Category: PM News

The Federal Government has directed the immediate rollout of new measures to improve the safety and security of health workers across the country following an increase in cases of harassment, intimidation and physical attacks in health facilities.

The directive followed the submission of the report of the Ministerial Committee on the Harassment of Health Workers by Security Personnel, according to a statement issued on Wednesday night by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ms Daju Kachollom.

The committee was inaugurated on 19 May after an incident involving operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and staff of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital in Akwa Ibom State.

According to the statement, the confrontation disrupted hospital services and led to industrial action, prompting the Federal Government to investigate the circumstances and develop measures to stop similar incidents across the country.

The committee consulted federal tertiary health institutions as well as professional associations, regulatory agencies, security organisations and human rights groups before submitting its recommendations.

Its findings showed that the incident in Uyo reflected a wider pattern. A total of 18 cases involving assault, intimidation or harassment were recorded in federal tertiary hospitals over the past year.

The reported incidents involved patients, their relatives, members of the public and security personnel. They resulted in physical injuries, psychological trauma, destruction of hospital property and interruptions to healthcare services.

The committee also identified several factors driving the problem, including poor communication, long waiting times, inadequate staffing, poor infrastructure, emotional stress, abuse of authority and weak security procedures within hospitals.

After reviewing the report, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, approved its recommendations and directed that they be implemented immediately alongside an action plan.

Pate said, ‘health workers dedicate their lives to caring for Nigerians and must be able to carry out their duties in an environment that is safe, secure and free from violence, intimidation or harassment.

‘The federal government will continue to work with all relevant institutions to protect our health workforce, uphold the rule of law and ensure that healthcare delivery is never compromised.’

He warned that anyone found assaulting, threatening, intimidating or harassing health workers would face investigation and prosecution wherever sufficient evidence exists.

The minister stressed that although there is no law dealing exclusively with violence against health workers, offenders could still be prosecuted under existing criminal, civil and administrative laws.

He added, ‘The absence of a specific law relating solely to violence against health workers would not prevent enforcement through existing criminal, civil or administrative laws, including applicable sanctions and compensation.

‘Federal Tertiary Health Institutions have been directed to strengthen internal security arrangements and establish Violence Prevention Teams to improve safety within health facilities nationwide’.

As part of the new measures, hospitals have been instructed to tighten access control, strengthen surveillance systems, improve visitor identification procedures and enhance security around emergency departments and other sensitive units.

Each institution is also required to appoint liaison officers to work with law enforcement agencies while ensuring security operations do not disrupt patient care or hospital services.

The ministry directed hospitals to promptly report, investigate and document every case of assault, threat or harassment. It also said affected staff should receive institutional support and be referred for appropriate assistance where necessary.

Hospital managements have further been asked to strengthen complaint resolution systems, improve communication with patients and provide staff training in conflict prevention and de-escalation.

Kachollom said broader policy proposals from the committee would be presented to the National Council on Health for consideration as part of efforts to establish a nationwide framework covering federal, state and private health facilities.

She said the ministry would monitor compliance with the new directives through regular progress reports submitted to the Coordinating Minister.

Kachollom reaffirmed the government’s position, saying, ‘The Federal Government affirms that no grievance, disagreement or official assignment constitutes lawful justification for violence against a health worker or interference with the delivery of healthcare.’

She added that authorities would enforce existing laws, ensure offenders are held accountable and take all lawful steps to protect health workers, secure hospitals and guarantee uninterrupted healthcare services.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has responded to reactions over its decision to freeze the Osun State Government’s account a few days before the governorship election.

The EFCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Thursday, explained why the commission did not freeze the Ekiti State Government’s account during the state’s governorship election. He said the commission had no reason to take such action because it did not have any incriminating information against the state.

Uwujaren also noted that the EFCC restricted the Edo State Government’s account when funds were being moved to suspicious accounts, adding that the commission was able to preserve N12 billion.

He emphasised that the commission’s action was not a personal attack.

‘We didn’t have any reason to intervene in Ekiti the way we are intervening now in Osun. You don’t have access to information as we have. We are not targeting anybody but simply doing our job,’ he said.

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested more than 20 suspects during a raid on a short-let apartment complex in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, as the anti-graft agency steps up efforts to combat suspected financial crimes.

The intelligence-led operation was carried out in the early hours of Monday, July 27, at Mariton Apartments, located on Plot 30, QMB Road, Ikate, Lekki.

A senior EFCC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly on the investigation, confirmed the operation and said investigations were still ongoing.

