Dr. Zainab Muhammad-Idris, National President of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), has announced the launch of a nationwide health-sector initiative aimed at strengthening the response of health workers to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Nigeria.

Muhammad- Idris, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen on Tuesday in Kaduna.

She said the initiative, supported by the French Embassy in Nigeria, was being implemented as part of the global 16 Days of Activism Against GBV, with the theme “Unite! Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls.”

Muhammad-Idris said the campaign focuses on enhancing the knowledge, capacity and responsiveness of health workers to identify, manage and support survivors of GBV across the country.

She described GBV as a major public health emergency in Nigeria, noting that women and girls are disproportionately affected.

According to her, in spite of the existence of national legal and policy frameworks such as the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP, 2015) and the National Guidelines for Health Sector Response to GBV (Federal Ministry of Health, 2019), many health facilities continue to face challenges

These include inadequate knowledge, weak referral systems and insufficient survivor-centred care.

To bridge these gaps, MWAN was conducting a national assessment of GBV knowledge and management practices among Doctors, Nurses, Midwives and allied health professionals in selected health facilities across the six geopolitical zones.

She explained that the findings would be used to strengthen policies, design targeted training programmes and improve referral pathways and survivor-centred services within the health sector.

The MWAN president said the project aligns with the 2025 global theme, “Unite! Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls,” and expands the association’s ongoing advocacy for safer communities, stronger institutions and improved national accountability for GBV response.

She outlined the key messages of the campaign, stressing that health workers are vital to ending GBV and that informed action saves lives.

She added that every survivor deserves dignity, confidentiality and professional care, and that investing in knowledge is investing in prevention.

Muhammad-Idris called on all health workers across Nigeria to remain vigilant, informed and compassionate in their daily practice.

“As frontline responders, our actions can break cycles of silence, prevent further harm and restore dignity to survivors. Together, we can build a safer, more just Nigeria where women and girls live free from violence,” she said.

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara on Monday held a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, amid intensifying political drama in the state.

Our correspondent sighted the governor around 5:01 p.m., walking toward the President’s office in a deep-blue long-sleeve shirt, black trousers, and a black flat cap. Minutes earlier, Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru had also been ushered in for a separate engagement.

Although details of the two meetings remain undisclosed, the timing has fueled fresh speculation about the next major political shifts in Rivers State and beyond.

Fubara’s visit comes as talk grows louder that he may be preparing to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC). The speculation intensified on Friday, December 5, after 17 lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule defected from the PDP to the APC, ostensibly at the behest of the minister of the FCT, whose stranglehold on the lawmakers is widely known. Most political analysts and observers believe it is just a matter of time before the remaining 10 lawmakers join the colleagues in the APC.

With only three lawmakers still seen as loyal to Fubara and who have not resumed sitting since the lifting of the six-month emergency rule on September 18 — analysts say the governor may be weighing several political options. These include forging a new alliance with the Presidency, consolidating his base within the PDP, or making a bold move to the APC to survive deepening hostilities at home.

Sources close to both camps suggest that if Fubara senses an imminent impeachment plot, crossing over to the ruling party could offer him stronger political cover. Others, however, believe he may be seeking Tinubu’s backing to neutralize the Wike-aligned lawmakers while retaining his position within the PDP.

Friday’s mass defection has also raised questions about whether the crisis in Rivers could trigger another round of federal intervention after the March 18 emergency rule that temporarily removed Fubara from office before his reinstatement.

For now, all eyes remain on the Tinubu–Fubara meeting, whose outcome could determine the next major political moves in Rivers State’s escalating power struggle.

Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago has officially received 100 rescued students of St. Mary’s Catholic School, abducted on November 21, 2025. The children were handed over at Government House, Minna, by Wing Commander Abdullahi Idi Hong, who represented the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

Delivering the students, the NSA reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to securing communities nationwide, pledging continued policies aimed at protecting every Nigerian child.

Governor Bago described the successful rescue as a landmark moment in the history of Niger State. He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, the NSA, and all security partners involved in the operation.

He also urged Nigerians to keep praying for the safe return of the remaining abducted students and their teachers still in captivity, assuring families that efforts are ongoing to reunite them soon.

Following the handover ceremony, buses transported the rescued children to Kontagora, where they were reunited with their parents and loved ones.

The Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH (NNS SOROH), under the Central Naval Command, has offered free medical outreach to the Zarama community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Speaking during the commencement ceremony on Monday, the Commander of NNS SOROH, Commodore Omobamidele Akinbami, said the exercise was aimed at strengthening cooperation with the host community.

