News
Pregnant Mums Enjoy Special Cash Incentives
Pregnant women who are registered for
ante-natal at the Rivers State health centres will enjoy monetary incentives.
Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike
Amaechi stated this last Thursday during an advocacy campaign on maternal and
infant health at Igwuruta, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Governor Amaechi, represented by the
Commissioner for Health, Dr Sampson Parker, said such gesture was part of its
free medical care scheme to encourage women to access the health centres.
According to him, the token was to support
the women who might have difficulty with transportation and other materials
necessary for their well-being.
The government has decided to provide a
token of N25,000 to pregnant mothers in government primary health centres to
encourage them during their ante-natal period until delivery.
The governor also added that children on
vaccination or immunisation were not exempted from such benefit , adding that
only mothers who are registered with its free medical care scheme can access
the fund.
“Our mission is to ensure that our mothers
and children do not die due to
preventable circumstances but to keep them fit during pregnancy, he said.
The governor stated that he had considered
potency of advocacy in solving health challenges and as a preventable measure
to curb disease ravaging rural communities and has set aside funds for this
venture in the 2012 budget.
Also, the wife of the governor, Dame Judith
Amaechi, in her speech said it was necessary for women to go for regular
medical test to ascertain their health status, complaining that most women do
not access the primary health centres located in their domains.
According to her, “it is very good that we
live a healthy life, and we must go for test regularly. That is the only way we
reduce infant and maternal mortality”.
Mrs Amaechi, whose NGO, the Empowerment
Support Initiative (ESI) collaborated with the Ministry of Health, Association
of Lady Pharmacists, Rivers State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS and the
Ikwerre Local Government Area on the programme enjoined women to access free
medical efforts, and stated that such measures were the surest way of
actualising the Millennium Development Goals in the health sector.
“We will continue to organise outreach
health mission programme to educate our women on health matters. This is the
only way we can actualise MDGs 2015 in heath sector”, she said.
The women, who converged on the ESI Model
Nursery School, Igwuruta, were given pet talk on drugs administration, HIV/AIDS
issues on maternal health and social challenges.
It would be recalled that ESI and the
ministry of health had signed a pact to provide mobile medical outreach programmes
in rural communities where women are diagnosed and treated accordingly while
critical cases are transferred to the general hospital.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence that the country would win the fight against insecurity.
The President gave the assurance at the Argungu International Fishing Festival in Argungu town, Kebbi State, on Saturday.
He noted that the relative peace currently being enjoyed in Kebbi and neighbouring states was the result of sustained investments in security intelligence, coordination among security agencies, and community engagement.
Tinubu assured farmers and fishermen of sustained federal support to guarantee food security and safety across the country.
“The peace we are witnessing today is not accidental. It is the outcome of deliberate and sustained efforts. I assure you that the fight against banditry, insurgency, and insecurity will be won.
“Our farmers, fishermen, traders, and families will go about their lawful activities without fear,” he assured.
The President commended the organisers of the festival for sustaining the cultural event for decades, noting that it had endured for 83 years despite social and security challenges.
Describing the Argungu festival as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence, Tinubu stated that it reflects the richness of the country’s culture and the opportunities to harness its natural and human resources for national growth.
He said, “Today, this festival stands as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence among our people.
“It reflects the richness of our culture, the strength of our traditions, and the opportunities inherent in harnessing our natural and human resources for national development.”
The President was received by a large crowd of residents, traditional rulers, fishermen, tourists, and government officials from across the country.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth and women empowerment, irrigation development, rural electrification, and agricultural productivity.
Earlier, the Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, said his administration was determined to elevate the Argungu Fishing Festival to full international standards while pursuing aggressive development across critical sectors of the state.
The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed today, in observance of Presidents’ Day.
The mission made this known in a notice shared on its official X page, yesterday.
“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026, in observance of Presidents’ Day,” the post read.
According to the embassy, Presidents’ Day was originally established to honour the birthday of the former US President, George Washington, but has evolved into a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents and their leadership in shaping the country’s history.
The embassy noted that the holiday also recognises the influence of U.S. presidents on global affairs.
In a related message, the mission highlighted that Washington created the first “Badge of Military Merit,” which later became the Purple Heart. The medal still bears Washington’s image today.
Presidents’ Day is observed on the third Monday of February annually in the United States as a federal holiday.
News
Guterres Backs Nigeria’s Bid For UN Security Council Seat …Hails Tinubu’s Reforms, Regional Security Role
United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has charged Nigeria with spearheading Africa’s quest for a restructured global order, describing the country as uniquely positioned to lead the continent toward superpower status.
Guterres, who backed Nigeria’s bid for the world body’s security council seat, also praised the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration as well as Nigeria’s leadership in stabilising the Sahel and ECOWAS regions, despite facing its own security challenges.
The UN scribe made the remarks last Friday night during a high-level bilateral meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima on the sidelines of the 39th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking during the meeting, Guterres said Nigeria’s large population, sustained democratic governance, vast natural and human resources, and longstanding commitment to multilateralism placed it in a unique position to lead Africa in the evolving global order.
“Given Nigeria’s demographic strength, democratic continuity and deep resource base, the country stands a real chance of leading Africa to becoming the next superpower in the evolving global architecture,” he said.
The UN Secretary-General and the vice president discussed key developments in Nigeria and the country’s expanding leadership role in promoting regional stability across West Africa and the Sahel.
Guterres commended the remarkable and outstanding reforms of the administration of President Tinubu, noting that Nigeria’s bold economic restructuring and security commitments have strengthened its continental standing.
The meeting focused on strengthening Nigeria–UN collaboration to advance global economic growth, peace and security, sustainable development, and a coordinated humanitarian response across Africa.
In his remarks, Shettima thanked the UN Secretary-General for his leadership in advancing global peace, noting that Africa has benefited immensely from his tenure, even as the United Nations undergoes internal restructuring.
“We remain committed to multilateralism and to deepening our partnerships with the United Nations and other global institutions,” the vice president said.
Shettima also reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations system to reflect evolving global realities.
He emphasised that Africa must have stronger representation in global decision-making structures and declared that Nigeria deserves a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Both leaders pledged to deepen cooperation, with Guterres reaffirming the UN’s support for Nigeria’s reform agenda and its growing leadership role in advancing peace, security, and development across Africa.