WAFFI TV | Feature

Otuaro Hails Senate for Approving Federal Oil and Gas Hospital In Benikrukru

Immediate past Deputy Governor of Delta State, His Excellency Deacon Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, has lauded the Nigerian Senate for passing the bill to establish the Federal Oil and Gas Hospital in Benikrukru, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State. In a letter of appreciation addressed to the President of the Senate, His Excellency Senator (Dr.) Godswill Obot Akpabio, on Wednesday, Otuaro described the passage of the bill as a historic legislative achievement that marks a turning point for healthcare delivery in oil-bearing communities of the Niger Delta. He highlighted the strategic importance of Benikrukru as a host to numerous oil and gas facilities, stressing the need for a specialized medical institution to cater to the unique health and environmental challenges facing the region. Read the full letter below: To: His Excellency, Senator (Dr.) Godswill Obot Akpabio, CON, President of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria, National Assembly Complex Abuja, Nigeria Your Excellency, LETTER OF APPRECIATION FOR THE BILL'S PASSAGE TO ESTABLISH THE FEDERAL OIL AND GAS HOSPITAL, BENIKRUKRU. With a deep sense of gratitude and fulfillment, I write to extend my heartfelt appreciation to you, Your Excellency, and the entire distinguished members of the Nigerian Senate for the successful passage—at the third reading—of the bill for the establishment of the Federal Oil and Gas Hospital, Benikrukru, in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West local government area of Delta State, which happens to be my kingdom. This historic milestone is not just a legislative victory—it is a major step toward correcting years of healthcare neglect in one of the most critical regions to our national economy. The Benikrukruu axis, located in the heart of the Niger Delta, is home to a dense concentration of oil facilities, installations, and multinational oil and gas companies whose operations power the economic engine of Nigeria. It is, therefore, only just and necessary that a specialized medical institution be situated within this hub to provide swift, professional, and industry-specific healthcare services. The Federal Oil and Gas Hospital, when fully established, will serve as a critical response center for oil-related occupational hazards, emergencies, and environmental health challenges that are unique to oil-producing communities. It will also cater to the general wellbeing of the hardworking people of the region who, for decades, have sacrificed their environment and livelihoods in the service of national prosperity. Your Excellency, under your visionary and progressive leadership, the Nigerian Senate has again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to equity, development, and national balance. We are deeply encouraged by your support and the unity shown by the Senate in this legislative process. Furthermore, we express our confidence in the leadership of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, a man renowned for his unwavering commitment to justice, inclusiveness, and development. We are optimistic that he will promptly assent to this bill, knowing fully well the strategic importance of this hospital to the wellbeing of our people and the sustainability of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. Once again, I thank Your Excellency and the entire Senate for your statesmanship, compassion, and dedication to the progress of the Niger Delta and the nation at large. Yours sincerely, H.E. Dcn. Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, Esq. FSPSP. Immediate Past, Deputy Governor, Delta State.

7/23/2025, 9:54:41 AM

Structural Issues Delaying Direct Transfers To LGAs~ Edun

The Federal Government is committed to fully implementing the Supreme Court's ruling on local government autonomy, but structural challenges continue to hinder direct fund transfers, according to Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun. Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja at the Agora Policy Conversation, Edun emphasized that although the government acknowledges and supports the Supreme Court's decision affirming financial independence for Nigeria’s 774 local government areas, putting the ruling into effect requires major institutional reforms. He noted that the Court made two key declarations: first, that only democratically elected local governments are entitled to allocations from the Federation Account; and second, that these funds must be paid directly to the councils. While the first directive has already been implemented — with non-elected councils barred from receiving funds — the second directive is still in the process of being operationalized. “Direct transfers to local governments are a work in progress,” Edun said. “It is not as simple as flicking a switch. There are embedded structures, such as those for primary healthcare and basic education, that currently operate under state supervision, and these require reconfiguration before direct funding can happen effectively.” He said the ongoing challenge lies in modifying these legacy arrangements without disrupting vital services. “You need a serious tinkering of the existing funding architecture to allow local governments to receive and manage allocations directly.” The minister emphasised that the Federal Government was committed to upholding the rule of law and would fully implement the Supreme Court ruling. “In a democracy, the rule of law is paramount. The Supreme Court has ruled. It is the duty and obligation of the Federal Government to implement it.” He emphasised the strategic role of local governments in driving President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that meaningful grassroots development could only occur if councils were empowered to manage their own resources. “To lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty, we must start from the grassroots. Local governments must be engines of development,” Edun said. He explained that Tinubu’s reform agenda had already laid the foundation for macroeconomic stability through difficult but necessary adjustments. “The first phase removed major distortions, such as the petrol subsidy and the managed exchange rate system. Now we are entering the second phase — stabilising inflation, increasing reserves, reducing the fiscal deficit, and boosting revenue.” Referencing recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics, Edun said Nigeria’s economy grew by 3.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2025. However, he noted that this was just half of the administration’s target. “For real impact, particularly on the poor and vulnerable, the economy needs to grow at around 7 per cent annually,” he said, stressing that increased productivity and job creation were central to achieving that goal.

