The Federal Government has urged media organizations to stop granting undue publicity to terrorists, insisting they should be reported strictly as criminals.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, issued the charge on Wednesday during the seventh edition of the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing Series held in Abuja.

Idris emphasized that the media plays a pivotal role in shaping public perception and must exercise greater responsibility in how security issues are reported. He noted that while informing the public is essential, media houses must not amplify the agenda of terrorist groups by placing them on front pages or giving legitimacy to their false narratives.

“These groups are not freedom fighters — they are murderers, kidnappers, and destroyers. They should be described and treated as such,” he said. “They must be denied the attention and propaganda platforms they seek. The media must resist inadvertently serving their interests.”

The Minister called on journalists and editors to support national security efforts by highlighting the successes and sacrifices of Nigeria’s military forces rather than focusing solely on acts of terror.

“As many of you know, ‘Strengthening National Security for Peace and Prosperity’ is the second pillar of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said. “Without peace and stability, there can be no sustainable development.”

He noted that the administration has taken tangible steps to bolster security, including the procurement of modern weapons and equipment, improved intelligence gathering, extensive training for personnel, and enhanced international collaboration.

Idris added that Nigeria’s armed forces are highly respected globally, and their achievements in securing the nation deserve more media recognition and public support.

“The media, as gatekeepers and partners in nation-building, must play a vital role in bolstering the morale of our military. This is not just a matter of patriotism — it is a strategic imperative for national unity and peace,” he said.

The Federal Government has inaugurated a high-level reform committee to undertake a comprehensive review and restructuring of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), signaling a major step toward repositioning the scheme to better meet the nation’s development goals and the aspirations of Nigerian youths.

The inauguration, held at the Ministry of Youth Development headquarters in Abuja, brought together stakeholders from government, civil society, and the private sector.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, reaffirmed the NYSC’s critical role in promoting national unity and youth empowerment since its establishment in 1973. However, he stressed the need to modernize the scheme to reflect present-day realities.

“It is time to reassess the NYSC in light of today’s socio-economic challenges,” Olawande said. “From the safety of corps members to infrastructure gaps and questions around the scheme’s continued relevance, we must urgently and boldly act to reform the system.”

He noted that the Committee’s core mandate is to conduct a thorough assessment of NYSC’s operations and recommend reforms that will make the scheme more secure, innovative, and impactful. The outcome, he added, must align with broader national development strategies, positioning the NYSC as a key instrument for youth empowerment and nation-building.

The Committee’s terms of reference include:

Reviewing existing policies, reports, and legal frameworks governing the NYSC;

Conducting stakeholder engagements and nationwide consultations;

Recommending updates to the NYSC Act and operational guidelines;

Proposing a sustainable model for funding, monitoring, and evaluation;

Submitting a comprehensive reform report to the Ministry within a stipulated timeframe.

Also present at the event, Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, proposed the establishment of two specialized corps programs: a Teachers’ Corps for NCE-certified graduates and a Medical Corps for healthcare professionals. These programs, which would run on an optional two-year basis, are aimed at addressing gaps in rural education and healthcare delivery.

According to Alausa, the Teachers’ Corps would help bridge learning disparities in underserved regions while offering a pathway to government employment. The Medical Corps, on the other hand, would strengthen service delivery in remote communities, particularly in areas such as maternal and child health.

In her remarks, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman, called for a realignment of technical and vocational training with formal education. She stressed that integrating practical skills into academic pathways would empower Nigerian youth to become more productive and contribute meaningfully to national growth.

The inauguration of the NYSC Reform Committee marks a pivotal moment in the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to youth development and institutional reform.

The Federal Government has commissioned the over ₦5.7 billion Gashua Water Supply Scheme in Bade Local Government Area of Yobe State, marking a major milestone in efforts to tackle water scarcity in the region.

The project, completed at a revised cost of ₦5,735,046,416.75, was officially inaugurated by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, at the Gashua Water Works, Filin Tanda.

Prof. Utsev described the scheme as a transformative intervention aimed at addressing long-standing water supply challenges in Gashua and neighboring communities, with the capacity to serve over one million residents with safe and potable water.

According to the Minister, the scheme boasts a production capacity of 3,200 million litres per day and includes key components such as:

Four solar-powered borehole-based water systems (one within a university campus),

A modern water treatment plant,

Surface and elevated storage tanks,

Electro-mechanical and power systems,

An extensive transmission and distribution network.

The Minister emphasized that the project aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes access to clean water as a cornerstone of public health, poverty reduction, and national development.

Speaking through a statement signed by Mrs. Funmi Imuetinyan, Director of Information and Public Relations in the ministry, Utsev formally handed over the facility to the Yobe State Government, calling for inclusive stakeholder engagement and urging the Yobe State Water Board to manage the infrastructure sustainably.

He also acknowledged other federal water projects ongoing in the state, including:

Damaturu Lots A & B Water Supply Projects,

Nguru Water Supply Project,

Fika/Gadaka Water Supply Project, and

Potiskum Water Supply Project.

