By Iloke Egbe
The Global Fund, through its implementing partner KNCV, has donated five sets of portable digital X-ray machines to the Cross River State Government to strengthen tuberculosis (TB) detection and control efforts.
The equipment was handed over at the State Planning Commission, New Secretariat Complex, Calabar.
Receiving the items on behalf of the government, the Commissioner for International Donor Coordination, Elder Dr. Hippolatus Ogar Lukpata, expressed appreciation for the support, describing it as timely and strategic in the state’s drive to eliminate TB and related diseases.
He said the donation would boost early diagnosis, improve access to screening services, and enhance overall disease surveillance across communities.
Lukpata, however, stressed the need for sustainability, calling for continuous training of health personnel on the operation and maintenance of the equipment to ensure optimal use and longevity.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to partnering development agencies to improve healthcare delivery and reduce the burden of communicable diseases.
Month: February 2026
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Global Fund, KNCV Donate Portable Digital X-Ray Machines to Cross River
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NG-CARES Prioritises Poor, Vulnerable – Egbelo
By Iloke Egbe
The Cross River State Coordinator of the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES), Chief Henry Egbelo, has reaffirmed that the programme targets the poor, vulnerable and less privileged as its primary beneficiaries.
Egbelo spoke in Calabar while declaring open a two-day training for technical staff of the State CARES Coordinating Unit (SCCU) and other delivery platforms. The workshop held at Dannic Hotel, Ekorinim.
He said impactful programmes depend not only on sound design but on the capacity of those implementing them. According to him, strengthening institutional competence is key to delivering measurable results under NG-CARES 2.0.
The workshop, themed “Strengthening Institutional Capacity for Results-Based Performance, Accountability and Sustainable Service Delivery,” was convened to review programme progress and align delivery units with approved work plans.
Presentations focused on governance structure, reporting and documentation, knowledge management, and Independent Verification Agent (IVA) protocols and reimbursement procedures.
Other sessions addressed stakeholder management, environmental and social safeguards compliance, financial management and retirement of advances, public sector governance, and the Results-Based Project Management framework.
Participants described the training as impactful, commending the facilitators for their practical insights and clarity.
Facilitators included former Permanent Secretary, Chief Patrick Agida; Dr. Bethel Ewung; Mr. Fidel Udie; Mr. Samuel Terrance; and Mr. Tony Atah.
Delivery platforms represented were Labour Intensive Public Workfare, State Cash Transfer Unit, Community and Social Development Agency, FADAMA, Medium and Small Enterprises, and the State Operations Coordinating Unit. Heads of units and technical staff were in attendance. -
Increase in Inmate Population Strains Feeding Budget – NCoS boss
By BANNERNEWS Reporter
The Controller-General of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Nwakuche, has warned that the rising population of inmates across the country is exerting enormous pressure on the Service’s annual feeding budget.
Nwakuche disclosed that awaiting trial inmates account for 64 per cent of the total custodial population, further stretching limited resources meant for inmate welfare and facility management.
He spoke on Wednesday while defending the agency’s 2025 budget performance and presenting its 2026 estimates before the House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions in Abuja.
The Controller-General said N14.83 billion has been earmarked in the 2026 budget proposal to feed an estimated 91,100 inmates nationwide, based on a daily feeding rate of N1,125 per inmate.
He noted that the feeding allocation forms part of a proposed N50.40 billion recurrent overhead expenditure for the 2026 fiscal year, amid growing concerns over overcrowding driven largely by awaiting trial cases.
As of February 9, 2026, Nwakuche said the total inmate population stood at 80,812, comprising 51,955 awaiting trial inmates, 24,913 convicted inmates and 3,850 others under different detention categories.
He stressed that the Service is obligated to provide adequate nutrition in line with the United Nations Minimum Standard Rules for the Treatment of Offenders, describing inmate feeding as both critical and resource-intensive.
Reviewing 2025 performance, Nwakuche said the Service received a total appropriation of N184.63 billion, out of which N27.28 billion — representing 71.7 per cent of released overhead funds — was spent on feeding. However, outstanding liabilities for food rations stood at N10.75 billion.