7/23/2025, 7:43:50 AM

Reps Move To Ban Public Servants From Patronising Private Hospitals, Schools

The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed for first reading a bill aimed at banning public and civil servants, along with their immediate family members, from using private schools and healthcare facilities within Nigeria. Titled the *Private Institutions and Health Care Service Providers (Prohibition) Bill, 2025*, the proposed legislation was sponsored by Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, who represents the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in Abia State. Addressing journalists after the bill’s introduction, Ogah described it as a landmark proposal designed to rebuild trust in Nigeria’s public institutions and prevent conflicts of interest in service delivery. He stressed that the bill would compel public officials to utilize the same services as the citizens they serve, thereby promoting integrity and accountability in governance. “This bill seeks to restrict all public and civil servants—and their immediate families—from accessing private schools and healthcare facilities to prevent conflicts of interest, rebuild public confidence, and uphold high standards in public institutions,” Ogah stated. He invoked the legacy of Nigeria’s founding leaders—Sir Ahmadu Bello, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and Alhaji Tafawa Balewa—who were all educated in public or mission schools, contrasting their era with today’s reality where government officials often bypass local systems in favor of private or foreign services. Ogah decried the current preference among public servants for private education and medical care, calling it a dangerous shift that undermines public institutions. Highlighting key statistics, he noted that despite a N1.336 trillion allocation to health in the 2024 budget, Nigerians still spend over \$1 billion annually on medical treatment abroad. During the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, medical tourism cost the country about \$29.29 billion in eight years. Additionally, Nigerians spent \$38.17 million on foreign education between January and March 2024 alone, and \$218.87 million in 2023. “If we have started the removal of petroleum subsidy, we must also enforce this Bill to prohibit the patronizing of private schools and health care services by public and civil servants,” he asserted. According to Ogah, the continuous neglect of public institutions due to elite preference for private alternatives has led to “a shadow of their former selves, with little or no infrastructural development and fallen standards of services.” “It does not speak well of our country that our Presidents and notable government functionaries are seen to be going abroad for medical treatment—and even dying in the process,” he said. The proposed legislation, he argued, is aimed at putting an end to what he termed “medical and educational tourism” among public sector workers, adding that promoting local institutions would enhance national pride and institutional accountability. “I therefore call on Nigerians and indeed the Fourth Estate of the Realm to join me in supporting this Bill and begin a new consciousness of promoting our health care and educational institutions,” Ogah urged. “Let the campaign begin with hashtag #PromoteOurSchoolsAndHealthcareServices;PrivateInstitutionsAndHealthcareServicesProvidersProhibitionBill2025.”