The residents received free medical checkups, consultations, health education, insecticide-treated nets, medications and other services.

Represented by Capt. Jerry Ayim-Odu, Executive Officer of NNS SOROH, the Commander said the outreach was designed to provide quality healthcare to residents and promote a healthier, more resilient population.

He emphasised the importance of good health and reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to extending its medical services beyond naval personnel to surrounding communities.

Akinbami noted that the medical outreach formed part of the Navy’s Corporate Social Responsibility efforts.

He urged Zarama residents to take advantage of the free services, stressing that prioritising their health would contribute to a more prosperous and vibrant community.

“The Nigerian Navy Ship is here to conduct a free medical outreach as part of our yearly activities.

“This programme is designed to offer free medical services, deepen medical awareness and strengthen civil-military relations between the Navy and the host community.

“We encourage everyone in this community to participate so we can protect our future and that of our children.

“Beyond providing maritime security, the Navy also deploys non-kinetic measures like this outreach to discourage involvement in maritime crime and show that the Federal Government and the Navy care about your wellbeing,” he said.

A beneficiary, Mrs Beauty Ebiba, commended the Nigerian Navy for bringing the outreach to her community and appealed for similar initiatives in other areas.

Chief Moses Etekpe also expressed appreciation to NNS SOROH for remembering the community, saying the free medical services had uplifted residents and their families.

He urged community members to come out en masse to check their health status and seek timely medical care.

The Police Command in Anambra has condemned the attack on a Church carried out by armed criminals which resulted in the death of one person and leaving several others injured.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the development in a statement on Monday in Awka.

Ikenga said that the incident happened in the early hours of Sunday in Lilu, Ihiala Local Government Area of the state.

He disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, had condemned the heinous and abominable act.

“This abominable act, committed against innocent worshippers, was not only an assault on the community but a grave affront to our shared values of peace, sanctity of life, and freedom of worship.

“The Command extends its deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and to the entire Lilu community and assures the public that the Police shall relentlessly hunt down the perpetrators of this crime.

“Our community should not be subjected to such brutality as the command will not allow criminals to instill fear or destabilize the peace we are working tirelessly to maintain”, the commissioner said.

Orutugu urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with the joint security team investigating the matter by providing useful information that can assist ongoing investigations for justice to be served.

He said that the command remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting lives and property across Ihiala and the entire state.

President Bola Tinubu has called on public servants to uphold accountability in service to build trust, as he conferred the Distinguished Award for Excellence in Infrastructure Delivery and Sustainable Regional Growth on the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, and other outstanding leaders.

Speaking at the third edition of the Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service, NEAPS, held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, the President warned that weak sanction systems and lax oversight often fuel cynicism about governance.

President Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume, said the excellence award initiative would challenge officials to raise standards because “they know the people are monitoring them.”

He observed, “The unsystematic enforcement of law and institutional mechanisms for holding civil servants and public officials accountable will always lead to a negative impression on the citizens.

“I wish that leaders would arise and stand up to be counted among leaders who have distinguished themselves to do the right thing and leave their footprints on the sands of time.”

The President argued that public service is a trust that must be exercised with “responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency,” adding that officers are expected to think creatively to solve citizens’ problems.

He observed that the excellence award organised by The Best Strategic Media in collaboration with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation “relies on performance indices, not politics, to select honourees.”

The President said: “These awards are born out of empirical evidence of performance and not politics,” he said, commending recipients drawn from federal and state institutions, including some governors and ministers.

Speaking on the award, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Ogbuku, remarked that it showed that Nigerians appreciated the work the NDDC was doing in Nigeria’s oil-rich region.

He thanked President Tinubu and the NEAPS award committee for the honour, reaffirming his commitment to sustaining the pace of development and transforming the Niger Delta region.

Ogbuku noted: “This award serves as a motivation to continue driving the sustainable development of our region. We will continue to serve the needs of the people and enhance the quality of life for them.”

“This honour calls for more hard work, and we will not rest on our oars until we satisfy the yearnings of the people of the Niger Delta region and take development to the nooks and crannies of the region as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu’s administration.”

In a congratulatory message, the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, described the award conferred on Ogbuku as a testament to the innovations and progress he brought into the management of the Commission.

He stated that Ogbuku was rightly chosen for the prestigious award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to nation-building, dedication to fostering progress and unrelenting pursuit of excellence.

