Mr Baba Azare, Commissioner of Police (CP), in Akwa Ibom State has warned youths against blocking of public roads and entrances of organisations to protest perceived grievances in the state, warning that those involved risk arrests.

Azare gave the warning at a news conference in Uyo on Thursday.

“I want to draw the attention of good people of Akwa Ibom to please admonish the youths against taking laws into their hands as a result of slightest provocation.

“The act of blocking public roads and gates of organisations is very serious offence,” he said.

Azare noted that some youths have cultivated the habit of blocking roads and gates on a slightest provocation between them and their employees regardless of obvious nuisance being caused.

The CP said that the command would stop at nothing to arrest and prosecute anyone caught in such act.

He advised the youths to exhaust alternative means of dialogue and not to resort to violence.

“If you have any issues, the law is very clear, you can go ahead and explore legal avenues to resolve the problems within your own organisation or communities,” he said.

Azare also said that the command would not fold its arms and watch people blocking Federal roads or public roads in the state.

He said that the command under his leadership would continue to fight crime and criminality in the state.

“I want to sincerely appreciate the good people of Akwa Ibom for their continuous support and cooperation with the Police,” he said.

Azare urged Akwa Ibom people to report any suspicious movement or persons to the nearest police station.

The National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) entered into partnership with a Chinese firm to establish Nigeria’s first insulin production plant.

Insulin is a key requirement in the treatment and management of diabetes.

The move marks a major step toward Nigeria’s medical self-sufficiency which is expected to save billions of naira in foreign exchange.

Mrs Toyin Omozuwa, Press Secretary to the Director-General of the NBRDA, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

She said the NBRDA signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Shanghai Haiqi Industrial Company Ltd, on Wednesday in Abuja to establish Nigeria’s first sustainable insulin manufacturing facility.

She said the Mustapha signed on behalf of the Federal Government, while Mr Bokai Zhai, General Manager of Shanghai Haiqi Industrial Company Ltd signed on behalf of the firm.

According to her, Mr Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, witnessed the event saying that for decades, diabetic patients have depended on imported insulin, often at high cost and with limited availability.

Nnaji said that with the agreement Nigeria would step into an era of improvement in its health security, job creation, and industrial innovation.

He added that beyond saving the nation up to one billion dollars in imports every year, the initiative offered a ray of hope to Nigerian families affected by diabetes.

Mustapha also underscored the agreement as a turning point for the health sector and for biotechnology advancement in Nigeria.

“This is a transformative opportunity, and for the first time, Nigeria will have standardised, locally produced insulin, ensuring affordability and quality not only for our citizens but eventually for Africa.

“This marks the beginning of a new chapter in our biotechnology journey, where research is converted into real solutions for Nigerians,” Mustapha stated in the statement.

Meanwhile, Zhai, said the company was committed to the project because of its potential human and economic impact.

“This cooperation will reduce reliance on imported insulin, ensure accessibility and affordability for Nigerian families, and promote the growth of the local pharmaceutical industry through technology transfer, job creation, and capacity building,” he said.

As the first insulin plant in Nigeria and among the few in Africa, the facility will enhance healthcare delivery, support industrial growth, and reduce pressure on foreign exchange.

It also positions Nigeria to lead in biotechnology and pharmaceutical innovation across the continent.

The Federal Government on Thursday began a three-day strategic retreat to harmonise the methodology for the Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis (PASGA) in the Federal Civil Service.

Declaring the retreat open in Abuja, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, described the exercise as a critical step in the ongoing reforms of the Federal Civil Service.

She said the initiative aimed to reposition the service for greater efficiency, professionalism, and improved service delivery.

President Bola Tinubu had earlier directed a comprehensive PASGA across the federal service to enhance professionalism and effective service delivery.

The audit is also expected to support the development of a more agile, competent, and responsive civil workforce.

Walson-Jack described the project as a foundational reform initiative under the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP) 2021–2025.

“This project will give us what we have long needed, a credible and verifiable personnel database that captures not just numbers, but also skills, competencies, and workforce distribution across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs),” she said.

She emphasised that the data gathered would support evidence-based planning, targeted training, strategic deployment, and transparent succession planning.

“With it, we can direct capacity building where it is most needed and plan for the next generation of civil servants,” she added.

The HCSF urged participants to work toward a unified and workable methodology that would strengthen civil service reforms.

She noted that the outcome of the retreat would shape future decisions on recruitment, promotions, postings, training, and succession.

Also speaking, Mr Folusho Philips, Chairman of Philips Consulting, the lead firm for the project, described the civil service as a “huge organisation” that required proper personnel verification.

He said the PASGA would help identify skill gaps, competencies, and strengths to ensure workers were “fit for purpose” in today’s dynamic environment.

“We want to identify the kinds of jobs we need to fill, the kind of people we need, and then address the skills and capacity gaps,” Philips said.

He added that if successful, the initiative could be replicated at the state level to improve public service delivery across the country.

Earlier, Dr Danjuma Kalba, Permanent Secretary, Common Services Office in the HCSF, stressed the need to harmonise the approaches of the 15 cluster consultants involved in the project.

“Each HR firm might adopt a different methodology if left unchecked. This retreat is essential to ensure a standardised and credible outcome,” he said.

The retreat, themed “Building a Future-Ready Workforce: Reshaping Skills Today for Tomorrow’s Nigeria,” is being attended by members of the steering committee and the implementation team.

Also in attendance are representatives from Philips Consulting and the 15 cluster consultants engaged for the national project.

For most Nigerians, paying for treatment is a daily struggle.

Available data indicates that out-of-pocket expenses account for more than 70 per cent of health costs, pushing families into poverty and leaving the most vulnerable without care.

