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FG Unveils Real-Time Online Learning To Boost Education Nationwide

By
Gladys Phillip
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The Federal Ministry of Education has launched the nationwide implementation of the Inspire Live(s)! Online Real-Time Classes Initiative, a digital learning programme aimed at expanding equitable access to quality education for all Nigerian children.

The initiative, announced on Tuesday in a statement signed by the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, is designed to address long-standing challenges in the education sector, including a shortage of qualified teachers and frequent disruptions to learning.

According to the statement, the programme aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and seeks to “democratise access to quality education” by streaming live, interactive lessons directly to students across the country.

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, confirmed that full implementation is underway, with expansion planned to cover all classes from Primary 1 to Senior Secondary 3.

Currently, the Inspire platform hosts online classes for Junior and Senior Secondary School students. The classes run Monday to Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and are delivered by certified master teachers using Cisco Webex.

Subjects for Junior Secondary learners include Basic Science, Mathematics, English Language, ICT, Agricultural Science, Basic Technology, Civic Education, French, Physical Education, Religious Studies, History, and Business Studies.

Senior Secondary learners have access to lessons in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English Language, Mathematics, Economics, Geography, Agricultural Science, Technical Drawing/Catering Craft, Civic Education, and Automobile Mechanics.

To ensure broad participation, the ministry has directed state Commissioners for Education to nominate State Focal Officers to coordinate activities, disseminate programme details to schools, and equip designated institutions with basic ICT infrastructure and internet connectivity.

The ministry emphasised that registration for participation must be done exclusively by school principals through the official Inspire Live(s) support channels.

It added that the programme is open to both public and private schools nationwide.

ADC Denies Report on Atiku Registration, Calls Story “Pure Fiction”

By
Ola Akinola
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ABUJA – The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has forcefully dismissed a newspaper report claiming controversy surrounded former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s registration with the party, labeling the story as “pure fiction” and disowning the individual quoted as its spokesman.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its authentic National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party asserted that the report titled “Controversy Trails Atiku’s ADC Registration as Party Declares Process Invalid” was entirely fabricated.

“The person quoted in that report is unknown to the ADC at any level and does not exist within our structures, registers, or leadership organs,” Abdullahi stated. “The national leadership of the ADC is not in any doubt, and no one authorized to speak for the party has said anything close to what was reported.”

The party expressed serious concern about media outlets providing platform to unauthorized individuals, warning that such practices not only mislead the public but also damage media credibility.

Abdullahi framed the incident within broader political concerns, stating: “We have all witnessed the orchestrated destabilisation of opposition parties and Nigeria’s gradual descent into a one-party state.” He described the ADC as “the last man standing” in Nigeria’s multiparty democracy and urged media organizations to avoid becoming tools in efforts to undermine opposition voices.

The rebuttal comes amid Atiku Abubakar’s highly publicized move to join the ADC, where he formally received his membership card in a ceremony in Yola and announced “It’s official” on his social media platforms.

The ADC’s strong response highlights the heightened political tensions in Nigeria’s opposition landscape and the party’s determination to control its official narrative during a period of significant political realignment.

Follow NewsFocus for continuing coverage of Nigeria’s political developments.

“No More Excuses” – Wike Issues Final Warning to Abuja Waste Contractors, Demands Visible Results

By
Toyin Adebayo
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ABUJA – The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has delivered an uncompromising ultimatum to solid waste management contractors, declaring that the era of excuses and substandard performance in keeping Abuja clean has ended.

During a decisive meeting with contractors on Tuesday, the Minister emphasized that Nigeria’s capital must reflect its status through impeccable sanitation, particularly in high-profile districts like Asokoro, Maitama, and along the critical Airport Road corridor.

“We cannot let challenges or difficulties become excuses. We are here to solve problems,” Wike stated. “Problems have been identified and solutions have been worked on. Every second, every minute, every hour counts. You must monitor your areas and know what is happening at all times.”

The Minister revealed that he had conducted unscheduled inspections in Utako and Asokoro and found compliance levels unsatisfactory. He stressed that these areas, frequently used by international visitors and dignitaries, are non-negotiable priorities for cleanliness.

