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  • FCCPC hails court affirmation over authority to investigate ticket pricing complaints

    FCCPC hails court affirmation over authority to investigate ticket pricing complaints

     

    By Ginika Okoye
    Abuja:   The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), has hailed the Federal High Court, Abuja division’s judgment affirming the commission’s authority to investigate consumer complaints in pricing of airline tickets.
    This is contained in a statement by Mr Ondaje Ijagwu, FCCPC’s Director, Corporate Affairs, in Abuja on Friday.
    Ijagwu quoted Mr Tunji Bello, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, as saying that the judgment was an important judicial affirmation of the Commission’s statutory responsibility to investigate market conduct where reasonable grounds pointed that consumers or competition was adversely affected.
    Bello said that investigating consumer complaints was fundamentally different from regulating prices.
    According to him, the FCCPC neither sought to fix nor regulate Air Peace’s fares.
    ”It simply exercised its lawful authority to obtain information as part of an investigation into a matter of legitimate consumer concern.
    ”An investigation is a fact-finding process. It is neither a finding of liability nor an enforcement action.
    ”Every responsible regulator must be able to inquire into credible complaints affecting consumers and markets without those inquiries being misconstrued as findings of liability, enforcement action or price regulation,” he said.
    Bello noted that the judgment provided important judicial clarity on the scope of the commission’s investigative powers.
    He further said that the development confirmed that the exercise of statutory price regulation powers remained governed by the separate legal framework established under the FCCPA.
    He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to exercising its statutory mandate fairly, transparently and in accordance with the rule of law.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Air Peace Limited had challenged the commission’s authority to investigate complaints concerning possible exploitative ticket pricing. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
  • Obi’s comment on FG’s JSS-SSS separation policy misleading, reflects flawed knowledge-Group

    Obi’s comment on FG’s JSS-SSS separation policy misleading, reflects flawed knowledge-Group

     

    By Bassey Asuquo

    TMSG has described the reaction of the Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Party (NDC), Peter Obi, to the federal government’s plan to discontinue the junior secondary and senior secondary school separation policy as misleading and fatally flawed, saying it reflects his poor understanding of the Nigerian educational sector.

    In a statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, TMSG wondered why a former governor would find it hard to understand that the flaws identified in the policy could be corrected now to guarantee continuous basic education for the ultimate benefit of the nation’s educational system.

    The statement read in part: “We find it baffling and bewildering that the NDC Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, who is always quick to condemn any policy of the President Bola Tinubu administration, has claimed that the federal government’s plan to discontinue the separation of Junior and secondary schools is an admittance of its poor grasp of the complexity and dynamics of the education sector.

    “It would have been understandable if it had come from an individual who had never been a governor, especially as state governments are largely in charge of basic education, which includes primary and junior secondary schools.

    “But here is a former two-term Anambra state governor who is known to have declared in 2006 that education was not for the poor, lashing at efforts of the Tinubu administration to correct a policy that some subnationals have bungled almost irretrievably.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, plans to revert to the old policy of a unified junior and secondary education stemmed from credible data available to the federal government, which showed that a large number of students dropped out at the junior secondary level, leaving the entire education system crisis-ridden.

    “We indeed were startled to hear the Education Minister, Dr Tunji Alausa, saying that there are about 80,000 public primary schools in the country compared to 15,000 junior secondary schools.

    “More shocking is the information that while about 24 million pupils are enrolled in primary schools, only about 4 million of them completed senior secondary.

    “The implication of this is bad for the nation’s future at a time and era when education makes the difference. We fully endorse and support any data-driven initiative by the Bola Tinubu administration to retain students in schools across the country after completing their basic education.

    “Which is why plans to revert to a unified secondary education policy that will leave no room for a break in education may be a good way to ensure that students do not drop out of junior secondary schools. The implications of such a glaring mismatch are too critical for any serious and responsive government to ignore.

    “So we find it baffling that a Presidential candidate who headed a subnational government would claim that the failure of the junior secondary school policy was a reflection of poor funding on the part of the federal government.

    “We expect that Peter Obi should be aware that subnational governments have administrative and financial control over basic education, and it is within their remit to fund schools in their respective domains.

    “The only way the federal government could be held liable is in the area of policy, so we insist that the onus is on the Tinubu administration to ensure that it puts good policies in place in the education sector.”

