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Ademola Lookman made his first start of the season for Atalanta as the Nerazzurri battled back to beat Club Brugge 2-1 in the Champions League at the New Balance Arena on Tuesday night.

The Nigerian winger, who had been left out of Atalanta’s three opening Serie A fixtures following a transfer request in August, looked sharp on his return to the starting XI.

He had an early effort blocked, showing glimpses of his attacking intent. Against the run of play, Christos Tzolis put Brugge ahead with a fine strike just before halftime. Atalanta, however, dominated the second period.

Lazar Samardzic equalised from the penalty spot after Mario Pasalic was brought down by Nordin Jackers, before Pasalic himself rose to head home the winner three minutes from time.

The victory gave Atalanta their first Champions League points of the season, while Brugge suffered defeat after their emphatic 4-1 win over Monaco in the opener.

Lord Marland, the Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), has said that the current tariff war being unleashed by the United States of America against the rest of the world is a great opportunity for the Commonwealth trade, which has 56 member nations.

Lord Marland stated this during his recent visit to Nigeria for a meeting with CWEIC Nigeria strategic partners, top Nigerian businesses and government officials.

Marland noted that the tariff war is a great opportunity for Commonwealth trade because it was made up of 56 nations that speak a common language with a fairly similar trade outlook.

According to him, ‘Suddenly you have one of the biggest consumers in the world putting tariffs on that trade so that it is no longer free trade. ‘It gives a great opportunity for those who support free trade. And that is why people will turn and look to their friends, many of them in Commonwealth countries, for trading.’

Marland further pointed out that The Bahamas is currently keen for direct trade links with Nigeria and Ghana.

‘We will facilitate their introductions so that they can buy direct from Nigeria rather than going through the United States of America,’ he said. He added that Canada is looking for new markets and renewing friendships.

He also gave credit to African Governments for expanding free trade with the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

‘The first thing that I say is the amazing speed AfCFTA was signed. It is a great credit to the African nations that they cooperated so quickly to sign that agreement. ‘AfCFTA is the way that trade has got to go. If you believe in free trade, you have to commit to it.

‘But it is for the members of AfCFTA to really make sure that happens because this is their opportunity now to build relationships with a whole lot of other countries flying the flag of free trades.

‘Free trade has shown through history that it has lifted people out of poverty. That it is a boost to the economies; that it has created and sustained a transparent society for business.

‘And that is why it can be very important for Africa to push hard to ensure that the barriers to trade are reduced and relationships are established very strongly with those that believe in that concept,’ Lord Marland said.

The 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly recently concluded successfully. This was a session of special significance, as it marked the 80th anniversary of the victory in the global anti-fascist war and the establishment of the United Nations. Over the past 80 years, the UN has become the most universal, representative and authoritative intergovernmental international organisation, with the UN-centred international system widely supported by the international community.

Eighty years ago, defeated Japan returned Taiwan to China, which was an indisputable outcome of the global anti-fascist war and a crucial part of the post-war international order. Currently, the Taiwan Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities stubbornly adopt a separatist policy seeking ‘Taiwan independence’, while a small number of countries claim that China’s sovereignty over Taiwan has not been established, openly challenging the authority of the UN and the post-war international order. To clarify the facts and set the record straight, I feel obligated to address several common fallacies on the Taiwan Question.

Fallacy 1: ‘The two sides of the Taiwan Strait are not subordinate to each other.’

Taiwan has belonged to China since ancient times, with clear historical and legal foundations. Numerous historical records and documents detail the early development of Taiwan by the Chinese people. As early as the 12th century, the Chinese government established administrative institutions and exercised jurisdiction in Taiwan. In 1895, Japan forced the Qing government to cede Taiwan and the Penghu Islands to Japan through war. In 1943, the Cairo Declaration issued by China, the United States and the United Kingdom stipulated that all the territories seized by Japan, including Taiwan, must be returned to China. In 1945, the Potsdam Proclamation issued by China, the United States, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union reaffirmed that the terms of the Cairo Declaration must be implemented.

In August of that year, Japan accepted the Potsdam Proclamation and signed the Instrument of Surrender in September, pledging to ‘faithfully fulfil the obligations laid down in the Potsdam Proclamation.’

