News

FG Offered 4,000 Pregnant Women Free C-section – Report

Published

10 months ago

December 8, 2025

No fewer than 4,000 pregnant women across Nigeria have received free caesarean sections under the National Health Insurance programme, marking one of the most remarkable gains recorded through the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative.

This is according to the 2025 health statistics report released by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

The surgeries, fully subsidised and conducted in designated facilities, form part of a broader national push to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths and strengthen frontline health systems.

Launched in November 2024, MAMII is designed to reduce maternal deaths by 30 per cent and neonatal deaths by 20 per cent in 172 high-burden local government areas across the country.

The initiative deploys a suite of targeted, context-specific measures that focus on governance, accountability, community demand creation, skilled service delivery, and improved financing and performance management.

Since commencement, the programme has identified the major drivers of mortality in these LGAs and has begun implementing tailored solutions to address them.

“MAMII has achieved significant progress in strengthening Nigeria’s health system response to maternal and neonatal mortality. One hundred and eighty-six LGAs have developed context-specific costed work plans using the national comprehensive implementation guide to improve antenatal care attendance; over 400,000 pregnant women have been line-listed, with the number of referrals on the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System increased from 86 to 32,711, with 4,000 caesarean sections done at no cost to the pregnant women enrolled under the National Health Insurance programme.

“Lifesaving maternal, newborn and child health commodities have been distributed to over 500 facilities, and emergency transport systems have been activated in LGAs in 12 states. Early data trends show increased facility and antenatal attendance as well as skilled birth attendance.

“The gains made so far can be attributed to significant efforts by LGAs, states, and the Federal teams,” the report read partly.

The report noted that across the 172 LGAs, progress has been significant, as a total of 435 health facilities have been revitalised, while 729,724 women booked their first ANC visit before 20 weeks of pregnancy, and 794,205 women completed their fourth ANC visit.

Between the first and third quarters of 2025, the report showed that the LGAs recorded 731,559 deliveries, 21,172 stillbirths, 841 maternal deaths, and 1,245 neonatal deaths.

The health system indicators also show notable improvement. More than half (52 per cent) of the LGAs now have at least two Level-2 facilities, while 78 per cent have a Primary Health Centre in every ward under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.

It added that there has been a 17 per cent reduction in maternal deaths and a 12 per cent reduction in newborn deaths in the intervention areas.

According to the report, 25 per cent of BHCPF facilities are linked to the SEMSAS/NEMSAS referral system, which has already processed 7,451 completed referrals.

The report also revealed that only 12 per cent of BHCPF facilities have at least two midwives, even as 47 per cent of LGAs have been equipped with heat-stable carbectocin, a key drug for preventing postpartum haemorrhage.

Meanwhile, 20 per cent of BHCPF facilities have at least one laboratory technician. To support community-level interventions, 411,296 women have been line-listed across the 172 LGAs for closer follow-up.

Despite the gains, the report stated that significant gaps remain.

“The key gaps identified include that many LGAs lack sufficient community health workers for household-level tracking and demand creation, and inadequate numbers of functional designated Basic and Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care facilities.

“Emergency transport services are still limited in coverage, with delayed driver payments and weak digital systems. Similarly, Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response implementation remains weak across facilities in the 172 LGAs, and delays in the release of funds under the annual Operational Plans threaten continuity,” it stated.

To consolidate progress and sustain reductions in maternal and newborn mortality, experts recommend prioritising community health system strengthening and fully scaling functional BEmONC and CEmONC facilities.

“To sustain the continuous reduction in maternal and newborn deaths, stakeholders must prioritise strengthening community health systems, scaling BEmONC and CEmONC facilities, ensuring full functionality of emergency transport services, and institutionalising MPDSR in a timely manner, as these are critical to sustaining impact.

“With continued high-level coordination and the expansion of global best practices, MAMII can catalyse Nigeria’s progress toward reducing preventable maternal and neonatal deaths,” it added.

News

Six Corps Members Receive N10m Grants To Boost Agribusiness

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Six members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have received a total of N10 million in grants to expand their agribusiness ventures under the Farmers for the Future Programme.

The programme was organised on Monday by the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage young Nigerians to embrace agriculture and develop sustainable businesses.

Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries in Abuja, the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, urged Corps members to maximise the opportunities provided by the service year by venturing into commodity marketing and other viable businesses.

Nafiu said agribusiness remained a viable avenue for young people to build sustainable enterprises, create employment and generate wealth.