7/22/2025, 7:43:20 PM

FG To Shift All WAEC, NECO Exams To CBT By 2026

The Federal Government has announced plans to fully adopt privately-owned and public institution-based Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres for conducting the school-based Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) starting next year. Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja after inspecting a pilot CBT SSCE organised by the National Examinations Council (NECO) at Sascon International School, Maitama. Commending NECO for the smooth execution of the pilot phase, Alausa stated that future school-based SSCEs would take place at designated CBT centres instead of being conducted within school premises. He said, “WAEC and NECO exams are school-based exams being conducted at their schools. No, we will move away from that. “It is going to be like (the way) JAMB exams are being conducted at CBT centres. We have thousands of CBT centres across the nation. “Those are the centres that we are going to use. It’s not the case that students do not have the facilities. Schools do not have the facilities. “We have enough people. We also have to expand the value chain of these CBT centres. They should not just be to service JAMB alone. “They should be able to service WAEC and NECO. The proprietors of these businesses, the owners of these businesses, have invested billions of Naira to set up these CBT centres. So we also have to help develop a new value chain in our economy. “They will create jobs. You see a lot of computers, hardware, and software. And more importantly, we have entrepreneurs in Nigeria who are creating and developing these solutions. These are homegrown solutions. We should all be proud. Today, we should all stand tall and be proud of what we utilise. “These are the kinds of opportunities that President Bola Tinubu is unleashing in every sector of his economy.” Alausa further commended NECO for its preparedness to fully transition to CBT, noting that the pilot was a demonstration of capacity and commitment to reform. “This is the first in the history of NECO, which is conducting its annual O-Level Certificate exams for SS3 students. “This is a pilot that we pushed to have, and I must tell you, I was very impressed with what I saw. “I have to commend the Registrar of NECO for the hard work that he and his team have deployed to get us to this stage, because when we decided that we’re going to go CBT, everybody thought this was an insurmountable task, but today, we’ve seen that this is a process, this is a transition that is possible. “We just have to work hard to get there. We cannot continue with this madness of exam practice, our exams being caught with cheating, leaked questions, both WAEC and NECO. If we allow this to continue, it will destroy the capacity of our youth, of our children.” He also disclosed a phased rollout of the CBT format across all school exams, starting with objective questions this year. “I’m a very happy person today that NECO has transited to CBT from paper-based. By November of this year, both NECO and WAEC objective exams will be full CBT. “And by next year, 2026, all the essays and objective exams will be CBT. NECO and WAEC will be joining the league of JAMB. We are making significant progress,” he added. Fielding questions from newsmen after monitoring the ongoing NECO exam alongside members of the Senate Committee on Education (Basic and Secondary) at Government Secondary School, Maitama, Registrar of NECO, Prof. Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi, expressed the readiness of the exam body for CBT. He said, “NECO is ready as a professional body to conduct examinations using any medium. “We may have challenges of infrastructure, that is obvious, but then that will not bog us down from do it. “There are facilities that will give us the opportunity to conduct CBT, and we are good to go for that. “We are all aware that there are certain difficult terrains across the countries where we will not be able to meet up with that, except that there are exceptional infrastructures to give us the opportunity to do that. “But by and large, we are very, very much ready to do that as a professional body. Provisional infrastructures, we are calling for government at the state level to speed up making provision for CBT infrastructures in their states, because that will highly support the process. “Because we believe the process will reduce a lot of issues that have to do with examination malpractice and improve the quality of the examination, and consequently, the results and certificates . “And we are very happy that the results and certificates are recognised globally, and we need to also do more in order to reach out across the world on our certificates and results. So NECO is fully ready as far as that is concerned.”

7/22/2025, 5:50:33 PM

Senate Approves Tinubu’s $21bn Foreign Loan

The Senate on Tuesday approved President Bola Tinubu’s external borrowing plan exceeding \$21 billion for the 2025–2026 fiscal period, clearing the path for full execution of the 2025 Appropriation Act. The borrowing plan comprises \$21.19 billion in direct foreign loans, €4 billion, ¥15 billion, a \$65 million grant, and domestic borrowing via government bonds estimated at ₦757 billion. It also includes a provision to raise up to \$2 billion through a foreign-currency-denominated instrument within the domestic market. The approval came after the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debt, chaired by Senator Aliyu Wamako, presented its report. Wamako noted the proposal was initially submitted on May 27 but faced delays due to the legislative recess and incomplete documentation from the Debt Management Office. Senator Olamilekan Adeola, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, added that most of the loan components were already captured in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and the 2025 budget. “The borrowing is already embedded in the 2025 Appropriation Act. With this approval, we now have all revenue sources, including loans, in place to fully fund the budget,” Adeola explained. While the approval drew broad support, it also raised concerns. Senator Sani Musa clarified that the loan disbursement would span six years, not just 2025. He defended the borrowing, saying it aligns with global economic practices. “There’s no economy that grows without borrowing. What we are doing is in line with global best practices,” he said. Senator Adetokunbo Abiru, who chairs the Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, assured the chamber that the loans are concessional and adhere to the Fiscal Responsibility Act and Debt Management Act. “These loans are long-term, some with tenors ranging from 20 to 35 years, and they are strictly tied to capital and human development projects,” he said. However, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) voiced concerns over transparency and equitable distribution, warning that Nigerians deserve to know the specifics of the loans and their intended impact. “We need to tell our constituents exactly how much is being borrowed in their name, and for what purpose,” he said. Among the key sectors targeted in the loan plan are infrastructure, agriculture, security, power, housing, and digital connectivity. A major highlight is the allocation of $3bn for the revitalisation of the Eastern Rail Corridor, stretching from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri. Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) hailed the rail project as a milestone, saying, “This is the first time I have seen $3bn allocated to rebuild the eastern rail line. That alone justifies my full support.” Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, commended the committee’s efforts and stressed that the borrowing plan reflects national inclusiveness. “This shows that the Renewed Hope Agenda is working. No region is left out,” he said. Senate leadership maintained that all funds must be deployed strictly for capital and development projects, in line with public finance regulations.

