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Queen Elizabeth 11: Nigerian Red Cross Extols Humanitarian Services
The Nigerian Red Cross Society, Lagos State Branch, has commisereted with the family of the Queen of England over her demise while extolling her service to humanity.
Chairman of the branch, Mrs Adebola Kolawole, made this known in an interview with The Tide source in Lagos on the occasion of the branch’s Annual Retreat.
The retreat held at the Cheery Manor Hotel, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos from September. 9 to Sept. 11 and had 48 members in attendance.
The Tide souce reports that UK’s longest-serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, died at Balmoral at the age of 96, after reigning for 70 years.
Kolawole said that British Red Cross brought Red Cross to Nigeria in 1917 which was then called the British Red Cross Nigerian Central Branch but became Nigerian Red Cross after the independence.
“All this while the Queen has been there supporting every of the British Red Cross humanitarian activities and she has been promoting them.
“Nigerian Red Cross presently is benefiting from the support for the British Red Cross especially through its Disaster management programmes focusing on flooding.
“In December 2021, the British Red Cross supported us through this programme where the sum of N33 million was shared as cash transfer to support over 600 families in Kosofe LGA,” she said.
The chairman said that there was no way people could close their eyes to the impact of the Queen through the British Red Cross to the Nigerian Red Cross Society.
According to her, Lagos is where the story started and for this reason, believes it will spur many to support what the Queen started and did until she passed on.
“She has done so much for humanity and as a result of her demise, the Red Cross Society would play active roles in her burial activities.
“This will give us more projection globally in the international community because Red Cross is already involved with the Queen’s mourning process,” she said.
Also speaking, Branch Secretary of the society Mr Olakunle Lasisi, said that the humanitarian services carried out in Kosofe LGA were precisely done in Odo-Ogun, Agboyi 1, Agboyi 2 and Agboyi 3 communities.
“The beneficiaries collected their cash, and also, a pedestrian bridge linking communities together was erected by the Nigerian Red Cross in Odo-Ogun and it has been commissioned,” he said.
Lasisi said that the society recently conducted their second and third quarter review of British Red Cross programme in Abuja where three branches were beneficiaries; Lagos, Imo and Abuja.
“They made us know that there will also be cash transfer to continue to support our programmes before the end of the year.
“I believe that as time goes on, the British Red Cross is likely to extend to more communities so that we can make more impact in the society,” the secretary said.
Meanwhile, Mr Andronicus Adeyemo, Director of Programmes, National Headquarters, Nigerian Red Cross said that the essence of the retreat was to catalogue the achievements recorded so far by the
“Also, to assess whether we were able to achieve the plans set out for 2021 and where not, what can be done to ensure that our plan is achieved before we set the pace for 2023,” Adeyemo said.
President Bola Tinubu yesterday celebrated the Nigerian Exchange Group’s breakthrough into the N100tn market capitalisation threshold, saying Nigeria has moved from an ignored frontier market to a compelling investment destination.
Tinubu, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, urged Nigerians to increase their investments in the domestic economy, expressing confidence that 2026 would deliver stronger returns as ongoing reforms take firmer root.
He noted that the NGX closed 2025 with a 51.19 per cent return, outperforming global indices such as the S&P 500 and FTSE 100, as well as several BRICS+ emerging markets, after recording 37.65 per cent in 2024.
“With the Nigerian Exchange crossing the historic N100tn market capitalisation mark, the country is witnessing the birth of a new economic reality and rejuvenation,” Tinubu said.
He attributed the stellar performance to Nigerian companies proving they can deliver strong investment returns across all sectors, from blue-chip industrials localising supply chains to banks demonstrating technological innovation.
The President added, “Year-to-date returns have significantly outpaced the S&P 500, the FTSE 100, and even many of our emerging-market peers in the BRICS+ group. Nigeria is no longer a frontier market to be ignored—it is now a compelling destination where value is being discovered.”