In his remarks, Governor Mai Mala Buni, represented by Deputy Governor Idi Barde Gubana, expressed deep appreciation to the Federal Government. He underscored the importance of clean water for health and economic development, and referenced ongoing research into the potential link between water quality and kidney-related illnesses in Northern Yobe.

Former Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan, who hails from the region, said the scheme was initiated in response to repeated outbreaks of waterborne diseases in Gashua caused by contaminated water. He praised President Tinubu and Minister Utsev for their commitment to expanding access to clean water.

Also speaking, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, congratulated the people of Yobe and encouraged the community to take ownership of the facility to ensure its longevity.

The ceremony concluded with the formal signing of handover documents and the official commissioning of the Gashua Water Scheme, a key step in the Federal Government’s mission to achieve universal access to clean and safe water across Nigeria.

The Federal Government has successfully cleaned up 1,700 hectares of oil-contaminated shoreline in Ogoniland and trained 2,500 Ogoni youths and women in oil spill response and remediation efforts.

Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, disclosed this on Wednesday during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing in Abuja. He highlighted the landmark achievements under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, including what he described as the world’s largest mangrove restoration initiative, being implemented by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).

According to the Minister, the pilot phase of the mangrove restoration covering 560 hectares is already 85% complete, with over 2 million red, black, and white mangrove seedlings planted.

> “This is Nigeria’s first mangrove restoration project involving multiple species. A total of 540 Ogoni youths and women have been engaged as community workers to support this vital environmental effort,” Lawal said.

He further revealed that the Ministry, through HYPREP, has commissioned nine out of ten major operational water treatment stations in Ogoniland, now supplying potable water to over 30 communities.

In addition, HYPREP is constructing a 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital, currently at 67% completion, and a 40-bed Buan Cottage Hospital, which is 90% complete, to address critical health challenges resulting from years of oil pollution.

To strengthen healthcare delivery, four existing hospitals in Ogoni communities—Bori, Kpite, Nchia, and Terabo—have been upgraded with modern medical equipment.

The Minister also announced other national initiatives, including the registration of over 16,000 environmental health practitioners across public and private institutions by the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON). He added that 158 facilities have been issued carbon footprint certifications to support Nigeria’s climate action goals.

In partnership with UNIDO and the Government of Japan, the Ministry also commissioned a $2.9 million upgraded plastic polyethylene recycling facility at Iddu, Abuja, to drive sustainable waste management.

Addressing concerns around Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), Lawal said that 1,470 individuals have been trained in GMO detection and analysis by the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) to enhance regulation and safeguard health and biodiversity.

He also highlighted ongoing afforestation and reforestation projects in Bagga Forest Reserve (Borno), Tila (Arewa LGA, Kebbi), Agwada (Kokona LGA, Nasarawa), and Karara (Lokoja LGA, Kogi).

Under the Ministry’s Bamboo Development Programme, Lawal announced the commencement of a Bamboo factory in Kogi State, with feasibility studies for similar factories

The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the operations and financial activities of the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Abuja, amid growing concerns over alleged mismanagement and the institution’s prolonged closure.

This followed the adoption of a motion at Wednesday’s plenary sponsored by Hon. Jonathan Gbefwi and four other lawmakers, who raised alarm over the college’s non-functional status and questionable disbursement of funds spanning more than a decade.

Established in 2008 as a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Health, the college was created based on recommendations from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to advance the practice of homeopathy, acupuncture, naturopathy, osteopathy, and chiropractic care. The institution derives its legal backing from the Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Act, Cap. M8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

In 2018, government efforts to integrate traditional medicine into Nigeria’s healthcare system culminated in the establishment of the Department of Traditional, Complementary, and Alternative Medicine under the Ministry of Health.

However, while leading the debate, Gbefwi expressed concern that academic activities at the college have been suspended since October 16, 2010, following an order by the National Universities Commission (NUC), which shut down its degree programmes due to lack of accreditation.

Despite the shutdown, Gbefwi revealed that the college’s interim management—appointed by the Health Ministry after suspending the original leadership in 2011—has continued to receive and expend capital and overhead allocations totaling hundreds of millions of naira.

> “In 2016, a staff member was named Acting Head of Administration to run the institution, even though it has remained academically dormant,” he noted.

The lawmaker cited numerous petitions and counter-petitions accusing both Ministry officials and the college’s management of financial misconduct, unauthorized disbursement of public funds, and administrative abuses that have caught the attention of anti-corruption agencies.

He also condemned the continued appointment of a Sole Administrator to run the College, saying it violates the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Establishment) Act, 2021, which outlines a different governance structure.

> “The House is alarmed by reports of illegal staff suspensions, unpaid entitlements, arbitrary dismissals, and irregular recruitments carried out without due process,” Gbefwi stated.

In response, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas directed the House Committee on Specialty Healthcare to launch a comprehensive probe into the financial mismanagement, administrative irregularities, and legal violations surrounding the college. The committee will also examine the circumstances behind the NUC’s closure directive and the reasons for the institution’s continued non-operational status.

The investigation is expected to uncover the facts and recommend