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NSCDC Promotes Grassroots Security, Community-Based Intelligence

NSCDC Promotes Grassroots Security, Community-Based Intelligence

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has reiterated its commitment to the  strengthening  of grassroots security and community-based intelligence across the country as tools for tackling insecurity.

The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Prof. Ahmed Audi, gave the commitment during his working visit of Anambra State as part of his continued strategic operational tour of the South East.

Audi, who was received by the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo, noted that his visit was aimed at assessing the welfare of personnel, understanding field challenges, and reinforcing the Corps’ operational capacity in the region.

The Commandant General commended the governor for his administration’s proactive efforts in maintaining peace and stability. He also solicited greater logistical and infrastructural support to enhance the NSCDC’s performance in the state.

He said: “Security must begin from the grassroots. That is where the people live, work, and build the future. The Corps remains resolute in delivering quality service and ensuring that the confidence of Nigerians, particularly Ndi Anambra, in our operations is not misplaced.”

Soludo, in his response, commended the NSCDC for its professionalism, discipline, and resilience, especially in safeguarding critical national assets and public infrastructure.

He said: “Here in Anambra, the Light of the Nation, our greatest asset is our people: creative, enterprising, and innovative. They are the engine of our economy. Ensuring their safety and prosperity is a shared responsibility, and we appreciate the NSCDC for standing firm in that mission.”

The governor pledged continued partnership and support for the Corps, affirming that security remains the foundation for the state’s economic growth and innovation-driven development.

 The Commandant General’s tour of Anambra is part of a nationwide operational assessment aimed at improving welfare, operational readiness, and synergy among security stakeholders. It underscores the NSCDC’s renewed focus on community trust, proactive engagement, and service excellence under Prof. Audi’s leadership.

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Michael Olugbode in Abuja The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has reiterated its commitment to the  strengthening  of grassroots security and community-based intelligence across the country as tools for tackling insecurity.

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Weak Frameworks, Multiple Taxation Hindrances to Telecom Sector Growth, Says Edun

Weak Frameworks, Multiple Taxation Hindrances to Telecom Sector Growth, Says Edun

Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, has identified weak frameworks and multiple taxation as factors hindering the growth of the telecoms sector, assuring that the government would address the challenges through stakeholder engagements.
Edun made the disclosure at the Business Roundtable on Investments in Broadband Connectivity and Safeguarding Critical National Information Infrastructure.
The event was organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in Abuja on Wednesday, with the theme, “Right of Way and Protection of Broadband Infrastructure: The Road to Success in Broadband Investment and Connectivity.”
The minister who was represented by the Director, Home Finance in his ministry, Dr. Ali Mohammed, called on the private sector to increase investments in the Telecom industry
“This sector is virtually vulnerable. It is compact, and therefore we are calling for our local and international investors to come forward so that we can invest in this particular sector. Government alone cannot do it. We need the cooperation and collaboration of the private sector.
“Of course, problems have been identified in terms of connectivity and broadband infrastructure development in Nigeria. “These problems are quite many, but they are not something that we cannot sort of solve some of these problems; we have the problem of weak framework, and we have too many taxations
“So, there is need for stakeholders to come together and deal with this particular problem,” he said.
Also, speaking, the Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq who was represented by the Director General of the NGF, Abdulateef Shittu, stated that the governors were fully in support of the country’s digital transformation.
“We fully support the national commitment to raise broadband penetration to 80% by 2027. Achieving this will require an additional 95,000 kilometers of fiber-optic cable across Nigeria, which the minister of Digital Economy has alluded to,” he noted.
On his part, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, noted that the earlier approved increase in telecom tariffs has attracted $1 billion
“Earlier this year, the Commission approved the application of tariff rates that are both cost-reflective and competitive within the telecommunications industry. This strategic regulatory intervention has significantly strengthened investors’ confidence in the Nigerian telecommunications sector.
“I can confirm to you that operators have made collective commitment to investing over $1 billion in additional rollout investments to expand broadband coverage and capacity nationwide.”
The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu who was represented by the Director I Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Protection Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), AVM Enebong Effiom, noted that, “The NGF can play a pivotal role by fostering consistency, consensus among states, encouraging compliance through peer engagement, and aligning state policies with national broadband objectives. “The forum can also facilitate dialogue to all regulated broadband concerns that hinder digital inclusion and infrastructure growth.”