He also stressed the importance of value addition to the success and sustainability of business ventures, while commending BATNF for placing Nigerian youths at the centre of its entrepreneurship initiatives through value-chain development, employment creation and its partnership with the NYSC.

“I charge you to spread the news around. We have seen the outcome, and it is a good idea,” he said.

The beneficiaries are Dominic Olufemi (FC/25C/1143), who received N3 million; Temitope Adewole (ED/26A/2251), N2 million; Abdulwaheed Bala (ED/25B/1402), N2 million; Olanike Mayungbe (OG/26B/1037), N1 million; Kingsley Udoeyen (KG/26A/1735), N1 million; and Lorember Lorsue (JG/25B/1742), N1 million.

Speaking on the selection process, the Acting Director, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), Mrs Winifred Shopeka, said the programme began with an online registration portal through which Corps Members engaged in agribusiness submitted their business plans.

She said nearly 3,000 Corps members applied and underwent a rigorous selection process that produced 20 finalists.

According to her, the finalists participated in a boot camp and a final pitching session, which produced the 10 best presenters before the six ultimate winners were selected.

Shopeka said the beneficiaries had also been mentored and attached to established market operators to assist them in marketing their products.

She added that Corps Members who did not make the final stage of the competition were also trained by BATNF.

The BATNF Team Lead, Mr Oludare Odusanya, congratulated the beneficiaries and urged Corps Members engaged in agribusiness to master the fundamentals and acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed.

“We are happy with our collaboration with the NYSC, and it will continue,” he said.

Odusanya explained that BATNF was an independent organisation established to contribute to poverty reduction in Nigeria through sustainable agricultural practices and other interventions.

He said the Farmers for the Future Programme was instituted in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage Corps Members to venture into agribusiness and become job creators.

He added that the beneficiaries would be attached to mentors who would guide them towards achieving success in their respective businesses.

According to him, the programme has, since its inception, continued to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of Corps Members.

News

CBN Reduces Interest Rate To 23%

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday announced the reduction of the interest rate, also known as Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 23 percent.

Briefing the media in Abuja, the Governor of the CBN, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, said at the 307th MPC meeting held on September 22, 2026 agreed the resetting of the MPR and recaliberation of the monetary policy market.

According to Cardoso, the committe is satisfied with the disinflation progress, adding that members noted stable banking sector following successful recapitalisation.

Meanwhile, according to Nigerian Tribune, reports that that the MPC, at its 306th meeting in July 2026, disclosed its resolution to retain the interets at 26.5 percent.

According to the Governor of the CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, “the Committee’s decision to maintain the current policy stance followed a thorough assessment of the balance of risks. Although headline inflation moderated marginally in June 2026, global uncertainties have heightened, due mainly to the renewed hostilities in the Middle East.

“In view of the evolving developments, maintaining a cautious monetary policy stance remains appropriate. In arriving at its decision, the Committee noted the recent resurgence of hostilities in the Middle East, with particular attention to its spillover effects on global energy prices and the potential pass-through to domestic inflation.”

News

NURTW: KWAM1 Settles Long-time Rift Between MC Oluomo, Tafa Sego

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Nigerian Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1, has brokered a peace deal between the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) National President, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, and the Lagos State Chairman of the union, Mustapha Adekunle, aka Tafa Sego.

The reconciliation took place at Ojusagbola in Ijebu, Ogun State, where several NURTW chieftains gathered for the meeting.

The development was announced on Tuesday on KWAM1’s digital media page on Instagram, alongside photographs from the meeting.

According to the post, the two union leaders have resolved their differences after years of strained relations.

“After years of an age-long rift, MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego have finally settled their differences. And from what we know now, this is final,” the post said.

The musician was said to have intervened as the Mayegun of Yorubaland, with the aim of bringing an end to the longstanding disagreement between the two NURTW figures.

“K1 acted in his role as the Mayegun of Yorubaland by seeking an end to the long-standing rift, once and for all,” it said.

The post also described the meeting as a significant step beyond previous public displays of reconciliation.

“This time, it was not just another handshake for the cameras. The two old friends and colleagues came together at Ojusagbola, with King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1) playing the peacemaker.”

Both MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego were reported to be pleased with the outcome of the intervention.

“Both parties are delighted about the new development,” the post said.

The two men had previously been allies and prominent figures within the Lagos NURTW before their relationship became strained amid disagreements linked to leadership of the union in the state.