    “It is also surprising that Peter Obi, who is on record as a former state governor who never built any school throughout his 8-year tenure, could resort to blaming President Bola Tinubu for the recent poor performance by students in English and Mathematics in the West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

    The group added that the revamped Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Nigeria, which now provides incentives to attract young Nigerians with payment of monthly stipends, starter packs and payments of take-off grants, is one of the reforms introduced by the administration in the education sector.

    The group cautioned Nigerians against buying into Peter Obi’s angst against every policy move of the Bola Tinubu administration, especially on education, where he pursued a lacklustre anti-people educational policy

    The group argued that Peter Obi has nothing to offer in education, noting that even by his own public admission, the former Anambra State Governor did not build any completely new schools from scratch during his eight years in office.

     

  • Opposition indulging in scandal fishing as campaign strategy against President Tinubu-Group

    Opposition indulging in scandal fishing as campaign strategy against President Tinubu-Group

     

    By Danladi Ahmed

    The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has accused opposition politicians of indulging in scandal-fishing to cast the President Bola Tinubu administration in a bad light ahead of the 2027 election.

    The group alleged that recent events had shown that the opposition is banking its political campaign on scandal shopping after realising that it would be difficult to defeat President Tinubu in the forthcoming presidential election.

    It said in a statement signed by its Chairman Emeka Nwankpa and Secretary Dapo Okubanjo that Nigerians should not be surprised to see the opposition either misrepresenting facts or echoing unverified information about the government in the public space.

    “One of the major issues that opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, are latching on to in recent times is the position of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the 2026 budget.

    “We are aware that the IMF, in a recent report, spoke about what it called a discrepancy of N8.83 trillion or approximately 2% of GDP in the budget, which it said was executed outside formal budget processes, though it acknowledged that the government had been revising the nation’s laws to capture such expenditures.

    “It is instructive that the federal government, through the Finance Minister, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, was quick to respond, clarifying that the N8 trillion expenditures were public spending, which included statutory transfers and intervention funds backed by acts of Parliament.

    “To be clear, statutory allocations and contributions to development commissions and other agencies created by law, cost of collection, as well as cost of administration retained by revenue-collecting agencies are not new in the country.

    “These are regular, annual developments tied to the Nigerian budget as a first-line charge.

    “In addition, there are special interventions backed by law to address national priorities such as security, infrastructure, and disaster response.

    “It is noteworthy to emphasise the position of the finance minister that the N8 trillion included capital expenditure approved in separate budgets for some agencies and the Federal Capital Territory by the National Assembly.

    “This is exactly why we find it strange that a former Vice President, whom we expect to be conversant with governance and local laws guiding federal budgets in his eight years in office, would jump into the issue to make political capital out of it.

    “And while Peter Obi’s limited, and most times, flawed grasp of governance laws at the centre may be understandable, it is clear that former Vice President Abubakar was simply being mischievous,” it added.

    TMSG also described the recent allegation by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that President Tinubu was responsible for plunging 17 million Nigerians into acute hunger as a gross misrepresentation of facts.

    “Another example of scandal fishing is the ADC’s claim that President Tinubu is to blame for the humanitarian situation, which the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) says is affecting more than 17 million Nigerians.

    “What the opposition did was to twist the report by the UN agency showing that more than 17 million Nigerians across nine conflict-affected Northern states are facing acute hunger and present it as the outcome of the policies of the President Tinubu administration.

    “Without doubt, this is the height of political mischief, debauchery and brigandage by individuals who take delight in surfing the Internet for materials they could use to undermine and malign the administration.

    “While the federal government is making concrete efforts through kinetic and non-kinetic measures to check security challenges in affected communities, it is mischievous of politicians to accuse the authorities of ‘cruel indifference’ just to further their political interests,” the statement said.

