By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have launched a strategic partnership to educate the public on the legal rights of gunshot victims, aiming to end the tragic loss of life caused by delayed medical intervention.

The collaboration was formalized during a high-level meeting at the NOA headquarters in Abuja. Lanre Issa-Onilu, the Director-General of NOA, was represented at the event by the Director of Social Mobilisation, Ayoola Olufemi.

In a statement released via the agency’s official X handle, officials underscored the urgent need to disseminate information regarding the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act. This federal law, enacted in 2017, mandates that all hospitals must provide immediate emergency care to victims, irrespective of their ability to pay or produce a police report upon arrival.

“Delays in providing medical treatment to gunshot victims often result in preventable loss of lives,” Olufemi stated. “Many Nigerians are unaware that hospitals are required by law to provide immediate care before demanding police reports, administrative documentation, or financial guarantees.”

Olufemi highlighted that the NOA, with its extensive network of 818 offices across the country, is uniquely positioned to lead this public enlightenment campaign. He stressed that the initiative is designed to empower citizens with knowledge of their rights under the law.

Echoing this sentiment, the Deputy Head of the ICRC in Nigeria, James Matthew, praised the partnership and emphasized the life-saving potential of the campaign. He noted that educating healthcare providers and the general public is critical to ensuring compliance.

“Through NOA’s broad national reach, the ICRC will help ensure gunshot victims receive timely medical care. Improved awareness will save lives, particularly in emergencies,” Matthew said.

The signing ceremony was attended by key stakeholders from both organizations. NOA representatives included the Director of Health and Social Care, Dr. Ayoola Olufemi; Director of Legal Services, Dogo Williams; and Meriam Yakubu. The ICRC delegation featured Humanitarian Affairs Adviser Juliet Kelechi Unudi. Members of the press, including correspondents from the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Armed Forces Radio, Science Newspaper, and Daily Trust, were also present to cover the event.

The nationwide sensitisation campaign is expected to clarify misconceptions about the Act, promote prompt medical intervention, and ultimately save countless lives across Nigeria.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has sharply criticized the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu, asserting that a new report indicating a surge in the national poverty rate to 63 percent represents the administration’s true performance metric.

In a statement released on Friday, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party attributed the sharp rise in poverty directly to the President’s “ill-defined neoliberal economic policies,” specifically citing the removal of the petrol subsidy three years ago.

The party described the new data, presented at a policy dialogue in Abuja on Thursday, as a “damning verdict” on the Tinubu administration. According to the ADC, poverty in Nigeria has climbed from approximately 50 percent before the subsidy removal to 63 percent afterward.

“This verdict reflects the real consequences of the APC government’s hasty removal of fuel subsidy without giving full consideration to how such a serious decision would impact on the livelihoods of ordinary citizens,” the statement read.

The ADC highlighted that the macroeconomic shock from the subsidy removal has triggered cascading costs, driving up the prices of food, transportation, and other essentials. The party argued that while the government justified the policy on the premise of rechanneling funds to health and education, those sectors have not seen improved funding, and citizens have felt no tangible benefits.

Citing independent surveys, the ADC noted a widespread public discontent, with 93 percent of Nigerians believing the country is heading in the wrong direction, 88 percent describing the economy as bad, and 74 percent rating their personal living conditions as poor.

“A large majority of Nigerians report going without basic necessities such as food, clean water, medical care, cooking fuel, and even cash income at different times during the past year,” the statement continued. “For millions of households, economic hardship is no longer a temporary difficulty, it has become daily reality.”

The African Democratic Congress concluded that by the standard measure of whether economic policy improves the lives of citizens and protects the vulnerable, “the APC government has failed.”

Kano State Government has approved the sum of ₦608,394,370.49 for the settlement of electricity bills owed to the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) for five major water treatment plants covering November and December 2025.

This was disclosed by the State Commissioner for Information, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, while briefing journalists on the outcome of the 38th Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf at the Government House.

Waiya explained that the council’s decision was part of broader commitments to improve infrastructure, strengthen public services, and enhance socio-economic development across the state. According to him, “After exhaustive discussions, the Council approved several projects and commitments aimed at improving infrastructure, strengthening public services, empowering citizens and enhancing socio-economic development across Kano State.” He noted that the total approvals amounted to ₦310,266,203,046, cutting across key sectors of governance.

In the education sector, Waiya revealed that the council approved ₦238,020,000 for the purchase of UTME (JAMB) forms to be distributed to eligible candidates across the state. He added that ₦1.54 billion was also approved for the settlement of funds to boarding school suppliers to cover a six-week feeding period. “The Council also approved ₦236,198,174.08 for the settlement of outstanding payments for eggs and chickens supplied to boarding schools across the State,” Waiya stated.

On infrastructure, the Commissioner announced that ₦13.2 billion was approved for the implementation of 2026 constituency projects across the state. He further disclosed that ₦2.9 billion was approved for the reconstruction of Race Course Extension to Audu Bako Way, Alu Avenue, and Commandant Close off Race Course Road in Nassarawa Local Government Area. “Approval was also granted for the rehabilitation and overlay of the Gidan Malam Aminu Kano–Tal’udu–Gadonkaya–Yahaya Gusau–Sharada Road at the cost of ₦1.67 billion,” he said.

Waiya also highlighted approvals in the health sector, including ₦89,710,080 for the procurement of four dialysis machines for the Abubakar Imam Urology Centre and ₦165,637,550 for dental equipment and materials. He stressed that these interventions were aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery in the state.

In the housing sector, the Commissioner announced a major approval of ₦113.19 billion for the construction of a mass housing scheme comprising 480 houses at Rijiyar Gwan-Gwan, tagged “Gida Gida Mega City.” He added that ₦1 billion was also approved for the establishment of an Emergency Operations Management Centre at the Government House.

Other notable approvals included ₦1.34 billion for the 2026 Ramadan Feeding Programme under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, ₦1.7 billion as compensation to households affected by the Transmission Company of Nigeria’s 330KVA transmission line project, and ₦210 million for the production of 10 million seedlings for the 2026 Annual Tree Planting Campaign.

Waiya concluded by emphasizing that the approvals reflect the government’s commitment to sustainable development and improved service delivery. “These approvals and policy decisions clearly demonstrate the commitment of the Kano State Government under the leadership of His Excellency to sustainable development, improved service delivery and the overall wellbeing of the people of Kano State,” he said.