Wike issued a stark warning against complacency and external interference, urging contractors to resist political pressure and ethnic or religious manipulation designed to undermine enforcement. “This is a workshop: if you do not work, there is no job,” he cautioned. “Some of you get compromised, and that affects your output. If someone refuses to comply, we will act accordingly.”

The Minister also alerted contractors to expect potential sabotage from unsuccessful bidders, including disinformation campaigns and digitally altered images circulated online.

In response, the Chairman of the Association of Solid Waste Contractors, Ibrahim Babayo, pledged the contractors’ full commitment to restoring Abuja’s reputation as Nigeria’s cleanest city, aligning with the Minister’s reform agenda.

Despite acknowledging financial constraints within the FCT Administration, Wike assured contractors of continued support while demanding immediate, visible improvements across the capital.

“Maternal Deaths Are Preventable” – FCT Health Chief Demands Evidence-Based Reform at National Symposium

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

ABUJA – Nigeria’s persistently high maternal mortality rate is both a national emergency and a preventable tragedy, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment in the Federal Capital Territory, declared on Tuesday, calling for an urgent shift to evidence-based policymaking and sustainable workforce reforms.

Speaking at the 2025 Task Shifting Symposium in Abuja, Dr. Fasawe delivered a stark assessment of the country’s healthcare system, emphasizing that most maternal deaths occur at the primary care level due to a critical shortage of skilled workers, essential equipment, and basic supplies.

“Nigeria still carries one of the highest maternal mortality burdens in the world, according to WHO. It is heartbreaking because these deaths are preventable,” Dr. Fasawe told attendees. “Women arrive at facilities and there is no skilled provider, no blood, no equipment, and sometimes no one who knows what to do. By the time they reach general hospitals, it is often too late.”

The symposium, themed “Bridging Research, Policy, and Practice for Better Maternal Healthcare in Nigeria,” highlighted findings from a landmark study conducted by Dr. Francis Ayomah of the University of Oxford, which examined task-shifting realities within Nigeria’s primary health system.

Dr. Fasawe stressed that research must replace assumptions in health policy design. “Research has been missing in our quest to improve the health system. Research is policy-making. We can only make informed decisions based on verifiable data—what works and what doesn’t—not on imagination,” she stated.

She attributed systemic failures to a dire human resource gap worsened by the “Japa syndrome,” inadequate recruitment, and reliance on unpaid volunteers. “Some of our skilled workers are volunteering without pay. Some support staff in PHCs are not trained at all. Yet primary healthcare is the first point of contact for most Nigerians,” she noted.

While acknowledging task shifting as an unavoidable strategy given workforce shortages, Dr. Fasawe insisted it must be implemented responsibly. “Task shifting cannot be stopped because of the human resource shortage. But it must have clear boundaries, supervision, and training,” she affirmed.

Dr. Ayomah, the study’s lead researcher, echoed these concerns, noting that “Nigeria continues to lead global charts in maternal deaths, and it is terrifying.” He urged increased political will, funding, and the formal employment of currently unpaid community health workers to strengthen primary care delivery.

The symposium concluded with a consensus: with strategic task shifting, empowered health workers, and committed leadership, Nigeria can reverse its maternal health crisis.

FCT Orders Emergency School Closure By Friday Over Security Threats

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

ABUJA – The Federal Capital Territory Administration has directed all government schools in Abuja to conclude academic activities and close indefinitely by Friday, November 28, 2025, following urgent security advisories.

The directive, issued through the FCT Education Secretariat and circulated to all principals and heads of government schools, mandates immediate suspension of the ongoing first term examinations and safe dismissal of students.

According to an official memo from Aishatu Sani Alhassan, Director of School Services at the FCT Secondary Education Board, school administrators have been instructed to treat the directive as “serious and urgent” and ensure all students are safely dispatched home before the weekend.

The emergency measure comes amid escalating security concerns across the country, particularly following recent mass abductions of students in Niger and Kebbi states. The first term examinations, which were scheduled to commence on Wednesday, November 26, will now be compressed into a three-day window to accommodate the early closure.

Security analysts have noted increased threat intelligence pointing to potential attacks on educational institutions in the region, prompting the preventive action by FCT authorities.