7/22/2025, 4:26:12 PM

Gencos Warn As FG’s Debt Hits N5.2trn

Power Generation Companies (Gencos) have raised serious concerns over the Federal Government’s rising debt, revealing that outstanding payments surged by ₦1.2 trillion in the first half of 2025 alone. Total liabilities now stand at about ₦5.2 trillion, comprising ₦1.9 trillion in legacy debts from 2015 to 2024, and another ₦2 trillion accrued in 2024. The Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), via its Executive Secretary, Dr. Joy Ogaji, issued a statement responding to reports that the Federal Government may take on electricity subsidy costs following a recent tariff slash by the Enugu Electricity Regulatory Commission (EERC) from ₦209 to ₦160 per kilowatt-hour. The Gencos warned that the Enugu decision could set a dangerous precedent for other states, highlighting that only ₦45 out of the ₦112 allocated in the current tariff framework is earmarked for power generation. They warned this could derail efforts to decentralize electricity supply to states. Dr. Ogaji noted there is no formal federal policy to support such subsidies, calling the current situation “unchecked debt accumulation.” She revealed that while Gencos invoice around ₦250 billion monthly, the 2025 federal budget allocates only ₦900 billion for the entire year—and even that, she added, is not fully funded. “This poses a serious systemic risk that must be tackled at the presidential level,” Ogaji stressed. “The budget is woefully inadequate to clear current arrears or absorb future shortfalls.” Despite consistently delivering on generation targets, Gencos say they have never received full payments, nor guaranteed gas supply, timely remittances, or protection from grid inefficiencies. They also cited the burden of foreign exchange volatility, with over 90% of costs dollar-denominated, and warned that unstable grid operations continue to inflate maintenance costs.

7/22/2025, 12:37:19 PM

We’ll Prosecute, Ban Visa Fraudsters From Entry~ US Tells Nigerians

The United States government has intensified its crackdown on visa fraud and illegal immigration, warning that Nigerians involved in such activities could face criminal prosecution. This warning comes shortly after the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria acknowledged the federal government’s cooperation in resolving recent visa validity issues, which saw the U.S. reduce Nigerian visa durations to three months with single entry. In a statement posted on its official X handle, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria warned that individuals who smuggle or shelter undocumented migrants in the U.S. would face the same consequences as those committing visa fraud. The Mission further stressed that anyone who enters the U.S. using fake documents would be permanently barred from re-entering the country. “The U.S. government is committed to combating fraud and ending illegal immigration,” the statement read. “Anyone who engages in visa fraud will be banned for life. A country without borders is not a country. We will pursue criminal charges against perpetrators of visa fraud and those who aid and harbour illegal immigrants.” **Clarification on Visa Validity** The latest warning follows a travel advisory issued by the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, clarifying that the expiration date on a visa does not determine how long a traveller can stay in the United States. Instead, the length of stay is determined by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the port of entry. The Embassy advised Nigerian travellers to carefully review their I-94 forms to avoid immigration violations. “The length of time an international visitor is allowed to stay in the United States is determined by the Customs and Border Protection, CBP, officer upon your arrival, NOT your visa expiration date. “A US visa allows you entry to a US port of entry and request permission to enter. How long you are allowed to stay in the United States is not your visa expiration date. ‘’The CBP determines your ‘Admit Until Date’ upon your arrival and you can check the date by which you must depart online at i94.cbp.dhs.gov.”