Through a series of internationally legally binding documents, China recovered Taiwan both legally and in fact. Although the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have not yet achieved complete reunification, the fact that both the mainland of China and Taiwan belong to one China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China has never changed and cannot be changed. This is the true status quo of the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan has never been a country, nor will it ever be in the future.

Fallacy 2: ‘China’s sovereignty over Taiwan has not been established.’

Shortly after the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan in 1945, the Nationalist government led by Chiang Kai-shek launched a civil war. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people won the civil war, ultimately overthrowing the ‘Republic of China’ government led by Chiang Kai-shek. Some members of the Nationalist regime retreated to Taiwan, and with interference from external forces, the two sides of the Taiwan Strait entered a prolonged state of political confrontation.

On October 1, 1949, the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) was established, and the PRC government became the sole legitimate government of China. This was a change of government within the same international legal entity of China, with no change to China’s sovereignty or inherent territory. The PRC government naturally enjoys and exercises China’s sovereignty in full, including sovereignty over Taiwan. Fallacy 3: ‘UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 does not establish the One-China principle.’

Resolution 2758 fully embodies the One-China principle. On August 20, 1971, before the resolution was put to a vote, the Chinese government issued a statement emphasising, ‘There are not two Chinas in the world; there is only one China, the People’s Republic of China. Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory and a province of China, which was returned to the motherland at the end of World War II. This is an indisputable fact.’ On October 25, 1971, the 26th session of the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758, which decided to ‘restore all the rights of the People’s Republic of China, recognise the representatives of its government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations, and expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all the organisations related to it.’

Resolution 2758 politically affirmed and consolidated the One-China principle: there is only one China in the world, Taiwan is a part of China, and the PRC government is the sole legitimate government representing all of China. Following the resolution’s adoption, UN official documents consistently refer to Taiwan as ‘Taiwan, Province of China’. These facts are indisputable and unchallengeable.

Fallacy 4: ‘UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 does not determine Taiwan’s status.’

Resolution 2758 and the One-China principle that the Resolution embodies impose a universal binding force on all subjects of the international community through the UN Charter, bilateral diplomatic treaties, and fundamental principles of international law.

In diplomatic practice, the resolution’s authority is reflected in the correct Taiwan-related positions, policies, and actions of the UN General Assembly, UN specialised agencies, and many UN member states. These collectively form an important international legal and moral foundation for handling Taiwan-related questions. The One-China principle, framework, consensus and related institutional arrangements supported by the resolution have become principles and common knowledge followed by all countries, as well as a solemn commitment by countries with diplomatic relations to respect China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The claim by a few countries that ‘Taiwan’s status is undetermined’ challenges the authority of the UN, defies the post-war international order, and is an absurd and dangerous attempt to reverse history.

Fallacy 5: ‘Now is the time for the UN to recognise Taiwan.’

According to Resolution 2758, China’s representation in the UN naturally includes Taiwan as part of the whole of China. This is entirely consistent with the international legal principle that ‘one sovereign state can only be represented by one central government.’ There is only one seat for China in the UN, and the PRC government is the sole legitimate representative of China in the UN. There is no issue of ‘two Chinas’ or ‘one China, one Taiwan’.

The Taiwan authorities have repeatedly pushed for farcical attempts to achieve ‘meaningful participation’ or ‘re-entry’ into the UN, trying to challenge the authority of Resolution 2758, but all ended in failure. Resolution 2758 clarifies that ‘China’ in the UN Charter refers to the People’s Republic of China, imposing an obligation on all UN member states to avoid raising the so-called issue of Taiwan’s representation in the UN system. Taiwan has no basis, reason or right to participate in the UN or other international organisations exclusive to sovereign states. On this matter of principle, there is no grey area or room for ambiguity.

The One-China principle has become an international consensus, with 183 countries, including Nigeria, establishing diplomatic relations with China based on this principle. In 1971, when China and Nigeria established diplomatic relations, Nigeria solemnly pledged in the Joint Communiqué: ‘The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria recognises the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate government representing the entire Chinese people.’ Since then, the One-China principle has been firmly supported by successive Nigerian governments, serving as the cornerstone for the healthy and stable development of China-Nigeria relations.