This development follows similar precautionary school closures in Bauchi State last week and reflects growing anxiety among state governments about the spreading pattern of school-targeted violence by armed groups.

Parents and guardians are advised to make immediate arrangements for their children’s return home as schools complete final examinations and begin closure procedures.

Follow NewsFocus for continuing coverage of this developing security situation.

Digital Health Now an “Emergency Priority” as FG Unveils Nationwide Data Integration Plan

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

ABUJA – The Federal Government has declared digital health transformation an urgent national priority, announcing a comprehensive plan to integrate health records and data systems across all levels of Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure.

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made the declaration on Tuesday while addressing health information professionals at the 44th Scientific Conference of the Association of Health Records and Information Management Practitioners of Nigeria (AHRIMPN).

“No health system can be optimally impactful without reliable information and efficient data management for evidence-based decision-making,” Salako stated. “Digital health is now an emergency priority for Nigeria’s health sector renewal.”

The Minister revealed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has positioned digital innovation as a central pillar of its healthcare transformation agenda, with immediate focus on electronic health records, national data harmonization, and establishing a national health information exchange.

Five-Point Digital Reform Agenda

Salako outlined a collaborative five-point strategic reform plan with AHRIMPN:

1. Complete digitization and integration of health records across primary to tertiary care facilities
2. Standardization of health data systems to ensure interoperability and quality assurance
3. Capacity building in data analytics, artificial intelligence, and health informatics
4. Policy support for career progression and professional recognition of health information managers
5. Research collaboration to strengthen national health statistics and innovation

“Digital transformation is not about replacing human expertise; it is about amplifying it,” the Minister emphasized, noting that the initiative aims to equip every health worker from remote primary centers to advanced hospitals with digital tools.

Salako challenged health information professionals to embrace emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Medical Things, urging them to “acquire knowledge in innovative technologies transforming healthcare.”

The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting AHRIMPN and the Health Records Officers Registration Board of Nigeria in strengthening professional standards, improving welfare, and promoting ethical data security practices.

“Together, let us harness innovation and technology to secure a healthier, more resilient future for our people,” Salako concluded, signaling the administration’s determination to bridge Nigeria’s digital health gap.

FCTA Purges ‘Ghost Workers,’ Digitalizes Promotion Exams in Service Reform Push

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

ABUJA – The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has launched a dual reform initiative, removing absconded workers from its payroll while institutionalizing computer-based promotion testing for its 8,000-strong workforce.

FCT Civil Service Commission Chairman Engr. Emeka Eze announced the measures Tuesday during the latest round of digital promotion examinations, signaling a decisive shift toward modernizing the territory’s civil service.

“Some people are not really ghosts but they have absconded from duty,” Eze stated, drawing a clear distinction between fraudulent ghost workers and employees who have abandoned their positions. “If you absconded from duty, it means that you are no longer working.”

The five-day Computer-Based Test (CBT) exercise represents the administration’s commitment to ensuring staff possess essential digital competencies for contemporary governance. Eze revealed substantial investments in ICT training programs, with corresponding expectations for enhanced service delivery.

Acting Head of Service Nancy Sabanti-Nathan confirmed the permanence of the digital examination system despite technical challenges encountered during implementation. “On your question whether it has come to stay, yes, it has come to stay,” she affirmed. “Challenges are always there with us but we always find a way around them.”

The official explained the system’s flexibility, noting that examination timers activate only when candidates begin their tests, ensuring equitable conditions for all participants. She emphasized there would be “no going back to the old regime,” underscoring the administration’s determination to modernize workforce assessment.

Eze concurrently appealed for establishment of a dedicated FCT-owned CBT center to address logistical constraints, highlighting the need for infrastructure to support the digital transition.

Wike Sets June 2026 Deadline for Abuja-Kuje Road, Hails Project’s Economic Impact

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

KUJE, FCT – The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has announced that the long-delayed Abuja-Kuje Road project will be completed and delivered by June 2026, marking a significant milestone in the FCT’s infrastructure development agenda.

During an inspection tour of ongoing construction on Tuesday, the Minister expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the contractor, Arab Contractors, confirming that the company has recommitted to the revised timeline after years of stalled progress.

