News

NGO Offers Free Medical Care To Edo Community Residents

Published

1 year ago

December 1, 2024

No fewer than 500 Ogba community residents, Benin City, Edo State, on Saturday, benefitted from free medical care services provided by a non-profit organisation – Beulah World Initiative

The free medical care which included eye test and treatment; medical tests and treatment; sugar test; HIV/AIDS test; blood pressure test; offering of free eye-glasses and many more, was part of the Non-Governmental Organisation’s commitment to reaching out to rural dwellers who cannot afford hospital treatment.

Speaking during the outreach held at Church of God Mission Int’l, Open Gates Province, Ogba, Benin, founder of the non-profit organisation, Chichi Ononiwu, said the faith-based non-profit organisation was founded to ensure help gets to the people at the grassroot.

“It is a faith-based non-profit and Non-Governmental Organisation founded to reach out to rural and sub-urban communities in Nigeria and sub-urban Africa at large with primary healthcare basically and then leadership development.

“This is basically to ensure that help gets to the grassroot, because at the moment a very few communities in Nigeria have healthcare centres.

“At the moment, a lot of communities are distressed health wise, and people are struggling to get just daily food not to talk of enough resources to get basic treatment in hospital, so it is our desire to help them,” she added.

On while she and her team had to travel all the way from Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State to Benin, Ononiwu said they prayed and God directed their paths to the city, adding that when they eventually made enquiries they were told the residents really needed such medical services.

On his part, one of the medical personnel who attended to patients at the outreach, Dr. David Salami, while expressing concern over the prevalence of high blood pressure among residents of the community including young ones, however, attributed the high BP rate to the economic situation of the country.

Dr. Salami, while commending the church for giving the residents opportunity to have such healthcare services, noted that many of the residents of the community never knew they had ailments of high BP, hypertension, diabetes, etc.

Also speaking, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Hellen Akanu, said due to the economic situation of the country many of them can no longer afford hospital treatment, just as she appreciated the initiators for giving to them in free what many of them cannot afford.

On his part, another beneficiary, Mr. Shettima Gadzama, said it was the first time in his life to experience such free medical care, noting that the organisers never discriminated against tribe or religion.

He called on well meaning Nigerians to emulate Beulah World Initiative by reaching out to the less privileged in the society.

The event concluded with the giving of food items to widows and aged women, and giving of free drugs.

News

NAF Launches Attack On Terrorists In Borno

Published

6 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, operating as part of the joint task force of Operation Hadin Kai, has carried out a coordinated air interdiction at AbbagaJiri in the Timbuktu Triangle, Borno State.

According to Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information of NAF, the air strikes successfully paved the way for ground troops.

He explained that the operation was based on actionable intelligence from multiple sources, which confirmed the presence of terrorists, their structures, and concealed logistics facilities in the area.

Ejodame stated that NAF air assets were deployed in integrated surveillance and precision strike roles to target identified threats.

The operation aimed to degrade terrorist capabilities, deny them sanctuary, and shape the battlefield for ground forces, all while strictly adhering to rules of engagement and protecting civilians.

He added, “The Identified terrorist structures were decisively engaged and destroyed, denying the terrorists freedom of action, while a follow-up engagement neutralised armed elements observed converging on the location.”

“Subsequent advances by ground troops into the area confirmed the effectiveness of the air strikes and validated the success of the joint air–land operation.”

Speaking on the mission, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, said, “The success of the mission reflects the NAF’s resolve to dominate the air domain in support of joint operations.”

Aneke further emphasized that the operation highlighted the service’s commitment to providing precise and decisive air power in support of ground forces.

In his words, “We will continue to deny terrorists freedom of movement, sanctuary, and logistics wherever they seek to hide. Air operations will remain relentless and intelligence-driven.”

“Our operations are carefully planned and intelligence-led, ensuring maximum effect on hostile elements while safeguarding innocent civilians.”

“The Nigerian Air Force will sustain pressure until terrorist networks are completely dismantled.”

He further noted that the operation showcased NAF’s aggressive stance, precision employment of airpower, and dedication to sustained joint operations.

Aneke added that such missions play a crucial role in enabling ground troops to maintain momentum and deliver decisive outcomes against terrorist networks threatening lives, property, and Nigeria’s national security.

News

Lagos Parks To Close For Maintenance – State Govt

Published

6 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

The Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency, LASPARK, has announced that all public parks under its management across the state will be temporarily closed for routine maintenance and upgrades.

In a statement released on January 9 and shared via its official platforms early Saturday, LASPARK said, “All parks under our management will be closed to the public from January 12 to January 31, 2026.

“This follows increased visitor activity during the recent festive season.”

The agency listed several popular recreational spots that will be affected, including “Ndubisi Kanu Park, Alausa JJT Park, Dr. Finnih Abayomi Park in Oregun, and all other LASPARK-managed parks across Lagos State.”

News

PAP Sends Additional 34 Foreign Post-graduate Scholarship Beneficiaries To UK Varsities

Published

21 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has deployed an additional 34 foreign post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries to various universities in the United Kingdom for the 2025-2026 academic year.

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri by Mr Igoniko Oduma, Special Assistant on Media to Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the Administrator, PAP.

According to the statement, the scholars’ programmes include data science, fintech analytics, cyber security, international energy law and policy, construction project management, public health, agri-food technology, electrical and petroleum engineering, among others.

The statement added that more foreign post-graduate scholars will be sent to UK universities in the current academic session.

“In December 2025, nine students, who were the first set of offshore post-graduate scholarship developments by the PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, for the 2024-2025 academic year, graduated from their various programmes in UK universities.

“Otuaro has deployed over 9000 students to universities within and outside Nigeria for different industry-relevant programmes since he assumed office in March 2024,” the statement partly reads.

Speaking at the pre-departure orientation programme for the scholars at the PAP headquarters in Abuja, on Thursday, Otuaro said that the large-scale deployment was aimed at making the Niger Delta a knowledge-driven region.

He said that his leadership reinvigorated the programme to give it a new momentum in service delivery to the people of the region based on the mandate of President Bola Tinubu.

Otuaro said, “We are sending all of you for post-graduate studies in various universities in the United Kingdom.

“The PAP now has a new momentum and direction because of the repositioning and broad reforms that we carried out in line with the mandate of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.

“The objective behind the huge scholarships deployment is to ensure that we develop the needed human capital to transform the Niger Delta and generate knowledge-wealth.

“We want to develop relevant manpower in critical disciplines for our region and by extension, the country, because you are expected to contribute your quota to national development after successful graduation.”

The PAP boss, who was represented at the event by his Technical Assistant, Mr Edgar Biu, advised the scholars to study hard to achieve academic excellence in their various fields of research.

According to him, the scholars have an obligation to justify the Federal Government’s investment in their education and future.

He reiterated his warning that beneficiaries should not take for granted the opportunity to further their academic pursuits in the interest of the Niger Delta and indeed the country.

Otuaro expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his “enormous interest and support for the Programme”, particularly the approval of an upward review of the programme’s budget from N65billion to N150billion.

He also expressed gratitude to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his impeccable guidance and supervision of the programme’s initiatives.

Otuaro, therefore, cautioned the scholars to obey their host country’s laws and the rules and regulations of their various institutions, stressing that they are ambassadors of Nigeria, the Niger Delta and their communities and families.

Highpoint of the orientation programme was the presentation of laptops to the scholars to help them in their studies.