According to the official, operatives acted on credible intelligence, leading to the arrest of several suspects whose identities are currently being withheld pending the outcome of investigations.

‘The operation was intelligence-driven. Yes, a number of suspects were arrested and investigations are continuing. We are profiling those arrested and examining items recovered during the operation. Further details will be made public at the appropriate time,’ the source said.

Sources familiar with the operation disclosed that EFCC operatives searched several apartments within the complex, questioned occupants and recovered items considered relevant to the ongoing investigation before taking more than 20 suspects into custody.

The Commission has yet to announce the identities of those arrested or specify the offences for which they are being investigated.

Although some residents alleged that certain apartments may have been used for suspected internet-related crimes and other illicit activities, the EFCC has not linked any suspect or apartment owner to a criminal offence, and the claims could not be independently verified.

The operation has generated widespread attention within the Lekki community, with residents describing it as one of the most extensive anti-graft raids conducted in the area in recent months.

Residents and operators in the neighbourhood also said the apartment complex, previously known for its high occupancy, has experienced a noticeable decline in patronage since the operation.

Sources further disclosed that investigators are analysing materials recovered during the raid while screening those arrested to determine whether criminal charges would be filed.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Osun State is set to host the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream II Orientation Course which has been scheduled to commence from Wednesday, 5th to Tuesday, 25th August 2026.

This was contained in a Circular from the NYSC Directorate Headquarters Abuja which has been confirmed to press by the NYSC, Osun State in a press release on Thursday signed by the Public Relations Officer for the state, Mrs Catherine Otemuyiwa, on behalf of the state coordinator.

According to the statement from the Circular, the three-week Orientation Course for the Batch B Stream II prospective corps members deployed to Osun State for the one-year mandatory service will take place at the NYSC permanent orientation camp, Ede.

The registration and verification of prospective corps members will commence from Wednesday, 5th and close midnight of Friday, 7th August, 2026.

‘The Swearing-in Ceremony for the Batch will come up on Friday, 7th August, 2026 at 9.00 a.m. and will be presided over by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke; while His Lordship, the Chief Judge of Osun State, Hon. Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo, will administer the National Pledge and NYSC Oath of Allegiance on the Prospective Corps Members.

‘While appreciating the people of the State, the Management of the Scheme is calling out to the people of the State especially the NURTW to assist the prospective corps members in locating the orientation camp with ease, and also to corps employers in the state to submit their request for the services of the corps members to the NYSC Office in the resident Local Government Area,’ the statement added.

Social media personality Ifedayo Olarinde, aka Daddy Freeze, has appealed to the Nigerian Army to release and forgive two soldiers reportedly arrested for providing security at the wedding of social media personalities Peller and Jarvis in Lagos.

The appeal followed media reports that the Army has arrested the two serving soldiers for alleged involvement in an unauthorised deployment at the wedding held recently in Lekki.

In videos from the wedding circulating on social media, the uniformed military personnel are seen providing security and crowd control at the venue.

One of the viral clips showed a soldier escorting a social media personality through the crowded event, sparking public criticism and questions over the presence of military personnel at a private function.

Following reports of the arrest, Daddy Freeze, in a video posted on social media, pleaded with the Army authorities to temper justice with mercy.

He argued that the soldiers played a crucial role in ensuring the safety of guests at the event.

‘If not for these soldiers that day, we would have been in trouble. Lagos is not safe. I am begging the Nigerian Army to release them,’ he said.

According to him, the soldiers helped to disperse the crowd that surged towards vehicles conveying guests and celebrities attending the wedding.

‘If not for these guys, they would have been in trouble. The soldiers helped in dispersing the crowd that was jumping on their cars,’ he said.

He maintained that the soldiers had protected lives and property during the event and appealed to Nigerians to support calls for their release.

‘They secured our lives and property. Every celebrity at Peller’s wedding benefited from their presence. Let’s write a petition. Please release these people,’ he appealed.

The incident has generated reactions on social media, with some Nigerians supporting disciplinary measures in line with military regulations, while others have backed Daddy Freeze’s appeal for leniency.

However, the Nigerian Army has consistently maintained that serving personnel are not permitted to undertake unauthorised private security duties or participate in deployments outside official assignments without appropriate approval.

Afrobeats star, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has reacted to President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the dispute between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Osun State Government, describing the development as a historic moment.

Davido, who is the nephew of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, made the comment after presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed that Tinubu informed the governor of his directive to the EFCC to lift the court order freezing the state government’s account.

‘I was there live! I witnessed history!!!’ the singer wrote in a post on X on Thursday.