Ebie noted: “The activities of the current Board and Management of the NDDC now resonate with the people of the Niger Delta region and beyond.”

The Chairman of the NEAPS Advisory Committee and a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Mary Odili, observed that service excellence must never be taken for granted, stating: “Excellence in public service is a value we must continue to uphold.”

The NEAPS 2025 awards were presented to 44 distinguished Nigerians, in categories that include excellence in infrastructure service delivery, urban renewal, financial innovation, digital innovation, outstanding reform initiative, security management, transparency and open governance.

Barely three months after regaining his seat following a turbulent six-month suspension, Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara is once again demonstrating the calm resolve and developmental clarity that marked his early months in office.

Far from losing momentum, the governor is rolling out an ambitious, people-focused programme that reaffirms his commitment to rebuilding trust, restoring governance stability, and repositioning Rivers State on the path of sustainable growth.

The Atlantic Bell reports that in a move that underscores his administration’s readiness to deliver, the state government has released a 10-day schedule for the commissioning and flag-off of eleven major projects across eight local government areas. The projects—spread across health, housing, judiciary, and critical road infrastructure—capture Fubara’s long-held development philosophy: equitable, inclusive, and people-centred.

The activities begin on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, with the commissioning of the Extension of the Dualization of Ahoada–Omoku Road traversing Ahoada East and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGAs. On Thursday, December 11, the Egbeda–Omerelu Link Road in Emohua and Ikwerre LGAs takes the spotlight, strengthening inter-community access and easing mobility for thousands of residents.

A day later, attention shifts to strategic aviation-support infrastructure as the governor flags off the Bypass to the Port Harcourt International Airport and Toll Gate Project, followed by the commissioning of the Ikwerre Road–Igwuruta–Airport Road.

The Atlantic Bell further reports that the tempo continues to build on December 15 with the commissioning of the Greater TAF City Housing Estate in Ikwerre LGA, an ambitious urban development scheme that reflects Fubara’s commitment to affordable housing and modern urban planning. This is followed by the commissioning of the Ihuowo–Ihuama and Ring Road in Ahoada East, and later, the Obodhi–Ozochi Road and Bridge in Ahoada East and Ahoada West on December 16 and 17, respectively—projects long demanded by communities historically cut off by poor access.

The development train moves to Emohua on December 18 for the commissioning of the Ogbakiri Junction (Roundabout)–Ogbakiri Waterfront Road, a vital economic link for the area. On December 19, the Ahoada Zonal Hospital—an essential health facility for the region—will open its doors, advancing the governor’s efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery in underserved communities.

As the rollout approaches its finale, the Permanent Secretaries’ Quarters in Obio/Akpor will be commissioned on December 22, reinforcing institutional support for the civil service. The curtain will fall on December 23 with the commissioning of the new Federal High Court Complex in Port Harcourt—a milestone in judicial infrastructure and access to justice.

For a governor who had already begun to earn public confidence through decisive development action before political turbulence struck, this latest surge of activity serves as a resounding reminder: Siminalayi Fubara’s focus remains firmly on service, stability and the steady transformation of Rivers State.

Nigeria deployed both air and ground forces to help restore constitutional order in neighbouring Benin Republic after a group of soldiers attempted to topple President Patrice Talon, the Presidency has confirmed.

The mutinous soldiers had taken over the state television station on Sunday, announcing the dissolution of the government and claiming to have removed President Talon from office. Identifying themselves as the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR), they suspended the constitution, shut all borders and declared Lt. Col. Tigre Pascal as head of a military transition council.

Although the whereabouts of President Talon were initially uncertain, Benin’s Interior Minister, Alassane Seidou, later announced that loyal forces had regained control and the coup attempt had been thwarted.

Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said President Bola Tinubu ordered immediate military intervention following two urgent requests from the Beninese government.

According to him, Nigerian Air Force fighter jets were directed to secure Benin’s airspace and dislodge the coupists from the national broadcaster and a military camp where they had regrouped. Benin, through a diplomatic Note Verbal, sought Nigeria’s air support “to safeguard constitutional order, protect national institutions and ensure the security of the population.”

A second request asked for Nigerian air assets for surveillance and rapid-response operations, as well as ground forces strictly under Benin’s command for the protection of state institutions and containment of armed groups.

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that all directives by President Tinubu had been executed, with Nigerian troops now on the ground in Benin.

“Ours is to comply with the order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,” he said.