Category Nigeria News

Akwa Ibom State Government has declared a State of Emergency in its Health Sector, following a comprehensive review of the administration’s healthcare development roadmap. 

This is to accelerate reforms and further deliver efficient healthcare services in line with the ARISE agenda of the administration.

Commissioner for Information, Elder Aniekan Umanah, who briefed Government House reporters after the weekly State Executive Council, explained that the “key directives under this emergency regime include further upgrade of medical facilities across the State, reopening of the recruitment portal and engagement of 2,000 healthcare workers, with the voters’ identity card number requirement waived for applicants.”

According to the Commissioner, the Executive Council presided over by the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, “further directed the upgrading of health training institutions, enrollment and training of health professionals, as well as the engagement of retired but willing medical personnel on a contract basis“.

The State Government also announced the constitution of an Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee, with membership drawn from relevant ministries and agencies, to ensure prompt and efficient implementation of the emergency measures.

The Exco also proposed a supplementary bill of ₦695 billion, raising the total budget size of 2025 to ₦1.65 trillion, comprising ₦125,664,328,180 for Recurrent Expenditure and ₦569,335,671,820 for Capital Expenditure.

The supplementary budget is expected to provide for the implementation of the new minimum wage and personnel emoluments, allowances for NYSC members serving in the State and Akwa Ibom NYSC members serving outside the State, emergency flood and erosion control, and completion of ongoing projects affected by inflation.

READ ALSO: Resident Doctors Begin Nationwide Warning Strike

The proposed budget will also cater for construction of new infrastructure across the State, purchase of Ibom CNG Mass Transit buses, funding for newly created Ministries of Sports, Digital Economy, Humanitarian Services and the Bureau of Rural Development and Cooperatives, the Tree Crop Revolution programme, construction of new housing estates, renovation of the House of Assembly complex, capital provisions for the acquisition of new aircraft, and the development of the ARISE Shopping City.

One person has been confirmed dead after the collapse of a three-storey building in Alagomeji, located in the Yaba area of Lagos State.

The ill-fated building, located at 333 Borno Street, Alagomeji, caved in on Friday night.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in its Day 2 incident report on Saturday, confirmed that the body of a male victim was pulled from the rubble during ongoing rescue efforts.

The update shared on its official X handle disclosed that emergency responders, including officials of NEMA, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), and the Fire Service, remain on-site.

“So far, four persons have been rescued and are in stable condition,” NEMA stated.

“No additional rescues have been made at the time of this report, but there is speculation that two more persons are still trapped beneath the rubble,” the statement read.

Day 2 Incident Report: 3 Storey Building Collapse at Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos State

One body (male) has just been recovered from the rubble.

Search and Rescue operation is still ongoing. pic.twitter.com/bza3WenWEC

Rescue operations are continuing as authorities work against time to locate possible survivors and prevent further casualties.

It stated that several people were trapped under the rubble.

“While eyewitness accounts vary, with some saying six people were trapped and others reporting five, emergency responders have so far rescued four adult males alive and taken them to the hospital for treatment.

“Teams from the National Emergency Management Agency, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and other responders quickly mobilised to the scene and commenced search and rescue operations,” the agency said.

According to the agency, the exact number of people still trapped remains unconfirmed, but efforts are ongoing to locate and evacuate survivors.

“Emergency officials have cordoned off the site to ensure safety and smooth rescue operations.

“The search and rescue operation is continuing into the night, with responders assuring that no effort will be spared to save lives,” it added.

3-Storey Building Collapses in Yaba, Four Rescued as Search Continues

Lagos, Nigeria – A three-storey building under construction collapsed on Friday night, September 12, 2025, at 333 Borno Street, Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos State.

The incident occurred at about 8:30 pm, leaving… pic.twitter.com/1BTOwUaTCE

The Yaba incident is the latest in the cases of building collapse in Lagos and other parts of the country.