The Nigerian government requested the Taiwan authorities to relocate its trade office to Lagos from Abuja in 2017, strictly restricted official interactions between Nigerian government officials and Taiwan, and reiterated that the Taipei trade office in Nigeria is a non-diplomatic commercial entity that does not represent any government.

In September 2024, during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to China, Nigeria reiterated in the Joint Statement: ‘Nigeria firmly adheres to the One-China principle, recognises that there is only one China in the world, that the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China, and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. Nigeria opposes any form of ‘Taiwan independence’, opposes interference in China’s internal affairs, and firmly supports the Chinese government’s efforts to achieve national reunification.’

China highly appreciates the Nigerian government’s firm stance on the Taiwan Question. Nigeria’s political resolve and firm stance align with the fundamental interests of the Nigerian nation and people, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and the global landscape of one China. Currently, the China-Nigeria comprehensive strategic partnership continues to deepen, with friendly cooperation becoming a model for China-Africa cooperation and Global South collaboration. China is willing to strengthen strategic communication and practical cooperation with Nigeria, promote the early implementation of a zero-tariff policy for 100% of tariff lines on products, enhance collaboration under the framework of the Global Governance Initiative, and jointly build a China-Nigeria community with a shared future.

We hope that all peace-loving countries and peoples will stand on the side of historical justice, uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, safeguard the authority of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, firmly oppose the deliberate distortions by the Taiwan authorities and a few countries, and take concrete actions to support the Chinese people’s just cause of defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity and achieving national reunification.

The Edo State Executive Council has approved a revised supplementary budget of N799.820 billion for the 2025 fiscal year, up from the initial N675.220 billion, representing an increase of approximately N125 billion, or 18 percent.

The approval which followed an emergency executive meeting presided over by the Chairman-in-Council and Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, on Monday,

Briefing journalists immediately after the meeting, the Commissioner for Finance, Emmanuel Okoebor, explained the rationale behind the adjustment and emphasised the government’s commitment to infrastructure development.

Okoebor explained: ‘Previously, we had a budget of N675 billion with recurrent expenditure having about 33 percent and capital 67 percent. The new revised budget now has about 70 percent for capital expenditure as against 30 percent for recurrent expenditure. It shows the commitment of Governor Monday Okpebholo in infrastructural development in Edo state.’

He further explained the size and nature of the increment. ‘The increment in the budget is about N125 billion, which signifies about 18 percent of the previous budget. Recurrent increased with about N12 billion, while capital is about N113 billion from the previous one. Given about 25 percent increment in Capital expenditure and just 5 percent increment in recurrent expenditure.

‘It clearly shows that the government is concerned about infrastructural development making Edo people happy. We have done about 254KM of road across the state, and many more construction works are ongoing.

‘Recurrent expenditure has about 5 percent increment as the increase in minimum wage necessitated that increment, including a lot of employment the present administration did in the hospital management board for over 1000, and it needs to be captured.

‘The budget has been increased by N125 billion, which is about 18 percent, and capital expenditure by about 25 percent, from N450 billion to N563 billion.’

According to the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Communication, Paul Ohombamu, the revised budget is expected to be forwarded to the Edo State House of Assembly for legislative consideration and passage.

President Bola Tinubu has condemned the murder of Somtochukwu Maduagwu, a news anchor with Arise News Television, directing security operatives to fish out her killers.

Bayo Onanuga, presidential Spokesman, said Maduagwu was killed during an attack by robbers at her residence in Katampe, Abuja.

President Tinubu extended his condolences to the family of Maduagwu, the management and staff of Arise News Television, and the entire Nigerian media fraternity over the loss. According to the President : ‘ Ms Maduagwu was a promising professional journalist whose life was cut short in a cruel and condemnable manner.

‘ Security and law enforcement agencies should conduct a quick and thorough investigation into the incident and ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended and brought to justice without delay,’ he said.

The President, while also commiserating with the bereaved family, assured Nigerians that his administration remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens, and will continue to strengthen measures aimed at combating crime in all its forms.

In fulfilment of its promises and commitment to socio-economic development, the Kwara State Government has executed over 100 projects within one year.