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Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, has identified weak frameworks and multiple taxation as factors hindering the growth of

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Chinese Scientists Perform First Pig-to-Human Liver Transplant

Chinese Scientists Perform First Pig-to-Human Liver Transplant

Resachers said Medics have sucessfully transplanted a pig liver into a human in a world first.

The patient, a 71-year-old man, lived for almost half a year after the procedure.

The man’s own liver had irreversible scarring caused by a hepatitis B infection and liver cancer.

As a result, he was not eligible for a human liver transplant.

This is the first time that a liver from a genetically-modified pig has been transplanted in a human for “therapeutic purposes”.

Two cases have previously been reported in brain dead patients as part of preparatory work.

Writing in the Journal of Hepatology, researchers said they have found that genetically modified pig livers can support key metabolic and synthetic functions in humans.

Scientists in China described how they implanted an “auxiliary graft” from a genetically modified Diannan miniature pig, these gene edits were designed to enhance organ compatibility.

For the first month, medics found that the graft functioned effectively.

But on day 38, the graft was removed following complications linked to the transplant a condition called xenotransplantation-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (xTMA).

Researchers reported that treatment resolved the xTMA, but in spite of this the patient died 171 days after the transplant.

“This case proves that a genetically engineered pig liver can function in a human for an extended period,” said lead investigator Dr Beicheng Sun, from the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University in China’s Anhui Province.

“It is a pivotal step forward, demonstrating both the promise and the remaining hurdles, particularly regarding coagulation dysregulation and immune complications, that must be overcome.”

In an accompanying editorial, Dr Heiner Wedemeyer, co-editor of the Journal, said: “This report is a landmark in hepatology,it shows that a genetically modified porcine liver can engraft and deliver key hepatic functions in a human recipient.

“At the same time, it highlights the biological and ethical challenges that remain before such approaches can be translated into wider clinical use.

“Xenotransplantation may open completely new paths for patients with acute liver failure, acute-on-chronic liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma. A new era of transplant hepatology has started.”

When a human receives an organ, tissue or cells from an animal, it is known as a xenotransplant.

Pigs are the most promising donor animals due to the availability of pig, gene-editing technology, plus their size and similarities to human organs.

Overcoming the rejection of pig organs by the human immune system has been a complex challenge for more than four decades.

But gene-editing technology and new techniques to suppress the immune system have shown promise in several recent experiments.

The first person in the world to have a heart transplant from a genetically modified pig was David Bennett.

The operation took place in 2022 and the 57-year-old died two months after the procedure, which took place at the University of Maryland Medical Centre in the U.S.

The first recipient of a genetically-modified pig kidney transplant died nearly two months after he underwent the procedure.

Richard Slayman had the transplant at Massachusetts General Hospital in 2024 at the age of 62.(dpa/NAN)

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Resachers said Medics have sucessfully transplanted a pig liver into a human in a world first. The patient, a 71-year-old man, lived for almost half a year after the procedure.

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UN Chief Urges Compliance After Israel-Hamas Agreement on Gaza

UN Chief Urges Compliance After Israel-Hamas Agreement on Gaza

United National Secretary General António Guterres has called on all parties to adhere to the reached agreement between Israel and Hamas on the first phase of a U.S.-backed Gaza peace plan.

“All hostages must be released in a dignified manner. A permanent ceasefire must be secured,” Guterres said in a statement on X on Thursday, urging an end to fighting and immediate, unhindered access for humanitarian aid into Gaza. “The suffering must end” he added.

Guterres praised diplomatic efforts by the United States, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey, which helped broker the deal at talks in the Egyptian coastal resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

The United Nations would support full implementation of the agreement, expand humanitarian aid and assist reconstruction efforts in Gaza, Guterres said.