He added that personnel costs for 2025 amounted to N124.31 billion, with N112.68 billion, or 90.6 per cent, released and fully utilised for salaries, pensions and health insurance under the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System. Operational expenses consumed N6.49 billion for staff training, court duties, electricity, security and maintenance.
Capital expenditure recorded the weakest performance, as only N3.22 billion of the N14.50 billion appropriated — 22.2 per cent — was released, leaving N11.27 billion outstanding for projects including facility rehabilitation, vehicles, security equipment and ICT deployment.
For 2026, the Service proposed a total budget of N198.85 billion, including N138.30 billion for personnel costs to cover 37,541 staff under four salary structures. Nwakuche also sought an additional N90.38 billion to raise capital allocation to about N100.50 billion and requested N37.99 billion to implement non-custodial measures across the 774 local government areas.
Earlier, Committee Chairman Hon. Chinedu Ogah described the NCoS as vital to national security but lamented chronic underfunding and dilapidated infrastructure, noting that many custodial centres are over a century old. He urged presidential assent to the Correctional Service Trust Fund Bill to ease pressure on federal facilities and assured that the committee would thoroughly scrutinise the 2026 proposal before concluding deliberations.
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Otu’s Investments in Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishery Ecosystem are Economic Pillars – Elder Lukpata
Iloke Egbe
The Commissioner, Ministry of International Donor Coordination, Elder Hippolatus Ogar Lukpata has described the strategic Investment of the State Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu in the Agriculture, Forestry and the Fishery Ecosystems value chain as the main pillars of the State economy, adding that it has created significant employment which has reduced unemployment amongst the State population.
He asserted this when he declared open a three day Training Workshop organized by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and United Kingdom Partnership for Accelerated Climate Transition (UK-PACT) for multi-layer stakeholders at Jorany Hotel, Asari Eso Calabar.
He acknowledged that there are many necessary tools that are brought together in the workshop and the intention is to mobilize resources, skills and innovations on a large scale to shape Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery Ecosystem sub-sectors to provide a platform for dialogue which will facilitate effective business negotiations for the establishment of Public-private Partnership that strengthen and promote sustainable development in the sectors.
He admitted that the theme of the workshop which is Facilitating Business Negotiation, Market Linkages, Access to Production Resources, Contract Farming, Value Chain Financing, and Public-private Partnership for Agricultural Development in Cross River State as pivotal in consolidating the already economic access created by the present administration.
The event brought together Stakeholders from fifty communities within the five (5) Local Government around the State Mangrove Forest belt, some Banks, Insurance companies, Corporate Affairs Commission, CRS Forestry Commission, relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies. Others were the private sectors include Civil Society Organizations and Cooperative Societies, members of the Traditional Rulers Council and the academia to speak together and foster measures to de-risk Agriculture and reduce the challenges associated with Agriculture loans.
He expressed his appreciation to FAO and UK-PACT for organizing the workshop while urging participants to should interest through their comportment during the proceedings and participate actively in all sessions of the training, adding that attendance indicates serious work done by the organizers.
In her remarks, the State Coordinator, UK-PACT Dr. Nifesimi Ogunkua chronicled the progress of the project since its inception emphasizing on the contributions and achievements recorded. She called on Cross Riverians to preserve their God given inheritance which includes the Mangrove Forest to enhance carbon sequencing which will be of great benefit to the State.
She reiterated that the importance of Cross River Mangrove Forest to the world can’t be overemphasized hence the provisions of alternative livelihood support programs to the immediate communities to reduce pressure on the Mangrove Forest, adding that more training and empowerment will be rolled out to include beefarming, mushrooms and snails farming all at no cost to the beneficiaries.
According to Mrs. Ogunkua, the globe is a one world and whatever happens to one part of the world affects other parts and the people, therefore, it’s important to protect the Mangrove Forest, stating that Mangrove absorbs carbon five times higher than the normal tree or Forest, while assuring that in the nearest future the State will start receiving payment from carbon as fifteen thousand hecters of land has been restored and it’s ongoing efforts.