    End

  • Beyond the AGM: How NATOP is positioning Nigeria’s tourism for a new era

    Beyond the AGM: How NATOP is positioning Nigeria’s tourism for a new era

    By Jimoh Babatunde
    The 10th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) was more than another gathering of tourism stakeholders. It became a meeting point for ideas, policy advocacy and institutional reforms that could shape the future of Nigeria’s tourism industry.
    Held in Lagos, the event brought together government officials, tourism operators, airlines, security agencies and policymakers around one central question: How can Nigeria unlock its enormous tourism potential?
    From the inauguration of NATOP’s first national secretariat to the launch of a new website and the NATOP Tourism Passport, and from discussions on infrastructure to debates on taxation and destination marketing, the AGM reflected an industry determined to move from potential to performance.
    A permanent home, a stronger identity
    Perhaps the most symbolic achievement unveiled during the AGM was the commissioning of NATOP’s first-ever national secretariat.
    For an association established more than a decade ago, owning a permanent headquarters represents more than acquiring office space. It signals institutional maturity and provides a central hub for policy engagement, member services, training and international collaboration.
    Chairperson of the AGM Planning Committee, Joy Alexander-Ozeigbe, described the secretariat as giving NATOP a permanent identity while complementing its growing digital presence.
    The secretariat is expected to become a rallying point for operators seeking collaboration, capacity building and stronger engagement with government agencies and international partners.
    Government responds on taxation
    For years, multiple taxation has remained one of the biggest complaints from tourism operators in Lagos and across Nigeria.
    At the AGM, the Lagos State Government sought to reassure investors that the situation has improved significantly.
    Representing the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Oloruntoyin Bopo Oyekan-Ismaila, said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu directed the harmonisation of taxes to eliminate multiple taxation.
    Although she admitted that isolated complaints may still arise, she insisted that businesses complying with tax obligations should no longer experience repeated demands from government agencies.
    For tour operators, hotels, restaurants and other tourism businesses, reducing multiple taxation could lower operating costs and improve the investment climate.
    Tourism beyond government
    One of the strongest messages from the AGM came from Air Peace Chairman, Dr. Allen Onyema, who argued that government alone cannot build a thriving tourism industry.
    According to him, tourism requires an effective partnership between government and the private sector.
    He challenged tour operators to become active promoters of Nigeria’s tourism assets rather than depending solely on government campaigns.
    His endorsement of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway generated considerable attention.
    While acknowledging that opinions differ on the project, Onyema argued that improved transport infrastructure will open up beach destinations, improve accessibility and stimulate tourism-related investments along Nigeria’s Atlantic coastline.
    He compared Nigeria’s coastal resources with Caribbean nations that rely heavily on beach tourism despite having far fewer natural advantages.
    Selling Nigeria’s cultural wealth
    Nigeria possesses one of Africa’s richest cultural landscapes.
    With hundreds of ethnic nationalities, colourful festivals, traditional architecture, historical monuments, wildlife reserves, waterfalls and beaches, the country arguably has one of the continent’s most diverse tourism portfolios.
    Yet many of these attractions remain poorly marketed.
    Onyema challenged tour operators to package events such as the Durbar festivals, the Calabar Carnival and numerous local cultural celebrations into marketable tourism products capable of attracting domestic and international visitors.
    His argument reinforces a growing consensus within the tourism industry that Nigeria must move beyond simply possessing attractions to professionally packaging and promoting them.
    Strong institutions matter
    For NATOP President, Hajia Bolaji Mustapha, the conversation goes beyond marketing destinations.
    She believes the country needs stronger tourism institutions capable of supporting operators and creating globally competitive destinations.
    Speaking on the conference theme, “Unlocking Nigeria’s Tourism Potential: Strengthening Tour Operators for Sustainable Destination Development,” she said tourism development requires empowered operators, innovation, strategic partnerships and sustainability.
    Her message reflected a broader understanding that successful destinations are built through coordinated institutions rather than isolated initiatives.
    She reminded members that tour operators are not merely travel agents but destination ambassadors, storytellers and contributors to national economic development.
    Technology meets tourism
    Recognising the digital transformation sweeping through global travel, NATOP also unveiled a redesigned website alongside the NATOP Tourism Passport.
    The website is expected to improve the association’s visibility while making it easier for tourists and investors to connect with certified operators.
    The Tourism Passport serves as both a promotional publication and a directory of authentic Nigerian tour operators and tourist destinations.
    Together, both initiatives reflect NATOP’s determination to embrace digital tourism while maintaining a physical presence through its newly commissioned headquarters.
    Leadership continuity
    The AGM also produced a clear vote of confidence in the association’s leadership as members returned Hajia Bolaji Mustapha unopposed for another term as president.
    Her re-election followed recognition by the Board of Trustees Chairman and former FTAN President, Nkereuwem Onung, who praised the administration for restoring stability, increasing membership, introducing a unified identity card scheme and enhancing NATOP’s national and international profile.
    Leadership continuity may provide the association with the stability needed to pursue long-term reforms and deepen collaboration with government agencies and private investors.
    The road ahead
    The discussions at NATOP’s 10th AGM demonstrated that Nigeria’s tourism industry is no longer focusing only on identifying challenges. Stakeholders are increasingly proposing practical solutions—improved infrastructure, tax reforms, institutional strengthening, destination branding, digital innovation and stronger public-private partnerships.
    The inauguration of the association’s first secretariat symbolises an organisation building stronger foundations. The launch of new digital platforms reflects an industry adapting to changing global travel trends. Government assurances on tax harmonisation point to efforts to improve the operating environment, while calls for greater collaboration highlight the need for collective action.
    Whether these commitments translate into measurable growth will depend on sustained implementation. But one message emerged clearly from the Lagos gathering: Nigeria possesses the assets to become a leading tourism destination. The challenge now is transforming those assets into experiences, investments and jobs that can drive economic diversification.
    If the conversations at the 10th NATOP AGM are matched with consistent action, the association may well have set the agenda for the next phase of tourism development in Nigeria.

