.

‘To our investors and partners, we offer a secure, investment-ready state and a government deeply committed to your success.

‘To our people, be the welcoming face of our state. This dream belongs to every single one of us. The journey starts now. Let us all work together to ensure that Ekiti becomes the premier tourist destination in Nigeria.’

In their separate remarks, the representative of the speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye, the lawmaker representing Ikole constituency 1, Femi Fatunla, and the representative of House of Representatives spokesman, Akin Rotimi, Olusegun Adeyemi, among other speakers, commended Ogunro for the project, describing it as laudable, which would help transform the state.

All is set for the official commissioning of the Otakikpo Onshore Crude Oil Export Terminal in Rivers State, Nigeria, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday, 8th October 2025.

The facility, established by Green Energy International Limited (GEIL) operator of the Otakikpo Field, PML 11, with its operational base in Ikuru Town, Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State is the first indigenous onshore terminal to be built in Nigeria by a wholly indigenous company, and the only one constructed in the country in the last 50 years. The last onshore terminal before Otakikpo, the Forcados Terminal, was commissioned in 1971.

Tribune Online reports that the official inauguration will be attended by the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara; top government functionaries at the federal level; as well as key stakeholders in the oil and gas industry, led by the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri.

A statement signed by the Executive Director of Legal and Corporate Services, Mr. Olusegun Ilori, and made available to Tribune Online on Thursday in Abuja, noted that the completion of the terminal is a strategic initiative aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s determination to boost oil production in the country.

Operators in the oil and gas sector have identified evacuation challenges as a major barrier to achieving the Federal Government’s goal of producing three million barrels of crude oil per day. The Otakikpo Terminal is therefore expected to provide a lifeline to over 40 stranded oil fields, offering a ready evacuation outlet and unlocking millions of barrels of oil that would otherwise remain trapped in the wells.

The new $400 million terminal, with an initial storage capacity of 750,000 barrels, expandable to three million barrels, and a loading capacity of 360,000 barrels per day, is also expected to support the government’s objective of reducing production costs in the industry.

Speaking on the upcoming event, the Chairman/CEO of GEIL, Professor Anthony Adegbulugbe, said:

‘What we have achieved here is not just a storage solution but a game-changing national infrastructure that has opened a new pathway for about 40 stranded oil fields to finally contribute to the economy.’

Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has explained that he accepted the renaming of the National Theatre after him because of its history, his personal nostalgia for the iconic edifice, and the recognition that ‘somebody has to carry the can’ for Nigerian theatre even though he has long criticised the practice of naming public monuments after individuals.

Speaking at the reopening and re-dedication of the refurbished complex in Iganmu, Lagos, now christened the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts by President Bola Tinubu, Soyinka admitted that the honour left him conflicted.

‘I accepted this honour with mixed feelings. First of all, I’m notorious for having criticised any appropriations, personal appropriations of public monuments by some of our past leaders, which would end up that everything is named after them,’ he said.

‘I have been guilty of saying other people do not merit this kind of monumental dedication, and then I had to stand up in public and watch my name being put up as yet another appropriator. It just didn’t seem well with me.’

Reflecting on pioneers of Nigerian theatre such as Hubert Ogunde and Adam Fiberesima, Soyinka said he eventually concluded that ‘somebody has to carry the can.’

He also recalled the building’s role in FESTAC ’77, noting his despair over its decay and his surprise at its transformation after renovation.

‘I took one look at it, and when the governor and his team wanted to come back to take a second look, I said you go without me. I said I would advise you, get somebody secretly, plant a bomb, and blow it up. It was irredeemable. I said it’s not just a desert, it was a slum,’ he said.

Soyinka praised its rebirth, adding: ‘If eating one’s word produces a morsel like this, then it’s a very tasty set of words.’

In his remarks, President Tinubu said the renaming was his personal decision and not influenced by any political agenda.

‘No conspiracy anywhere. I did it,’ the president said. ‘You are a gem and talent. You are one of the greatest assets of the world, the continent and the country Nigeria. So, it couldn’t have been anything else. I said it has to be Wole Soyinka Centre. And I’m glad you are here to accept the honour.’

ALTHOUGH managing difficult or frustrating patients requires experience, clinicians can enhance their professional lives and job satisfaction while also improving patient outcomes by identifying common causes of challenging behaviour and implementing effective strategies.

Dr Folajimi Senjobi, a family medicine specialist at University College Hospital, Ibadan, made this assertion during the Oyo State Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) September continuing medical education series titled ‘Management of Difficult and Angry Patients.’

According to Senjobi, 15 to 20 percent of patients receiving medical care are thought to be difficult but the term ‘difficult patient’ refers more to the doctor’s response than to specific criteria of difficulty and does not denote a distinct diagnostic category.

He stated that the traits of difficult patients’ behaviours typically include drug-seeking, violent, litigious, seductive, angry, non-paying, manipulative, needy, argumentative, and persistently complaining.

‘For example, there are entitled demanders who are inexhaustibly needy. Instead of expressing gratitude or using flattery, they resort to intimidation, devaluation, and guilt toward the doctor managing their care. Then, there are dependent clingers who are excessively reliant on the doctor, desperate for reassurance, and who repeatedly return with a new array of symptoms.

‘Also, we encounter manipulative health rejectors who repeatedly return to your clinic, claiming that your treatment has failed. Whenever one symptom is alleviated, it is quickly replaced by another.

‘A considerable number of patients labelled as difficult may actually meet the DSM criteria for mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and/or borderline personality disorder. Others include patients who have become dependent on prescription drugs, those with substance abuse issues, and patients who frequently doctor shop.’

Dr. Senjobi, however, listed factors that influence difficult patient encounters with doctors, including physicians’ poor communication skills, low job satisfaction, time pressure during consultations, and physicians’ personal biases.

Other factors include changes in healthcare financing policies, past incidents of medical errors or mistrust, patients’ personality types, unmet patient expectations, language and literacy barriers, medical uncertainty, as well as physical, mental, and emotional abuse.

According to Dr Senjobi, the treatment for a difficult or frustrating patient should be based on a careful and thorough assessment of their physical condition.

He warned that strategies such as ignoring the problem, accusing the patient of being difficult, attempting to solve the issue solely with psychopharmacology, or telling the patient that nothing is wrong will be counterproductive in managing difficult patients.

Senjobi therefore recommended adopting the patient-centred clinical method of care to explore patient problems and to guide the best approach for defining and deciding on the management plan for both the disease and the illness experience, in collaboration with the patient.

Chairman of the Association of Medical Doctors of Oyo State, Dr Muyiwa Ajanaku, said, ‘This presentation is timely and relevant because it equips us with practical strategies to handle challenging patient interactions with professionalism, empathy, and patience. It also reminds us that while medical knowledge is indispensable, communication skills and emotional intelligence are equally critical tools in clinical practice.’

Dr Akin Sodipo, the chairman of the lecture, emphasized that doctors’ documentation of medical cases must be thorough due to increasing litigation and demands on medical practitioners in this era.

In his remarks, Dr Happy Adedapo, the NMA chairman, urged health practitioners to master the skill of handling difficult or frustrating patients to improve healthcare delivery.