Some of the lead facilitators were Prof. Adebayo Shittu, Prof. Emmanuel Attoe, Mr. Emmanuel Orok, Chief Ndem Effiong, Mr. Ekanem Okon Asuquo, Mr George Ogbe, Mrs. Christiana Ebebe Adinye. Others are Dr. Mojisola Kehinde, Mr. Kuffreh Jackson Ibagha, Dr Okon Asuquo and Mr. Effiom Otu Effiwatt. And featured paper presentations, technical sessions, breakout sessions and plenary.
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Vigilante Accused of Driving Nail into Zaria Youth’s Head
By BANNERNEWS Reporter
ZARIA—Two vigilante members have been accused of driving a 5-inch nail into the head of 20-year-old Aliyu Nuhu, in a shocking case of alleged corporal punishment.
The victim’s father, Mallam Salisu Nuhu, popularly known as Babande, said his son was sent to the market to sell one of their chickens when he was apprehended by the vigilantes, who suspected him of theft.
“I later learnt that while selling the chicken, the vigilante members arrested him, accused him of stealing, and subjected him to extreme interrogation,” Babande said. “They went as far as hammering a 5-inch nail into his head.”
Babande, a motor mechanic, explained that when he returned home in the evening, his son had not come back. While inquiring about him, a vigilante member summoned him to their office in Anguwar Sirdi, Limancin Kona Ward, Zaria.
“On arrival, I was told my son was arrested for theft, but seeing him in that condition was heartbreaking,” Babande recalled. “They demanded a bail fee of five thousand naira. I told them I had no money, so they allowed me to take my son home and bring the money the next day.”
Upon returning home, Babande discovered the wound and learned from his son that the nail was still lodged in his head. The father rushed his son back to the vigilante office, insisting on treatment. They first visited a private chemist, who referred them to Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) in Shika. Babande said they also obtained a covering letter from the Zaria Police Division before admission, spending over eight hundred thousand naira on treatment.
Aliyu Nuhu, the victim, identified Mallam Nuhu Dan Banga as the vigilante responsible. “I asked them to call my father to confirm the chicken belonged to us, but they refused and continued the interrogation. I fainted when Nuhu Dan Banga hammered the nail into my head. It stayed there for 13 days before surgery removed it,” he said.
The Divisional Police Officer of Zaria City, Nura Abubakar, confirmed the arrest of one suspect. “One of the suspects has been apprehended, while the other is still at large. As soon as he is caught, we will prosecute them in court,” he assured. -
NAPTIP Rescues Seven Trafficking Victims in Kano Hotel Raid
By BANNERNEWS Reporter
KANO—Seven victims of human trafficking have been rescued in Sabon Gati, Kano State, after the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) raided a local hotel.
NAPTIP Zonal Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Habib, told journalists that the victims, aged between 21 and 24, were trafficked from southern Nigeria and brought to Kano as a transit point before being sent to Baghdad, Iraq, for labour exploitation.
Two suspects were arrested during the operation. Investigations revealed that the victims were sponsored by a woman identified as the prime suspect, who acted in collusion with a man currently at large. The victims were reportedly required to repay all expenses, plus a profit, after working abroad.
“The rescued individuals are now under NAPTIP custody in Kano, receiving counselling and rehabilitation,” Habib said. He added that the suspects would be prosecuted upon conclusion of the investigations.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling human trafficking networks and urged communities to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.
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Utuhu Junction Tension: Police Recover Assault Rifles, Launch Investigation in Obanliku
By BANNERNEWS Reporter
The Cross River State Police Command has clarified circumstances surrounding a tense confrontation between its operatives and youths at Utuhu Junction in Obanliku Local Government Area, which led to injuries, the temporary loss of police firearms and heightened public concern.
According to the command, the incident occurred during a lawful operation to arrest suspects linked to a reported case of assault occasioning harm, contrary to online claims that the police action was connected to illegal gambling.
The police said the case was reported by one Elizabeth Akinya, while suspects involved include Peter Odey, also known as “Ola,” Michael Ashaba, and others still at large.
The confrontation, the command explained, took place on February 9, 2026, at about 2pm, when the suspects allegedly resisted arrest, mobilised youths in the area and attacked the police team.
During the attack, the suspects were said to have forcefully dispossessed the officers of two assault rifles, an action the police described as a serious threat to public safety within the community.