  • Edo State University Iyamho Adopts Ebhohon’s The Great Delusion

    Edo State University Iyamho Adopts Ebhohon’s The Great Delusion

    The Department of English, Edo State University Iyamho, has adopted The Great Delusion, a prize-winning play by Nigerian dramatist, Majekodunmi Oseriemen Ebhohon, for formal undergraduate studies.

    The adoption follows an expanding body of scholarship surrounding the text, which examines racial justice, epistemic theft, and the historic contributions of Africans to science and technology.

    The drama, which won the 2025 Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Prize for Drama, has increasingly drawn cross-disciplinary attention from historians and literary theorists for its confrontation of the biases of white supremacy.

    Writing in the foreword, Dr Vibert Issa White, a Professor of History at the University of Central Florida, United States, acknowledged the play’s pedagogical and sociological necessity. “It drags into the light the unsung Black inventors whose genius shaped the ancient and modern worlds, and forces the audience to confront why their names were ever forgotten,” White observed, noting that for Black children, the work is “nothing short of an intellectual resurrection.”

    This perspective aligns with a critical review by Professor G.G. Darah, an eminent scholar of African literature. Darah remarked that The Great Delusion actively “reignites many of the debates and discourses about the place and fate of African people in world history,” challenging readers to examine the long-term historical memory erasure resulting from centuries of colonial exploitation.

    Professor Solomon Awuzie, representing the Department of English, stated that these thematic layers provide undergraduates with substantial material for rigorous textual analysis and critical exegesis. He added that the department remains committed to ensuring coursework reflects vital developments within contemporary African literature.

    Acknowledging the decision, Ebhohon expressed appreciation for the department’s academic assessment of his work. The playwright noted his anticipation that the text’s adoption would foster critical classroom discourse and prompt new analytical frameworks regarding African contributions to global development among the students.

  • Bolaji Mustapha returns unopposed …as NATOP holds AGM


    Hajia Bolaji Mustapha was yesterday returned unopposed as President of the National Association of Nigeria Tour Operators, NATOP, at the Association’s Annual General Meeting held at the Remi Tinubu Hall, Alausa, Ikeja.

    The AGM marked a historic moment for NATOP as Hajia Mustapha highlighted key achievements from her first term, including the acquisition of the Association’s first National Headquarters in Lagos, significant growth in membership, increased national visibility, and renewed investor confidence in Nigeria as a tourism destination.

    The event was attended by notable industry leaders including Air Peace Founder, Allen Onyema, and Director General of NIHOTOUR, Aare Abisoye Fagade. Representatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service, DSS, and the Nigeria Police were also present, reaffirming the link between security and safe tourism promotion.

    In her acceptance speech, Hajia Mustapha thanked members for their support and pledged to take NATOP’s mandate across Nigeria.
    _“NATOP is not about me. It’s about our people, our culture, and putting Nigeria back on the global tourism map,”_ she stated.

    She also acknowledged the support of BOT Chairman, Nkereuwem Onung, Engr. Sarat Braimah of NIWA, and the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, Dr Gani Tarzan Balogun, Damilola Emmanuel, Hon Henry Olaoluwa Onifade and Tope Fajemirokun.

  • NAFDAC Shines in London as DG Bags Prestigious Int’l Award

    NAFDAC Shines in London as DG Bags Prestigious Int’l Award

     

     

     

    – I accept this honour not for myself alone, but on behalf of the dedicated men and women of NAFDAC whose tireless work makes every achievement attributed to my leadership possible,” – Prof. Adeyeye

     

    – Exhibiting uncommon humility, Prof. Adeyeye declares; ”This recognition belongs to every member of the NAFDAC family.”

     

    By Biola Lawal
    FLOWERBUDNEWS: Nigeria’s Prof. Mojisola Christian Adeyeye, the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has been conferred with the prestigious Special African Leadership Commendation Award.