The UN chief also encouraged both sides to seize this momentous opportunity to advance a two-state solution that would allow Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security. “The stakes have never been higher,” he said.

The two-state solution envisages an independent Palestinian state coexisting peacefully alongside Israel.

Both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas currently rejected such an outcome. (dpa/NAN)

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United National Secretary General António Guterres has called on all parties to adhere to the reached agreement between Israel and Hamas on the first phase of a U.S.-backed Gaza peace

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Benue Procures Medical Equipment for  Teaching Hospital

Benue Procures Medical Equipment for  Teaching Hospital

George Okoh in Makurdi

The Benue State Government, through the United International Technologies (UIT), yesterday delivered the third tranche of medical and non-medical equipment to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) in Makurdi.

The latest delivery is part of the contractual agreement with the Benue State Government to equip BSUTH as a centre of medical excellence and a medical tourism hub among Nigeria’s leading tertiary health institutions.

While delivering the pieces of equipment, the state Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Beatrice Tsavbu, represented by the permanent secretary of the ministry, commended the state Governor, Hyacinth Alia’s administration for its commitment to strengthening the healthcare system through massive investments in infrastructure and human resources.

She lauded the choice of Dr. Terungwa Stephen Hwande as the Chief Medical Director, noting that his innovative leadership continues to drive the hospital toward excellence. 

She also praised UIT for maintaining high-quality standards in every phase of the equipment supply and installation.

In his remarks, the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Stephen Hwande, appreciated Governor Alia for his transformational leadership and unwavering support of the hospital. He described the gesture as another milestone in BSUTH’s journey toward world-class healthcare delivery.

Hwande noted that with the arrival of the high-end equipment, BSUTH is now positioned to compete favourably with other teaching hospitals across Africa while reducing unnecessary medical tourism abroad.

The CMD also used the opportunity to inform the world of the second International Health Investment Summit and Scientific Exhibition of BSUTH scheduled for October 16 and 17, 2025, at the BSUTH Cafeteria, Makurdi.

He said the summit would evaluate the progress of the governor’s health sector reforms and provide a roadmap for sustainable development in the health industry.

The equipment supplied was meant for the Hematology Department, Chemical Pathology, Microbiology Department, Anatomical Department, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Obstetrics and Gynecology, Surgery, Radiology, VIP Clinic, Anaesthesia, and Ophthalmology Department. The equipment was handed over to the various heads of department for installation and immediate usage.

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George Okoh in Makurdi The Benue State Government, through the United International Technologies (UIT), yesterday delivered the third tranche of medical and non-medical equipment to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital

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Tinubu Inaugurates $400m Nigeria’s First Indigenous Crude Export Terminal in Rivers

Tinubu Inaugurates $400m Nigeria’s First Indigenous Crude Export Terminal in Rivers

•Says facility signals renewed hope in N’Delta, $5bn Energy Bank set to takeoff  

•Komolafe discloses local players account for over 30% oil output  

•1m barrels of  export operations already concluded, says GEIL chair

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu yesterday commissioned the $400 million Green Energy International Limited (GEIL) crude oil export terminal in Otakikpo, Rivers State, the first by any Nigerian company, and the only one built in the country in over 50 years.

Speaking at the event, the President said that the project represented a new chapter in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and aligned directly with the core priorities of his administration to ramp up crude oil production by enabling a secure, transparent, and efficient evacuation system.

Tinubu stated that the Otakikpo terminal will not only serve GEIL’s production, but will also open an efficient evacuation outlet for marginal and stranded fields across the Niger Delta region, unlocking billions of barrels of reserves and creating value for the economy.

Represented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Tinubu stressed that the project was also a shining example of his government’s expectation of current licensees. He noted that having provided what he described as ‘global competitive fiscals and incentives’, his expectation and hopes were that they will put fields to work to meet set obligations.

On the Ogoni and federal government peace resolution, he stressed that only recently, the government, working with the people of the area and other stakeholders in Rivers State, reached a deal to pave the way for the resumption of oil exploration activities in Ogoni land.