The music star had earlier expressed support for his uncle ahead of the August 15 Osun governorship election, sharing photos of himself with the governor and writing, ‘We got this #aadeleke_01 God got us.’

The development follows the controversy surrounding the EFCC’s freezing of Osun State Government’s account over alleged financial issues, a move that drew criticism from the state government.

President Tinubu later directed the EFCC to return to court and seek the vacation of the order, expressing concern over the timing of the action with the governorship election only days away.

According to Onanuga, Tinubu also informed Governor Adeleke during a phone conversation on Thursday about his directive to the anti-graft agency.

Seven students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, who were abducted by gunmen on July 29, 2026, have been rescued alive following a coordinated security operation involving multiple security agencies, while two suspected kidnappers have been arrested.

Announcing the successful operation on Thursday at the Ogun State Secretariat, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Governor Dapo Abiodun described the rescue as a significant breakthrough in the state’s fight against kidnapping and violent crime, declaring that criminal elements would find no sanctuary in Ogun State.

The governor said the operation was carried out through a joint effort involving the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Armed Forces, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ogun State Security Network (Amotekun), local vigilantes and hunters.

According to him, the state government immediately activated an intensive rescue mission after the students were abducted along the Gateway ICT Polytechnic axis.

Abiodun disclosed that on August 3, he personally contacted the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to request aerial surveillance in support of the ongoing ground operations.

The request, he said, was promptly approved, leading to the deployment of a police helicopter that proved crucial to the mission.

The governor explained that the rescue operation was executed in phases. Five of the students were rescued during the initial operation, received medical attention and were reunited with their families, while the remaining two regained their freedom during a follow-up mission supported by the police helicopter and ground security teams.

He added that one of the students, who sustained a gunshot injury during the abduction, was immediately evacuated for medical treatment and has since been stabilised.

Abiodun revealed that two members of the kidnapping gang were arrested during the operation, while security operatives have intensified efforts to apprehend other members of the criminal network.

‘The operation is still ongoing, and for operational reasons, we cannot disclose the exact location of the rescue. However, every individual connected with this criminal enterprise will be identified, arrested and prosecuted,’ the governor said.

He vowed that the state would sustain coordinated operations to dismantle kidnapping syndicates, destroy criminal hideouts and deny criminals safe havens across Ogun forests.

‘There will be no hiding place for kidnappers, their informants, collaborators, sponsors or logistics providers. Ogun State will remain hostile to criminality and safe for residents, investors and visitors,’ he declared.

The governor attributed the success of the operation to improved intelligence sharing and seamless collaboration among security agencies, citing recent security initiatives, including Operation KWS, as evidence of the state’s resolve to combat violent crimes.

Abiodun also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for strengthening the nation’s security architecture through enhanced investment in security agencies, improved intelligence coordination and better welfare for security personnel.

He equally praised Disu; the Director-General of the DSS, Tosin Ajayi; the Ogun State Commissioner of Police; the Nigerian Army; NSCDC; Amotekun Corps; local vigilantes; hunters; and other security operatives for their professionalism and courage throughout the rescue mission.

The governor also expressed appreciation to the management, staff and students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, parents of the abducted students, traditional rulers, community leaders and residents for their cooperation and patience during the operation.

He reassured residents and investors that Ogun remains safe for legitimate business activities, pledging sustained investment in intelligence gathering, surveillance technology and logistics to keep security agencies ahead of emerging security threats.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police confirmed that no ransom was paid before the students regained their freedom.

The police chief said the first five victims were rescued and treated by the Police Medical Services before being reunited with their families, while the remaining two were freed during the helicopter-assisted operation.

He added that the two arrested suspects are in police custody and assisting investigators, while security operatives remain in the forest pursuing other fleeing members of the gang.

The commissioner declined to disclose the exact location of the rescue, explaining that the operation remains active and that the ongoing manhunt should not be jeopardised.

The Federal Government has inaugurated the Governing Board of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), charging members to drive reforms aimed at strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

ýThe Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, gave the charge on Thursday during the inauguration of the Board in Abuja.

ýAlausa said the inauguration was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises education and human capital development as key drivers of economic transformation.

ýHe said the government was repositioning the education sector to focus on practical skills rather than paper qualifications.

ýAccording to him, the goal is to produce competent and innovative graduates capable of supporting industrialisation, entrepreneurship and national productivity.

ýThe minister described the appointment of the board members as a recognition of their professionalism, integrity and commitment to national service.

ýHe expressed confidence that they would provide the strategic leadership required to strengthen NBTE’s regulatory mandate and deepen reforms in technical education.