Abdulrasheed Oluwafemi Yusuf, Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government Area, disclosed this while briefing journalists on his one-year stewardship at the News Keg personality programme, organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Correspondents’ Chapel in Ilorin.

He noted that from inception, his administration set out to complement the efforts of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq in ensuring that development reaches every part of Ifelodun, the largest local government in the State. ‘Our administration has touched more than 100 communities through infrastructural and social projects that have improved lives, enhanced security, and strengthened community development,’ Yusuf said.

Among the projects executed are the installation of solar-powered streetlights in over 20 communities; provision and rehabilitation of more than 30 solar-powered boreholes and hand pumps across wards in Atanda, Apara, Adio, Anita, Eleyele, among others. He also listed the construction and renovation of primary healthcare centres in Oke-Ode, Labaka Oja, Adanla, Ofarese, Ijaya-Share, and Ajapa; provision of medical equipment and essential drugs to health facilities; as well as sponsorship of 41 students for health-related courses at the Kwara State Polytechnic of Health Technology, Offa, with plans for their absorption into the local health sector.

On infrastructure, the council rehabilitated several roads, including Isanlu-Isin, Kajola, Oke-Oyan, Umupo, Chahiyan, Igbaja, Ofarese, Oke-Ode, Afon Junction, and Oro-Ago. In the agricultural sector, Yusuf revealed that the council refurbished four abandoned tractors to near-new condition and added them to two existing ones, along with another from ACReSAL, bringing the total to seven functional tractors for farmers.

The council also procured five ridgers to promote mechanised farming, organised step-down training for 500 livestock farmers, and supported them with necessary machinery.

Looking ahead, the Chairman pledged more transformative projects in the council’s second year, particularly in road construction, education, healthcare, and security.

When Nigeria gained independence in 1960, its founding fathers envisioned a nation that would stand tall, healthy, and prosperous.

The University College Hospital, Ibadan, stood as a beacon of modern medicine on the continent, attracting patients from West Africa and beyond.

Six and a half decades later, that dream has dimmed for many Nigerians.

Today, the health sector is at once a story of progress and paradox.

There are centres of excellence, revitalised primary health care facilities, and pioneering projects that have saved countless lives.

Yet, millions still die from preventable causes; families are pushed into poverty by medical bills, and doctors depart in droves for greener pastures abroad.

As Nigeria marks 65 years of independence, the question is clear: how is the health sector faring?

Experts say that Nigeria’s health system has evolved through alternating waves of reform and neglect.

In the 1970s and 80s, the Federal Government expanded teaching hospitals and established facilities across regions.

Following the Alma-Ata Declaration in 1978, the country embraced Primary Health Care (PHC) as the backbone of service delivery.

By 2001, African leaders, including Nigeria, signed the Abuja Declaration, pledging 15 per cent of national budgets to health.

Yet, more than two decades later, Nigeria still spends less than six per cent.

The National Health Insurance Scheme, inaugurated in 2005 and transformed into the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in 2022, sought to improve financial access.

The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), introduced in 2014, provided a lifeline for PHCs.

In spite of these efforts, underfunding, poor governance, and a haemorrhaging workforce remain persistent challenges.

Muyi Aina, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), said 901 PHCs had been fully revitalised, while 2,700 more were undergoing upgrades, with a target to reach all 17,000 wards nationwide by 2030.

He noted that for communities where women previously delivered babies under torchlight, skilled attendance at birth and timely referrals had been instituted.

Dr Kelechi Ohiri, Director General, NHIA, said enrolment under the scheme had grown from 16.7 million to about 20 million Nigerians.

According to him, special funds such as the Vulnerable Group Fund and the Catastrophic Fund provide financial cover for cancer treatment, dialysis, and other costly care.

‘In Lagos and Kaduna States, maternal deaths dropped by 58 per cent across 32 facilities under Project Aisha, a programme combining health worker training, midwifery kits, and free caesarean sections.

‘Nationally, more than six million pregnant women have received essential micronutrient supplements,’ he said.

Nigeria has rolled out the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine, expanded Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, and unveiled pilot programmes for the malaria vaccine; campaigns have averted outbreaks and improved coverage.

Training has also expanded, with enrolment into nursing programmes jumping from about 28,000 to more than 115,000 in just a few years.