National spending on health remains below five per cent of GDP, far short of the 15 per cent target set in the 2001 Abuja Declaration.

Primary healthcare centres often lack basic equipment, teaching hospitals are overstretched; and medical professionals continue to leave the country in search of better opportunities abroad.

In the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), a heavily pregnant woman carrying twins tragically lost her babies after being turned away from multiple hospitals.

Told to pay ₦28,000 and provide a referral letter, she walked several kilometres to secure the documents, only to return too late.

Investigations revealed the twins had died in her womb days earlier, likely due to delays in receiving timely medical care.

Similarly, in Akwa Ibom, a mother and her newborn died following a caesarean section at the General Hospital in Ikot Ekpene.

Relatives alleged that hospital staff left the woman unattended for over three hours, and no blood was available during surgery.

The incident prompted Gov. Umo Eno to establish a commission of inquiry.

These heartbreaking stories highlight the financial, infrastructural, and systemic barriers facing millions of Nigerians, particularly women and children.

At the recent National Health Financing Dialogue in Abuja, policymakers, development partners, and stakeholders grappled with a pressing question:

How can Nigeria re-imagine healthcare funding to ensure access, affordability, and quality for all?

Over the past two years, the government has implemented reforms aimed at saving lives, reducing financial hardship, and improving healthcare access.

These reforms include revitalising primary healthcare facilities, equipping them with essential commodities, and retraining more 67,000 frontline health workers.

More than 8,000 facilities now receive regular federal disbursements to ensure continuity of services.

On the demand side, insurance coverage has been expanded to vulnerable populations.

The urgency of the conversation extends far beyond policy documents; it is a conversation about healthcare as a fundamental human right.

Through the Vulnerable Groups Fund and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), pregnant women, children, people with disabilities, Al-Majiri children, and out-of-school children can access essential services without facing catastrophic costs.

Emergency care support has also been strengthened; more than 5,000 women have had caesarean sections reimbursed, and programmes have been established to provide treatment for obstetric fistula at no cost.

As the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, emphasised, health reforms were not just abstract policies; they are tangible and measurable with clear human impact.

“Historically, the Nigerian elite have benefited more from public resources than the poorest.

“We are changing that,” Pate said.

In his submission, Prof. John Ele-Ojo Ataguba, Executive Director of the African Health Economics and Policy Association (AfHEA), said that universal health coverage (UHC) was a journey, not a destination.

Successful countries combine contributory and non-contributory schemes, and Nigeria is now pursuing both.

“The contributory component consists of national and state health insurance schemes, while the non-contributory element is represented by the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, which subsidises care for those unable to pay, particularly in the informal sector.

“Despite these efforts, out-of-pocket spending remains a major challenge.

“Illnesses are unpredictable; families should not have to sell assets to survive a medical emergency,” Ataguba said.

Dr Gafar Alawode, the Chief Executive Officer, DGI Consult, highlighted the importance of optimising resources and coordination.

“Before now, multiple actors, government tiers, the private sector, and donors spent in uncoordinated ways.

“With a sector-wide approach, two plus two can become five or six instead of one or zero,” Alawode explained.

Yet, while politicians and technocrats debate financing models, youth and grassroots women leaders say they remain excluded from decision-making.

Mr Seniye Michael, a youth activist, lamented that leaders often attend high-level meetings briefly, make remarks, and leave, leaving young people dialoguing with themselves.

Michael proposed a Youth Health Access Fund to directly finance medical needs for young people.

Mrs Hauwa Adamu, leader of the Wives of Traditional Rulers Network, echoed this call.

“Policies are often written for us without us; women’s lived experiences must shape advocacy and project design,” Adamu said.

The dialogue highlighted a key principle: health is a unifying force. Universal health coverage strengthens human capital, builds social cohesion, and protects society from preventable diseases.

As Pate explained, ensuring that even rural populations have access to care is in everyone’s enlightened self-interest.

Participants at the dialogue agreed that, private sector partnerships, tax reforms, and public engagement are crucial to sustaining these gains.

Governments at all levels, alongside citizens, must commit to funding, transparency, and accountability.

The road to universal health coverage remains long, but the trajectory is clear.

Stakeholders say Nigeria is building an inclusive health system that prioritises the vulnerable, reduces preventable deaths, and protects citizens from financial catastrophe.

This transformation is about more than policies; it is about saving lives, empowering communities, and ensuring that no one is left behind.

The tragic stories from the FCT and Akwa Ibom remind us why this work matters; behind every statistic is a human life, and policies must protect those lives.

Ensuring healthcare access, affordability, and quality is not a political gesture; it is a moral imperative.

As Nigeria continues its journey towards inclusive healthcare, these reforms and initiatives must be sustained, monitored, and adapted to local realities.

Experts say when healthcare systems function effectively, the impact is profound: maternal and child deaths decline, families are protected from financial ruin, and social trust in institutions strengthens.

Ultimately, the story of Nigeria’s healthcare reform is one of hope and resilience; it reflects the determination of policymakers, healthcare workers, activists, and ordinary citizens to transform a fragmented system into one that is inclusive, equitable, and people-centred.

While challenges remain, including limited funding, workforce shortages, and systemic inefficiencies, the commitment is evident.

With sustained focus and participation from all sectors, Nigeria can achieve a healthcare system where policy meets people, and where access to quality care is not a privilege but a right for every citizen.

Observers say for every Nigerian mother walking miles for a referral letter, for every child denied life-saving care due to financial constraints, the ongoing reforms represent a future where health policies translate into real, tangible benefits for all.

(NAN Features)