Describing it as a significant breakthrough, Tinubu stated that it reflects Nigeria’s collective commitment to dialogue, mutual respect, and sustainable development, explaining that the Otakikpo terminal is therefore not just an infrastructure project, but a signal of renewed confidence in Rivers State and the Niger Delta.

“Today’s commissioning is more than just opening of a terminal, it is a testament of Nigeria’s resilience and commitment, a new era of indigenous participation, and progress in our oil and gas sector,” he added.

Speaking on financing challenges in the oil and gas sector, the President stated that that era will soon be over, assuring that the $5 billion African Energy Bank (AEB) was about to commence operations and will ease the difficulty in getting funding.

“Let me also assure Green Energy that the era of perhaps looking elsewhere for finance will soon be over. We have discovered that the biggest challenge we have in Africa is access to finance. And that was why we’ve come up with the African Energy Bank, which is ready to go.

“Nigeria as the host country has met its obligations. We have met all our obligations, whether legal or financial. We have met all our obligations. We are waiting for the bank to take off, which I think will take off any moment from now,” Tinubu stated.

According to the President, another big issue in the oil sector is evacuation of crude oil, noting that the new 750,000 barrels facility expandable to 3 million barrels, will help ameliorate such existing problems.

He also cautioned against holding on to oil licences eternally without doing any serious field work, stressing that that era was also over for good.

“There is always a minimum work obligation. The minimum work obligation must be met by all those who have marginal licenses. If you don’t have capacity to do it, you better go and look for something else to do instead of wasting your time in oil and gas,” he warned.

Also speaking, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, described the terminal as historic on two levels, explaining that apart from expanding Nigeria’s crude export infrastructure at a critical time, it demonstrates the capacity of Nigerian operators to deliver world-class projects.

Komolafe expressed the view that the Otakikpo terminal project was in alignment with the country’s current 1.8 million barrels per day national crude oil near-term production projection and the need for efficient evacuation.

By creating an alternative export hub in Rivers State, Komolafe emphasised that the Otakikpo terminal reduces over-reliance on existing terminals, many of which are already operating at near capacity and are exposed to security and pipeline issues.

According to him, the industry’s indigenous operators have evolved to the stage of accounting for 30 per cent of the national production, a testament to how Nigerians were taking over the oil and gas sector.

“Also it is of benefit for indigenous producers. In the past,  Nigeria independents had to rely heavily on infrastructure owned by international oil companies often at high crude oil handling charges and transportation costs. In this situation we are all aspiring to reduce the unit cost per barrel.

 “The rise of indigenous terminals such as Otakikpo terminal will change that dynamic and give local companies direct control over evacuation. This will not only improve margins but also reduce delays and strengthen their overall competitiveness,” he added.

In his remarks, the Chairman and Chief Executive of GEIL, Prof. Anthony Adegbulugbe, said the storage capacity of the terminal is currently 750,000 barrels, which is expandable to 3 million barrels.

Besides, he disclosed that the facility has a pumping capacity of 360,000 barrels per day, pointing out that since June 2025, the company has completed four export operations, totalling 1 million barrels of crude oil.

Beyond the numbers, the terminal, Adegbulugbe said, is a catalyst for national renewal as it opens the door for more than 40 stranded fields in the region, with over 3 million barrels of reserves, long held back by a lack of export infrastructure.

According to him, the fields alone could contribute more than 200,000 barrels per day to the country’s production.

“This terminal is not just another infrastructure project. It is the realisation of a vision that says Nigeria can lead. That Nigerian companies can deliver. That our energy future is ours to define. I am proud to state that this facility was conceived, designed, and delivered 100 per cent by Nigerian talent. From engineering to construction, it reflects the depth of expertise and capacity that resides in our nation.

“This should give us all confidence: Nigerian innovation can drive Nigerian success; indigenous operators can execute world-class projects with excellence, within budget, and ahead of schedule,” Adegbulugbe stressed.

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•Says facility signals renewed hope in N’Delta, $5bn Energy Bank set to takeoff   •Komolafe discloses local players account for over 30% oil output   •1m barrels of  export operations already concluded,