“We are very impressed with the level of work and the quality of job being carried out by Arab Contractors,” Wike stated. “They have promised to keep to their agreement, and by the grace of God, June next year they will hand over that road. It is a very major milestone.”

The project, originally awarded in 2019, faced significant delays exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Minister Wike revealed that upon assuming office, the contractor was not on site, but intervention by the current administration has revitalized the project.


“When we came on board, the contractor was not on site,” he recalled. “During our interaction with stakeholders, one of the major requests was the return of the contractors. Today, the residents are happy, and we are also happy with the progress.”

The Minister also inspected the dualization of the Kuje-Gwagwalada road, handled by Gilmore Engineering, noting that the company is executing the continuation from its previous work phase. “The work is going on very well,” he observed. “If we keep to our own promise, 70% to 80% of the job will be completed within the scheduled time.”

Wike emphasized the transformative potential of both corridors for the FCT’s economic landscape, noting that the completed roads will create direct connectivity between Kuje and Gwagwalada, eliminating the need for travelers to navigate through the Airport Road.

“These two major projects will change the economic life and activities of this area and of the FCT in general,” the Minister affirmed.

Wike Orders Major Security Surge in Abuja, Deploys Joint Operation Squad

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

ABUJA – The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has ordered a comprehensive security reinforcement across the nation’s capital, authorizing the immediate deployment of a joint military and police task force to bolster surveillance and combat rising criminal activities.

The operation, which includes personnel from the military, police, Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies, is designed to intensify patrols and strengthen security at all border points and entryways into the FCT.

Addressing the newly formed “Operation Sweep” squad on Tuesday, FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Miller Dantawaye, emphasized that the initiative aims to foster operational synergy and decisively eliminate crime, particularly as the yuletide season approaches.

CP Dantawaye confirmed that Minister Wike has provided full logistical support for the mission, stating: “The FCT minister has given complete support, especially in terms of logistics for this operation. I am sure that by the time we’ll be leaving here later, the funds for fueling, servicing of vehicles, and even allowances for the men will have dropped into an account that we can access.”

The Police Commissioner, who was joined by other heads of security agencies, also disclosed that the Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police have granted formal approval for the operation, which will focus on areas identified as vulnerable to kidnapping and banditry.

On the issue of street begging, CP Dantawaye revealed that security agencies are collaborating with relevant FCTA departments to address the menace, noting that some criminals often disguise themselves as beggars.

“We’re going to profile them and see those we will take off the streets that are criminally minded, even if they claim they are beggars,” he said, adding that legal procedures are being finalized to support the evacuation of street beggars from the city.

Wike Orders Comprehensive Security Surge as Joint Taskforce Begins Citywide Operations

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

…Operation Sweep Targets Kidnapping Hotspots, Border Routes Ahead of Yuletide

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has ordered an extensive security reinforcement across Abuja, directing enhanced surveillance at the territory’s borders with neighbouring states and all major entry points.

In line with the directive, a coordinated joint taskforceb comprising the military, police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies—has been deployed under the newly activated Operation Sweep.

Addressing the operatives on Tuesday, the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Miller Dantawaye, said the operation underscores a renewed commitment to dismantling criminal networks and restoring public confidence in safety measures across the territory.

Dantawaye said the Minister had provided full logistical backing to ensure the success of the operation, noting that Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police had also given necessary approvals.

“As we speak, His Excellency the FCT Minister has given complete support, particularly in logistics,” the CP said. “Funding for fueling, servicing of vehicles and allowances for officers has already been secured to ensure this operation runs without hindrance.”

He noted that the taskforce had been mandated to concentrate on communities vulnerable to kidnapping, banditry, and other violent crimes, especially as the yuletide season approaches.

On the growing presence of street beggars within the city centre, Dantawaye said security agencies were working closely with relevant departments of the FCTA to address the menace, adding that many criminal elements disguise as beggars to evade detection.

“We cannot allow people to loiter under the guise of begging,” he said. “Those arrested around black spots will be profiled, because some come into the city with criminal intent.”

He added that the evacuation of genuine beggars would follow due legal processes in collaboration with Abuja’s environmental authorities.

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