    Prof. Adeyeye bagged the honour at the 16th African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA) in London, United Kingdom, for transforming Nigeria’s pharmaceutical regulatory system into a global benchmark.

    The award ceremony, which brought together heads of state, ministers, parliamentarians, and Africa’s most distinguished business and public sector leaders, was held at the historic Cholmondeley Room and Terrace, House of Lords, Palace of Westminster, London, on 3 July 2026.

    The recognition, conferred by the Global Advisory Board of the African Leadership Organisation (ALO), the publisher of African Leadership Magazine, was awarded following a rigorous, merit-based screening and vetting process spanning several years, during which Prof. Adeyeye’s leadership trajectory and institutional impact were independently tracked and assessed by an international panel.

    The award tells a story that every Nigerian should know. When Prof. Adeyeye assumed office as Director General of NAFDAC on 30 November 2017, she inherited an agency in deep institutional distress, a statement on the historic event disclosed.

    It recall further:
    The agency carried a debt burden of over ₦3.2 billion. Between 70 and 80 per cent of the equipment across NAFDAC’s seven laboratories was non-functional.

    There were no vehicles for inspection. Staff morale had collapsed under repeated industrial strikes. No Director had a NAFDAC-issued laptop. Digitisation was non-existent. And on the World Health Organisation’s Global Benchmarking scale of one to four, NAFDAC was rated below Level One. One international observer had described the agency bluntly as a “good-for-nothing agency.”

    Less than a decade later, the same agency stands as one of the most credible regulatory bodies on the African continent.

    Through fiscal discipline alone, Prof. Adeyeye cleared the inherited debt of over ₦3.1 billion within her first year in office, discovering in the process that ₦200 million of that debt was fictitious. She procured over 150 utility vehicles, invested over ₦7 billion in laboratory equipment, and equipped more than half of NAFDAC’s 2,000-plus workforce with laptops and desktop computers.

    She digitised 90 per cent of the agency’s regulatory processes, instituted standard operating procedures across all functions, and pursued ISO 9001 certification, which NAFDAC achieved by 2019 and has maintained through recertification to date.

    The global recognition that has followed is remarkable by any standard.

    NAFDAC attained WHO Global Benchmarking Maturity Level 3 in March 2022, a distinction held by only 35 per cent of regulatory agencies worldwide, and was successfully re-benchmarked in June 2025.

    The Central Drug Laboratory in Lagos achieved WHO Prequalification in September 2023.

    Nigeria attained Pre-Accession Pre-Applicant status in the Pharmaceutical Inspection and Cooperation Scheme (PIC/S), a membership shared by only 50 countries globally.

    In 2025, Nigeria became the 24th member of the International Council for Harmonisation (ICH), one of only 25 members among 194 regulatory agencies worldwide.

    Through the Five Plus Five regulatory directive, Prof. Adeyeye drove a 70 per cent reduction in the importation of pharmaceuticals already being manufactured in Nigeria, significantly strengthening the domestic pharmaceutical industry.

    International pharmaceutical companies that left Nigeria in 2017 are now investing and reinvesting in the country, bringing technology transfer and global partnerships.

    NAFDAC is now working towards WHO Maturity Level 4 and World Listed Authority status, milestones that would enable medicines manufactured in Nigeria to be traded freely across the African continent and globally, positioning Nigeria as a pharmaceutical export nation of international standing.

    The two-day ABLA programme, themed “From Vision to Velocity: Driving Africa’s Next Wave of Growth and Leadership,” was held across two iconic London venues.

    Day One took place at the GMT Suite, Hilton London Metropole, where Prof. Adeyeye delivered a keynote address on “The African University of the Future: Innovation, Relevance, and Global Competitiveness,” calling for the urgent alignment of African university curricula with global regulatory standards and the integration of digitisation across all academic disciplines. Her address drew wide commendation from the assembled leaders.

    Day Two, the awards ceremony at the House of Lords, was hosted by Baroness Sandy Verma, with Lord Dolar Popat and Baroness Lindsay Northover attending as special guests.

    The ALO International Advisory Council, chaired by H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania, was represented by H.E. Chief Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor, former Vice President of Liberia, Gen. William Kip Ward, First Commander of US Africa Command, Hon. Nomvula Mokonyane, former Premier of Gauteng and Deputy Secretary General of the African National Congress of South Africa, and Dr. Victor Oladokun, Communications Advisor to the President of the African Development Bank, among others.