The Police and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) have confirmed the rescue of two visually impaired students who have been reported missing from the Special Secondary School for the Blind in Opefia Community, Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The students were found in a good state of health and mind around Abakpa Nike in Enugu State on September 11, 2025, where they were surviving, wandering the streets, and soliciting for alms.

Confirming the rescue to Channels Television through a phone call on Saturday, a spokesperson in Ebonyi State Police Command, Joshua Ukandu, said the rescue of the students who had been missing for three months was facilitated by a phone call to one of the parents.

He added that they were found in good state of health and have been handed over to their parents.

“The students were found in Enugu State, while begging and they have been handed over to their parents,” Ukandu said.

“We are still expecting them back to the command for further questioning.”

READ ALSO: Rivers Administrator Declares Presidential Mandate Fulfilled

Meanwhile, the Coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission in Ebonyi State, Christopher Okorie, disclosed that the rescued students, two teenagers, Augustine Onwunyiruba, a 17-year-old male in JSS3, and Lawrence Onyenaturuchukwu, a 16-year-old female in SS1, were reportedly threatened by seniors at their school, which led to their disappearance since June 5, 2025.

He expressed gratitude to the public and the press for their role in tracing and identifying the missing students.

“Today, September 12, 2025, NHRC Ebonyi State office, is pleased to announce that the children declared missing from Ebonyi State Special School of the blind, Opefia, Izzi LGA, Ebonyi State, three months ago, June 5, have been found.

“They were found around Abakpa Nike, Enugu, where they were surviving through begging. Thank God, they were found in a good state of health and mind. The children have been handed over to their parents.

Police operatives in Benue State have arrested three suspected armed robbers and recovered 34 handsets, three HP laptops, and two MP3 players from them.

Spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, Udeme Edet, disclosed in a statement in Makurdi on Friday.

She said the suspects were arrested during a stop-and-search operation.

Edet gave the names of the suspects as Mujahid Mohammed, 21 years; Yahaya Abdullahi, 21 years; and Kalipha Mohammad, 28 years, who were all residents of Mararaba and Nyanya, Abuja.

The police spokesperson stated that the suspects were arrested on August 31st at Orokam Junction along Obollo Afor Road.

READ ALSO: Resident Doctors Begin Nationwide Warning Strike

“On 31st August 2025 at about 1705 hrs, while operatives of the Orokam Police Division were on stop-and-search duty at Orokam Junction by Obollo Afor Road, they intercepted and arrested three suspects,” the statement read.

“The suspects confessed to belonging to a gang of armed robbers who were terrorising the Orokam community in Benue and other communities in Enugu State.

“They also confessed to having robbed six flats at the Umukasi Area and ten flats at the St Theresa Area of Nsukka in Enugu State.

“They further averred that their ringleader, one Abba Mohammed, age 27, who is at large, escaped with their weapons in the course of their arrest,” she added.

Edet stated that the Benue police command was working with those of Enugu and Gombe to apprehend the suspect at large.

She announced that the command was carrying out further investigation to identify the owners of the recovered items.

“The Benue Commissioner of Police (CP) Emenari Ifeanyi has commended the swift action of the patrol team and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to rid the state of criminal elements.

Conjoined twins, Hassana and Husaina, have returned to Nigeria after undergoing a complex and successful separation surgery in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The young girls, who were previously joined at the lower abdomen, pelvis, and spine, arrived quietly at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on Thursday to a formal reception attended by government officials and a delegation from Saudi Arabia.

Their arrival was marked by warm greetings from Governor Abba Yusuf, members of his cabinet, and Saudi representatives.

READ ALSO: Kano Bans Unlicensed Chainsaw Use To Tackle Illegal Tree Felling

“This is not just a medical success, but a humanitarian one,” said Governor Yusuf, who received the twins and their parents at the airport.

“We are thankful to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its generous intervention. Kano State will take full responsibility for the welfare, education, and overall development of Hassana and Husaina,” he assured.

The separation surgery took place at King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital in King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh.