More community health workers are being deployed to underserved areas.

In 2025, Nigeria allocated N2.48 trillion to health, just 5.18 per cent of the national budget.

This falls far below the 15 per cent Abuja Declaration target and remains inadequate to fund infrastructure, staff salaries, and essential medicines.

In spite of this, the country remains one of the most dangerous places to give birth.

According to UN estimates compiled from 2023 figures, no fewer than 82,000 women die annually from pregnancy-related causes, accounting for 19 per cent of global maternal deaths.

Life expectancy stands at around 55 years, well below the African average of 64 and far behind Ghana (64), Kenya (67), and South Africa (64).

The doctor-patient ratio in Nigeria is estimated at 1:5,000, compared to the WHO recommendation of 1:600.

Health spending per capita hovers around 55 dollars far short of the 86 dollars minimum recommended for delivering basic services.

Regional disparities remain stark; in northern Nigeria, women are more than twice as likely to die in childbirth as those in the South. In rural communities, many facilities operate with a single nurse, compared to urban centres where specialist care is available.

Wealth also determines survival; families with insurance or savings can afford treatment, while millions of poor households must sell assets or borrow to pay hospital bills.

Simon Agwale, the Chief Executive Officer of Innovative Biotech, warned issued a warning.

‘Equity must be put first.

‘This means tailoring interventions to the needs of northern states, rural communities, conflict-affected areas, and marginalised groups who are often left behind in national health programmes,’ Agwale said.

At a PHC in Kwali Area Council, Sarah Aso, a young mother of three, sits on a wooden bench clutching her malnourished toddler.

She narrated how she had walked four kilometres to the facility, only to find the nurse absent and essential drugs out of stock.

‘For me, health care is still a gamble,’ she said.

Meanwhile, at the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, 32-year-old Ms Blessing Alaba undergoes chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Alaba explained that her treatment costs nearly a million naira, but under the new Catastrophic Fund, half her bills were subsidised.

‘Without this support, I would have given up,’ she said.

A young doctor at the same facility, who requested anonymity, said he was preparing to write exams for a licence abroad.

‘Most of my colleagues have left; we are passionate about serving, but the pay and conditions cannot sustain us,’ he said.

Nigeria’s underfunding of health persists despite repeated promises.

Critics ask why the Abuja 15 per cent pledge remains unmet, and why leakages in procurement and mismanagement of donor funds continue unchecked.

Civil society organisations argue that health financing must go beyond international donors.

Mercy Adeojo, founder of Women Strengthening Women (WSW), was frank.

‘Nigeria must commit domestic resources and address inequities head-on; donor-driven health gains are not sustainable,’ he said.

Muhammad Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, maintained that reforms were on course.

‘We are working to revitalise PHCs, expand insurance, and strengthen governance; the road is long, but we are determined,’ Pate said.

Dr Solomon Chollom, a virologist and public health expert, insisted that deliberate reforms must follow.

Chollom urged the government to move closer to the Abuja 15 per cent target, strengthen PHCs, and retain health workers by offering rural incentives and better working conditions.

Maimuna Abdullahi, a Health Economist with the African Health Budget Network (AHBN), provided further insights.

‘Expanding insurance so that coverage becomes truly universal, especially for the poor and vulnerable, is non-negotiable.

‘At the same time, prevention must be prioritised, clean water, sanitation, nutrition, and public health measures will save more lives than treatment alone,’ she said.

Stakeholders also point to new opportunities: digital health innovations, telemedicine to bridge urban-rural gaps, and Nigeria’s participation in the African Medicines Agency to boost local manufacturing.

At 65, Nigeria stands at a crossroads; the health sector has seen pockets of progress revitalised PHCs, expanded insurance coverage, and measurable reductions in maternal deaths in some areas. Yet systemic weaknesses continue to claim lives and deepen inequalities.

The nation’s founding vision of ‘health for all’ remains within reach, but only if bold reforms are sustained and matched with political will, adequate funding, and accountability.

‘A healthy nation is a wealthy nation,’ the saying goes.

For Nigeria, observers say the next decade will determine whether its health sector can finally deliver independence, a system that truly cares for its people