As part of its campaign against extractive activities and promotion of healthy living in the Niger Delta region, an environmental think-tank organisation — The Ecological Action Advocacy Foundation (TEAAF) on Monday offered free medical services to the people of Gelegele community in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State.
The free medical services which included eye screening, sugar level and BP tests, general medical examination and counseling, etc, saw over 150 people benefitting from the free medical outreach.
The beneficiaries were also offered the appropriate reading eyeglasses and medications as the outcome of their tests required.
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In her speech, Project Director, TEAAF, Ann Ajirioghene Offi, said though it was not the first time her organisation is taking free medical services to the community, the need to offer the current free medical services to Gelegele people arise during a dialogue with them where they narrated different health challenges to the representatives of the organisation.
Offi, who described Gelegele as a Community of Particular Concern to her organisation, said the health challenges keep increasing by the day as a result of extractive activities, gas flares and negligence.
She said: “We have seen that there are a lot of health challenges in this community, and this is as a result of the location of the community, and the ongoing extractive activities in the community, most especially the gas flares in the heart of the community. The gas flare has resulted in a lot of health challenges in the community, according to our research.
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“We felt it’s very vital for us to bring free medical services here going by the health challenges facing the people.
“The challenges keep increasing by the day as a result of negligence. Negligence in the sense that the health centre in the community is not functional as it ought to be, and from my observation, no medical equipment in the clinic to take care of people.”
Eyeglasses display displayed during the medical outreach for distribution.
One of the beneficiaries, Clement Eyenmi, expressed joy and appreciated TEAAF for the free medical services, saying “our people need an organisation as this to come to their aid.”
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He lamented that despite his age, he’s already having eye challenges as a result of the gas flares in the heart of the community.
“In this our environment, and personally for me, I have an eye challenge as a result of this gas flaring in the heart of our community. But today, I was attended to; I was given a reading glasses.
“The oil company flares the gas but does not bother about the welfare of the people, or show concern about the environment. This is a major problem we have here.
“What this organisation is doing today is what we expect the government and the oil company to do, but they will never do such,”he added.
Also speaking, another beneficiary, Bobby Ikinbor, also appreciated TEAAF for the free medical services, saying “we do not have a standard hospital here, so, today, as this organisation brings this free medical services, it is a relief to us. We appreciate the organisation.”
He added: “You see, at times when we have an emergency health challenge and we try to rush the person to the city, we have to pray because of the bad condition of the road. At times the emergency patient dies before we get to the city.”
Ishaku Amos, a native of Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, on Wednesday narrated how his life was transformed from displacement to academic excellence.
Amos, who currently pursues a PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Illinois, Chicago, in the United States, spoke when he paid a visit to the Internally Displaced Person (IDP) at the Home for the Needy Foundation in Uhogua, Edo State.
The excited Amos, who once lived in Home for the Needy Foundation,
said the organisation played a decisive role in changing the course of his life.
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According to him, after completing his undergraduate studies at Edo State University, Iyamho, he secured a scholarship for doctoral studies abroad.
He narrated how he left Nigeria in August with the support of Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, Coordinator of the IDP Camp in Uhogua.
“I had never travelled outside Nigeria before. I grew up in the North and in the camp, so everything was new to me. Having him accompany me made the transition easier and gave me confidence.”
Amos explained that adjusting to life in the United States would have been difficult without that support.
“It was a new culture, a new system and a different weather. But I was prepared. I was guided on what to expect and how to adapt, so I didn’t experience culture shock. He made sure I was comfortable before returning to Nigeria.”
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Speaking on his past, Amos described himself as a victim of terrorism and insurgency in the North-East.
“Anyone who says these things are not happening should listen to my story.
“I know what I suffered. People sometimes talk because they have not experienced it. When you have lived through killings and displacement, you can never deny the reality,”he said.
He expressed deep gratitude to the Home for the Needy Foundation, saying words were not enough to appreciate what the organisation did for him and thousands of others.
“They changed my narrative and my understanding of life. Despite our trauma, they never gave up on us. They paid for our exams even when we failed and had to try again. They kept telling us to focus and try one more time.”
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Amos said his experience has inspired him to give back to society and support vulnerable people in the future.
He also appealed to the Borno State Government and lawmakers from his area to support displaced indigenes.
“They know we exist and that we are Borno indigenes, but we have been ignored for too long. We are calling on them to clear outstanding school fees and provide scholarships. We will continue to call until something is done.”
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has formally distanced himself from a political article titled “Malagi 2027,” which speculated on potential scenarios ahead of the 2027 Niger State governorship election.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the minister’s office clarified that the article was published without authorization by one of his aides, Sa’idu Enagi, emphasizing that the opinions expressed do not represent Idris’ views or intentions.
“The write-up and all its contents are hereby vehemently disclaimed,” the statement affirmed, urging the public to disregard the publication.
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The statement noted that the minister remains fully dedicated to his duties at the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation and has no interest in, nor tolerance for political distractions or premature electioneering.
It further stressed that he neither approved nor directed the publication of the write-up.
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Following the incident, the minister has ordered an immediate investigation, and the aide responsible has been suspended with immediate effect.
The statement also underscored the cordial and mutually beneficial relationship between the minister and Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, highlighting their joint commitment to the development and stability of the state.
“Speculations about the 2027 elections would be inimical to these noble objectives,” the statement added.
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The disclaimer was signed by Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant (Media) to the minister.
As of January 2026, Nigeria’s personal income tax (PIT) regime has been updated under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, introducing a higher tax-free threshold and a simplified progressive tax structure.
For employees, tax is usually deducted at source under the Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) system.
Current Personal Income Tax Brackets (2026 Onward)
Nigeria operates a progressive tax system, meaning income is taxed in layers. Only the portion of income within each band is taxed at the applicable rate.