    Speaking after receiving her award, Prof. Adeyeye said:

    “I accept this honour not for myself alone, but on behalf of the dedicated men and women of NAFDAC whose tireless work makes every achievement attributed to my leadership possible.

    When I assumed office in November 2017, NAFDAC was rated below the first rung of the WHO Global Benchmarking ladder.

    Today, we stand at Maturity Level 3, successfully re-benchmarked in June 2025, a distinction held by only 35 per cent of regulatory agencies worldwide.

    This recognition belongs to every member of the NAFDAC family.” FLOWERBUDNEWS)

  • NUF urges FG to decisively tackle insecurity from all fronts

    NUF urges FG to decisively tackle insecurity from all fronts

    NUF urges FG to decisively tackle insecurity from all fronts

    The Ndigbo Unity Forum (NUF), a global pan-Igbo socio-political organization, has urged Federal Government to decisively tackle insecurity from all fronts, using all available and futuristic means possible.

    The Chairman of NUF, Chief Augustine Chukwudum, made the call on Thursday in Enugu while examining the heightened level of insecurity all over the country.

    Chukwudum lamented worsening rate of insecurity following school children kidnapped and ransom demanded from their poor parents who are struggling to provide meal for their families in the current harsh economy.

    According to him, insecurity has become a gold mine as few people are feeding fat from it due to years of non robust investment in the sector.

    “Insecurity has come to be breaking news each day,” he said.

    The chairman noted that it was time to invest massively in conventional, emerging and futuristic military hardwares and latest technologies to tackle the country’s embarrassing insecurity head long.

    “NUF calls on President Bola Tinubu to do the needful by matching his words with actions not only condemnation of insurgency and banditry.

    “President Tinubu should direct security agency to deal harshly with those non state actors perpetrating insecurity across the country immediately.

    “We call on Federal Government to create enable environment for our youths to be engaged in productive ventures, this will help in eradicate crime to barest minimum as well,” he said.

    The chairman called on state governors to obey Supreme Court judgement that gives local government areas full autonomy.

    He said, “This move will help in bringing democratic dividends to the people at the grassroot as the state governors are expected to do the needful.

    “NUF also renew it demand that President Tinubu should remove any state governor who refuse to comply. Such governor must be charged for treasonable offence for not obeying the Supreme Court.”

  • Facility Monitoring: Enugu Govt seals 4 unlicensed hospitals in LG

    Facility Monitoring: Enugu Govt seals 4 unlicensed hospitals in LG

    Facility Monitoring: Enugu Govt seals 4 unlicensed hospitals in LG

    The Enugu State Government through its Ministry of Health has sealed no fewer than four private health facilities (hospitals) in Enugu North Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Ministry, Mrs Chidiogo Ugodu, in a statement on Thursday in Enugu, said that the hospitals were sealed on July 8.

    The statement said that the health facilities were sealed over failure to be licensed and meeting necessary regulatory requirements.

    According to the statement, the ministry has intensified its monitoring and supervision of private health facilities across the state as part of efforts to ensure quality healthcare delivery and compliance with regulatory standards.

     

     

    It said that the renewed exercise was initiated by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu.

    The statement said that the Director of Medical Services, Dr Chinyere Ezeudu, lead a team of senior directors from the ministry on an unscheduled inspection visit to health facilities in Enugu North LGA.

    “The monitoring exercise was aimed at ensuring that all private hospitals and healthcare providers operating in the state comply with statutory requirements.

    “These statutory requirements included: the renewal of operating licences and proper registration of facilities that are yet to be captured by the regulatory authorities,” it said.

     

    The statement said that during the visit, the team inspected seven private health facilities, assessing their operational status, documentation, licensing compliance, and adherence to required healthcare standards.

    Speaking, the state’s Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, reaffirmed the commitment of the state government under the leadership of Gov. Peter Mbah to protect residents by promoting safe, effective, and quality healthcare services.

    Ugwu emphasised that the supervision exercise would be sustained across the state to ensure that only duly approved and compliant facilities provide healthcare services to the people.

    He, therefore, urged all private health facility operators in the state to regularise their operations by renewing expired licences or registering their facilities where necessary.

     

    “The ongoing monitoring exercise is not only a regulatory measure but also a critical step towards strengthening the health system and safeguarding the lives of citizens,” he said.

    It would be recalled that some weeks ago, the state government through the Ministry of Health sealed three illegal health facilities (hospitals) operating without operational licence within Enugu South LGA of the state.