7/22/2025, 7:40:50 AM

IPF Urges Tinubu to Investigate NDDC Boss Ogbuku Over Alleged Financial Mismanagement

The Ijaw Publishers Forum (IPF), Nigeria’s foremost Ijaw media council, has petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to launch an immediate investigation into the financial dealings of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) under the leadership of its Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, and the current board. In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Comrade Ezekiel Kagbala, and made available to journalists in Warri, Delta State, the IPF accused the NDDC of operating like a personal cash dispenser for a select few rather than fulfilling its developmental mandate to the Niger Delta region. The forum called on key leaders of the Niger Delta to compel the Ogbuku-led NDDC to render a full account of the trillions of naira allocated to the commission during his tenure. According to the group, the funds have yielded little to no tangible development, leaving communities without basic infrastructure such as electricity, potable water, accessible roads, bridges, or functional healthcare centres. The IPF criticized the Commission’s programs as being largely cosmetic and diversionary, alleging that projects like *Project HOPE*, the *NDDC Youth Internship Scheme*, and the *Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines, and Agriculture (NDCCITMA)* were primarily tools for looting public funds rather than delivering real impact. The group further accused Dr. Ogbuku of abandoning genuine regional development in favour of political ambition, alleging that he is using the NDDC’s resources to promote his bid for the Bayelsa governorship. They claimed he engages in selective empowerment, targeting only loyalists, political allies, romantic associates, and members of his Ayakoro community. The IPF warned that unless urgent steps are taken to sanitize the Commission, President Tinubu risks losing the support of the Niger Delta ahead of his re-election campaign. It added that discontent was growing among the region’s youths and communities, who feel betrayed by what they described as Tinubu’s imposition of Ogbuku on the NDDC. The Forum concluded by insisting that accountability, transparency, and an independent probe are necessary to restore public trust and redirect the NDDC towards its original development goals.

7/22/2025, 7:05:03 AM

FG, Govs Stealing Workers’ Sweat~ NLC

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has accused the Federal and State Governments of deliberately suppressing dissent, undermining democratic institutions, and illegally seizing workers’ contributions, actions it described as theft of workers’ hard-earned sweat. NLC President, Joe Ajaero, made these claims during the opening ceremony of the 21st Rain School in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, warning that the country was teetering on the edge of tyranny. Ajaero lamented that Nigeria’s democratic space — which should protect freedoms — has become a battleground where workers’ rights to free speech, peaceful assembly, and political participation are under attack. He further alleged that the intensifying crackdown on civil liberties and union activities is a deliberate strategy to silence workers’ voices ahead of the 2027 general elections. “Governance has been abandoned for 2027 politicking. Leaders who should be working to alleviate suffering are instead consumed by power games, leaving workers and ordinary Nigerians to bear the brunt of economic hardship and mounting insecurity, all imposed by their policies,” he said.

7/21/2025, 7:06:46 PM

2031: The Burden of Hope and the Ijaw Expectation~ William Bozimo

There are seasons in politics. Some are sown in silence, others harvested in thunder. As 2031 draws nearer, the Ijaw people of Delta State are not merely watching the calendar, they are watching history, and what it has stubbornly denied them. From Burutu to Forcados, Bomadi to Gbaramatu, the land speaks in neglected bridges and abandoned schools. These are not merely just underdeveloped regions, they are also under-recognized legacies. For a people who lit the flame of minority rights and carried the nationalist dream through tidal creeks, the reward has been astonishingly lean. Governor James Ibori, the architect of modern Delta’s political rhythm, rose from the central zone. His successor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, emerged not from the Ijaw-dominated South but from Itsekiri stock. The pendulum then swung North, and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa stepped forward with poise and plans. Okowa built Anioma with a craftsman’s eye. Roads were laid, institutions rebranded, and identities elevated. Now, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, back from the central zone, follows suit. But what of the Ijaw South? The rotation is fair in mathematics but faulty in morality. For the Ijaw people, they do not demand charity. They are simply asking for symmetry. In a democracy where rotation substitutes for merit, equity must substitute for silence. The oil that built Delta’s skyline was first drilled in their backyards. Their sons and daughters have bled in military uniforms, paddled ballots through floodplains, and kept the pipelines flowing; but when decisions are made in Asaba, they remain too often as footnotes. 2031 must not be another delay disguised as diplomacy. It must not be another “Almost” whispered in party caucuses. It must be the year the Ijaw dream of leadership crosses from agitation into realization. Let no one say there are no Ijaw sons capable of governing. From academia to the civil service, from the creeks to the corridors of Abuja, they have led without limelight. All they ask now is the chance to lead from the centre, not the sidelines. This is no tribal plea. It is a moral alert. The rotation will lose its legitimacy if it keeps returning to the same addresses while skipping over the forgotten. A truly united Delta State must look every ethnic group in the eye and give them a reason to believe again. 2031 is not just an election year. For the Ijaw nation, it is a referendum on belonging. ✍🏽 William Z. Bozimo Veteran Journalist | Columnist | National Memory Keeper.

7/21/2025, 12:11:51 PM

Subscribe to our newsletter

advertisement