Tinubu disclosed that more indigenous energy firms, technology companies, telecoms operators and infrastructure firms are preparing to list on the exchange, a move he said would deepen market capitalisation and broaden economic participation.
He also cited what he described as a sustained decline in inflation over eight months—from 34.8 per cent in December 2024 to 14.45 per cent in November 2025—projecting that the rate would fall below 10 per cent before the end of 2026.
“Indeed, inflation is likely to fall below 10 per cent before the end of this year, leading to improved living standards and accelerated GDP growth. The year 2026 promises to be an epochal year for delivering prosperity to all Nigerians,” he said.
The President attributed the trend to monetary tightening, elimination of Ways and Means financing, and agricultural investments, which he said helped stabilise the naira and ease post-reform pressures.
Nigeria’s current account surplus reached $16bn in 2024, with the Central Bank projecting $18.81bn in 2026, reflecting a trade pattern shift toward exporting more and importing less locally-producible goods.
Non-oil exports jumped 48 per cent to N9.2tn by the third quarter of 2025, with African exports nearly doubling to N4.9tn. Manufacturing exports grew 67 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter.
Foreign reserves have crossed $45bn and are expected to breach $50 billion in the first quarter, giving the CBN ammunition to maintain currency stability and end the volatility that previously fuelled speculation, according to the President.
Tinubu also highlighted infrastructure expansion in rail networks, arterial roads, port revitalisation, and the Lagos-Calabar and Sokoto-Badagry superhighways, alongside improvements in healthcare facilities that are reducing medical tourism costs, and increased university research grants funded through the Nigeria Education Loan Fund.
“Our medicare facilities are improving, and medical tourism costs are declining. Our students benefit from the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, and universities are receiving increased research grants,” he said.
He described nation-building as a process requiring hard work, sacrifices, and citizen focus, pledging to continue working to build an egalitarian, transparent, and high-growth economy catalysed by historic tax and fiscal reforms that came into full implementation from January 1.
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RSG Kicks Off Armed Forces Remembrance Day ‘Morrow …Restates Commitment Towards Veterans’ Welfare
The Rivers State Government has reiterated its commitment towards the welfare of veterans, serving officers and widows of fallen officers in the State.
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?The Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, in a statement by ?Head, Information and Public Relations Unit, SSG’s ?Office, ?Juliana Masi, stated this during the Central Planning meeting of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
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?Anabraba thanked the Committee for their contributions to the success of the Emblem Appeal Fund Ceremony recently held in the State and called on them to double their efforts so that the State can record resounding success in the remaining activities.
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?According to him, the remembrance day events will begin with Jumaàt Prayers on Friday, 9th January at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt Township, while a Humanitarian Outreach/Family and Community Day will be hosted on Saturday, 10th January, by the wife of the governor, Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara, for widows and veterans.
?”On Sunday, 11th January, an Interdenominational Church Thanksgiving Service will hold at St. Cyprian Anglican Church, Port Harcourt Township while the Grand-finale Wreath- Laying Ceremony will hold on Thursday, 15th January at the Isaac Boro Park Cenotaph, Port Harcourt”, he said.
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?The SSG noted that one of the highlights of the events is the laying of wreaths by Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Heads of the Security Agencies.
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The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has approved a minor cabinet reshuffle in the State Executive Council.
Under the new disposition, Barrister Christopher Green, who until now served as Commissioner for Sports, has been redeployed to the Ministry of Justice as the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.
This is contained in an official statement signed by Dr. Honour Sirawoo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications.
According to the statement, Barrister Green will also continue to coordinate the activities of the Ministry of Sports pending the appointment of a substantive Commissioner to oversee the ministry.
The redeployment, which takes immediate effect, was approved at the last State Executive Council meeting for the year 2025, underscoring the Governor’s commitment to strengthening governance, ensuring continuity in service delivery, and optimising the performance of key ministries within the state.