The Delta State Government has dismissed several health workers found guilty of extorting money from pregnant women and children under five, despite the state’s free healthcare policy for these groups. Others were demoted for related offences.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, disclosed this on Saturday during the flag-off of the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives Project Action Plan at Ashaka, in Ndokwa East Local Government Area.

He said the ministry had intensified monitoring of hospitals to ensure that funds released for maternal and child healthcare were properly utilised.

“Health workers in the state have done well, but in every twelve, there is a Judas. We have received reports of some collecting money from pregnant women and children under five for drugs, while still forwarding the bills to the government for payment,” Onojaeme stated.

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The commissioner stressed that the state covers the medical expenses of all pregnant women until delivery, as well as free treatment for children under five.

“We have demoted some of these fraudulent workers and sacked many within this short period. With continuous monitoring and the support of mothers, these practices will reduce,” he added.

Onojaeme urged residents to report any health worker demanding payment for maternal or child care, noting that the phone number of the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Health Monitoring would be made public for such reports.

He also revealed that the state’s maternal mortality rate had dropped from over 200 to less than 120 per 100,000 live births, expressing optimism that the MAMII Project would further reduce the figures.

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The representative of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr John Ovuoraye, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting states in lowering maternal and neonatal deaths.

He disclosed that 172 local government areas across 33 states had been identified as high-risk zones, including five in Delta, Ndokwa East, Ughelli North, Aniocha North, Udu, and Sapele.

Ovuoraye noted that the MAMII Project, supported by President Bola Tinubu, is being implemented in collaboration with USAID, WHO, UNICEF, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank, and several European partners.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of the MAMII plaque to Delta State and the inauguration of a task force to ensure effective implementation of the project’s action plan.

The Olu of Kemta Orile in Odeda Local Government area of Ogun State, Oba Adetokunbo Tejuosho has condemned the popular Fuji musician, Taye Currency for engaging in what he called “disgusting and uncultured lyrics” while performing during the installation of Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadan, Oyo State on Friday

In a viral video that has been generating uproar, the musician was heard singing in Yoruba “Were la fi n wo were”, meaning “we cure madness with madness.”

In a statement made available to journalists on Saturday, Oba Tejuosho said that Currency with such careless entertainment and vain glory song failed to accord the highly respected Yoruba tradition and sacredness of the coronation event the respect that it deserves.

The royal father said that the coronation of a monarch is expected to be a momentous occasion, steeped in tradition, grandeur and the collective pride of traditional institution and the nation at large, and that no one is therefore allowed to subject such highly significant cultural and spiritual event to any form of disrepute.

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Oba Tejuosho explained that “The throne of our ancestors is not a stage for mockery, nor the coronation of a great monarch a subject for careless entertainment.

“Kingship is sacred, adorned with honor and guarded by tradition. It demands reverence, dignity, honor, class and the utmost respect from all who stand in its presence.

“Listening to the musician (Taye currency), who was invited to render music before the Crown, as a matter of fact before the entire world, to serenade the audience and sing in a way to express admiration, singing songs like (were lafi n wo were) We use madness to cure madness.

“Such lyrics were classless and unbefitting of such occasion, it is insulting to the sacredness of the gathering.

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“His Majesty Oba Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja Arusa the the first, is unarguably considered to be the first Nigerian to be a senator, a governor as well as a king, his coronation ceremony was filled with dignitaries from all walks of class, royalties, big political figures, world ambassador and representatives of diverse clans.

“Such conduct and lines of music was unfit and unacceptable in the presence of the entire world, music in the royal court is not mere noise, but an offering of homage to history, culture, and authority.

“It is of utmost importance to state it clearly that before the throne, words must carry weight, rhythm must uphold respect, and melody must be a vessel of honor, (Sekere loba njo).

“To do otherwise is to stain the dignity of our heritage and diminish oneself before the people.
The sanctity of the crown remains untouchable. Those who approach it must do so with wisdom, restraint, and profound respect.

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“Doing a deep thinking will make one queries the reason of the organizers presenting such individual to represent an event of such magnitude, especially with presence of dignitaries such as His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu (Gcfr) the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“No wonder people invest so huge in having the likes of King Sunny Ade, Commander Ebenezer Obey or Alh Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1 d ultimate) at the band stand to duly represent and promote their images.

“And if Oyo State had wanted to promote their own, the likes of Alh Rasheed Ayinde (Merenge) and other calm artistes would have been an appropriate selection for an event like this”.
(PUNCH)

The Nigerian Naira has been ranked as the ninth weakest currency in Africa, according to a Forbes currency calculator report for September 2025, underscoring the lingering pressure on Nigeria’s economy despite recent signs of easing inflation.

The Forbes currency calculator, which sources real-time foreign exchange market data via the Open Exchange Rates API, updates every five minutes to reflect live trading values.

The system captures the impact of demand and supply, market sentiment, and broader economic conditions on each nation’s currency performance.

According to the data, the São Tomé & Príncipe Dobra (22,282 per $1) topped the list of Africa’s weakest currencies, followed by the Sierra Leonean Leone (20,970), Guinean Franc (8,680), Ugandan Shilling (3,503), and Burundian Franc (2,968). Others on the list include the Congolese Franc (2,811), Tanzanian Shilling (2,465), Malawian Kwacha (1,737), the Nigerian Naira (₦1,490 per $1), and the Rwandan Franc (1,448).

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In contrast, the Tunisian Dinar (2.90 per $1), Libyan Dinar (5.40), Moroccan Dirham (9.91), Ghanaian Cedi (12.31), and Botswanan Pula (14.15) were ranked as the five strongest currencies in Africa.

The continent currently has 54 recognised countries, according to the United Nations and geographic data sources.

Meanwhile, a PUNCH Online report highlights that Nigeria’s inflation rate showed significant improvement in 2025, marking a rare disinflationary trend.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that the country’s headline inflation fell from 24.5% in January to 20.12% in August, its fifth consecutive month of decline.

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The trend is attributed to stable foreign exchange inflows from oil exports and remittances, better agricultural yields, and the Central Bank of Nigeria’s monetary policy, which held the benchmark rate at 27.5%.

The PUNCH on September 18 2025, reported that the Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI) noted that inflation had slowed sharply in the year’s first eight months. IMPI chairman Dr Omoniyi Akinsiju said, “Nigeria recorded a rare disinflation in 2025, with inflation falling from 24.5% in January to 20.12% in August, the sharpest mid-year slowdown in over a decade.”

The IMPI forecasts that inflation could drop to 17% by December 2025, signalling continued disinflation and easing pressure on consumers.