It was carried out under the directives of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The twins were taken to Riyadh in October 2023, where they underwent several months of advanced medical assessment.

Doctors found that the girls shared critical anatomical structures, making their case especially complicated.

A team of 38 specialists, including pediatric surgeons, neurosurgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, anaesthesiologists, urologists, and plastic surgeons, performed the procedure over nine carefully planned stages, lasting approximately 14 hours.

“The operation was one of the most challenging in the history of our program,” said Dr Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, who is the head of the surgical team.

“But the success gives hope to many families around the world facing similar medical conditions,” Al-Rabeeah added.

The Saudi Siamese Twins Separation Programme, under which the surgery was performed, has now completed 65 successful separations involving 150 twins from 25 countries over the past 35 years.

The programme is internationally recognised as one of the world’s leading initiatives for conjoined twin separation and medical humanitarianism.

Representing the Saudi government at the airport, the Consular General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Kano, Khalil Ahmed Al-Admawi, praised the outcome as a reflection of his country’s humanitarian priorities.

“This operation demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s commitment to global medical assistance.

“We are proud of our partnership with Nigeria and will continue to offer support through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre,” Al-Admawi said.

The twins and their parents were transported from the airport to a medical facility for further observation and post-surgery care.

Though the reception was modest, the significance of the moment was deeply felt by those present.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the 2023 Rivers election, Tonye Cole, has warned that Nigerians cannot afford another fuel scarcity.

Cole, co-founder and former Group Executive Director of Sahara Group, spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Friday.

“Nigerians cannot afford another scarcity of fuel today. People are already in such a difficult situation, and another crisis would only worsen their suffering.”

Cole noted that the government intervened quickly to mediate between Dangote Refinery and NUPENG because preventing disruption was critical to citizens’ welfare.

Unionisation Debate

Cole stressed that unions play a vital role in ensuring checks and balances between employers, employees, and government.

“In a democracy, unions remain a necessary balance,” he said. “They give workers a strong lobbying voice, while the government must represent the interests of the people.”

Asked whether Dangote Refinery was handling the issue properly, Cole responded, “If they signed an agreement, integrity demands that they honour it, or call all parties to renegotiate.”

READ ALSO: NUPENG Threatens To Resume Strike, Accuses Dangote Refinery Of Breaching Agreement

On monopoly fears, he warned against allowing a single company to dominate Nigeria’s fuel market.

“Competition makes businesses stronger and benefits citizens most. Monopoly is extremely dangerous and unacceptable,” he said.

He added that while market disruption is natural in business, using government forces to ban competitors would harm citizens and the economy.

Strike Threat Resurfaces

Barely 48 hours after suspending its nationwide strike, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) accused Dangote Refinery of reneging on its commitments.

In a statement signed by President Williams Akporeha and General Secretary Afolabi Olawale, the union warned it could resume industrial action.

“We are placing our members on red alert for the resumption of the suspended strike,” the statement read. “We call on labour groups and civil society to stand in solidarity.”

NUPENG said Dangote Refinery ordered truck drivers to remove union stickers from their vehicles despite signing an agreement at the DSS office.

The union urged the Federal Government to stop security agencies from being used “with impunity” against workers’ rights, warning that agreements must be respected.

Agreement and MoU

NUPENG had suspended its strike on Tuesday after an agreement with Dangote Refinery to recognise employees’ right to unionise.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at the DSS meeting stated that unionisation must commence immediately and be completed within two weeks.

It also ensured that no worker would be punished for joining a union and that the employer would not create a parallel union.

Signatories included Dangote Group, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Union Dispute

The strike initially began when NUPENG alleged that Dangote Refinery was hiring new drivers on the condition that they not join the union.

Dangote’s management dismissed the allegation as “cheap blackmail”, insisting operations continued normally and stressing there was no fuel shortage during the strike.

The refinery, which has a 650,000 barrels-per-day capacity, is Africa’s largest and aims to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petrol.