ýAlausa said TVET had become a strategic national priority, noting that no country could achieve meaningful industrialisation without skilled technicians, technologists, artisans, fabricators, machine operators and other professionals.

ýHe said the federal government had continued to invest in the sector to bridge the gap between education and industry while equipping learners with lifelong skills for employment and entrepreneurship.

ýThe minister outlined four priority areas for the board, including providing strategic leadership and effective oversight while allowing the NBTE management to handle day-to-day administration.

ýHe also directed the board to accelerate the implementation of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) framework in collaboration with the Industrial Training Fund and other stakeholders.

ýAccording to him, the framework will formally recognise and certify the competencies of skilled artisans under the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).

ýHe said this would improve employability, expand access to finance, increase opportunities for government contracts and enhance labour mobility across the ECOWAS region.

ýAlausa also called for the modernisation of curricula through Outcome-Based Education to reflect the demands of Industry 4.0.

ýHe said programmes should integrate digital technologies, artificial intelligence, automation, green technologies and advanced manufacturing systems.

ýThe minister further urged institutions under NBTE’s regulatory oversight to strengthen programmes in applied sciences, engineering, technology and innovation while gradually phasing out non-technical programmes outside the statutory mandate of polytechnics.

ýHe also charged the board to uphold transparency and accountability in the management of public resources to ensure investments translated into improved skills acquisition, institutional performance, youth employment and national productivity.

ýResponding on behalf of the board, its Chairman, Prof. Babatunde Salako, thanked President Tinubu and the Minister of Education for the confidence reposed in the members.

ýSalako pledged the board’s commitment to supporting the federal government’s reforms aimed at expanding opportunities for young Nigerians to acquire relevant technical skills and become entrepreneurs and job creators.

ýHe identified changing the public perception of technical education as a second-choice option as one of the board’s key responsibilities.

ýAccording to him, sustained public enlightenment is needed to encourage parents and students to embrace TVET as a pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and national development.

ýAlso speaking, the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaje, described the inauguration as a landmark achievement, noting that the board was being inaugurated after more than five years without one.

ýBugaje expressed appreciation to the minister and assured him of the board’s commitment to supporting the successful implementation of the federal government’s TVET transformation agenda.ý

A retired officer of the Department of State Services (DSS), Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam was on Thursday remanded in Kuje prison after he was arraigned for joining and supporting proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

In the four-count charge, DSS alleged that Ezeakolam joined IPOB, posted messages in support of the proscribed organization and was involved in acts capable of inducing unsuspecting members of the public to join the proscribed terrorist organization.

DSS said the action of the retired officer was contrary to and punishable under Sections 13, 25, 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

However, Ezeakolam pleaded ‘not guilty’ to all the four counts when they were read to him.

Subsequently, the prosecution applied for a trial date and urged the court to remand him in custody pending trial.

Justice Mohammed Umar adjourned the matter to October 29 for commencement of trial.

He also ordered remand of Ezeakolam at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the commencement of the trial.

Count One read:

That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime 2025 and 2026, at Abuja and Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly and indirectly render support by providing moral assistance and disseminating terrorist information of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB, a proscribed organization, through the internet and your social media platforms, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 13 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Count Two:

That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime 2025 and 2026, in Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did join Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organization, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 25 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Count Three:

That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime 2025 and 2026, at Abuja and Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly directly and indirectly aid and abet the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by posting on social media platforms messages calculated to induce unsuspecting members of the public to support Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organization, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Count Four:

That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime 2025 and 2026, at Abuja and Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, on social media platforms did post and cause to be accessed, messages aimed at advancing the cause of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organization and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of Cybercrimes (Prevention, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015, as amended.

The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has sealed four establishments for violating environmental regulations in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the agency announced the enforcement in a statement posted on its official X handle on Thursday.

LASEPA said the affected establishments operated in the Ijora Causeway and Apapa areas of the state.

It said the facilities were sealed over persistent violations of environmental regulations in spite of repeated warnings and abatement notices.

The agency said it also gave the companies several opportunities to comply with its directives before the enforcement.

According to LASEPA, the facilities failed to implement corrective measures issued by the agency.

The sealed establisments include Helmar Building Materials at 8 Ijora Causeway, Ijora.

Others are Laprivad Nigeria Ltd., behind Funky Yetty along Ijora Causeway, and Innocast Nigeria Ltd. on Saka Alao Street, Apapa.

Also sealed was Body Language Shipping and Cargo on Liverpool Road, Apapa.

LASEPA said the enforcement underscored its commitment to ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and protecting public health across the state.