In an effort to prevent the escape of the armed suspects and recover the stolen firearms, one of the suspects, Peter Odey, reportedly sustained a gunshot injury and was immediately taken to Sacred Heart Hospital, Obudu, for medical treatment.
The police further disclosed that three officers who sustained injuries during the clash were rushed to the General Hospital, Sankwala, for treatment.
With the intervention of military tactical teams, community leaders and relevant government authorities, the command said the two assault rifles were successfully recovered, the patrol vehicle retrieved and normalcy restored in the area.
The command added that an internal investigation has been launched into the incident, stressing that no police officer involved is above the law.
Residents of the area were urged to remain calm, refrain from speculation and allow due process to take its course, as the police assured that further updates would be provided as investigations continue. -
Passengers Abducted as Gunmen Attack Sienna Bus, Others on Kogi Highway
By BANNERNEWS Reporter
Passengers travelling in three vehicles, including a commercial Sienna bus, were on Monday evening abducted by gunmen along the Ejule–Alloma highway in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, with injured victims abandoned at the scene.
The incident occurred at about 5pm near Government Secondary School, Alloma, as the vehicles were heading towards Enugu from their respective departure points, eyewitnesses said.
According to witnesses, the convoy ran into an ambush by armed men who opened fire on the vehicles, forcing them to stop before herding several passengers into the bush.
An eyewitness told BANNERNEWS that gunshots fired at the vehicles left some passengers with varying degrees of gunshot injuries, while others were forcefully taken away by the attackers.
He said soldiers later arrived at the scene and evacuated victims who could not be taken into the forest due to injuries or death, while security operatives commenced a search-and-rescue operation in the surrounding bushes.
A security source, however, gave a clearer account, stating that at about 1700hrs on February 9, 2026, a Sienna bus, a jeep and a Honda Accord conveying passengers from Ejule to Enugu were attacked by gunmen.
The source disclosed that four passengers travelling in the Sienna bus were kidnapped, while occupants of the Honda Accord and the jeep sustained injuries and were rushed to the Comprehensive Hospital, Alloma, where they are currently receiving treatment.
“Bush combing is ongoing with the combined efforts of the Army, Police and local vigilantes,” the source added.
Meanwhile, the Operation Commander of the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS), Idah Area Command, Kassim Itodo, confirmed the rescue of one of the abducted victims, identified as Blessing Richard, from a bush around Alade settlement in the area.
The rescued woman said she was travelling from Abah to Kaduna when their vehicle was intercepted at Alloma community and the passengers were marched into the forest by the abductors.
She explained that she was abandoned after she became exhausted and fainted following hours of trekking through the forest, a claim she made in a video clip seen by BANNERNEWS.
The victim, who was first taken to Iboko settlement after her rescue, is currently receiving medical attention at a hospital in Alloma.
Efforts to get official confirmation from the Kogi State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, did not respond to calls or text messages as of the time of filing this report.
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CP Afegbua Hosts Amphibious Training School Commandant, Seeks Stronger Waterways Security
By BANNERNEWS Reporter
The Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Command, CP Rashid B. Afegbua, has hosted the Commandant of the Amphibious Training School (ATS), Calabar, Brigadier General M. I. Amatso, at the Command Headquarters in Calabar.
The courtesy visit, which took place on Monday, February 10, 2026, also had members of the police management team in attendance and was aimed at strengthening inter-agency cooperation between the police and the military formation.
Speaking during the visit, Brigadier General Amatso, the 37th Commandant of the Amphibious Training School, said the engagement was to familiarize himself with the police command following his recent posting to Calabar.
He explained that the Amphibious Training School is responsible for training personnel in water survival and amphibious operational skills, particularly to enhance tactical effectiveness within riverine environments.
The Commandant stressed the need for a more robust partnership between both institutions, calling for enhanced synergy and collaboration among officers and men across all ranks to promote esprit de corps and operational efficiency.
In his response, CP Afegbua described the visit as commendable and unprecedented, noting that sustained collaboration between security agencies remains critical to effective policing and public safety.
The police boss emphasized the importance of continuous monitoring of waterways across the state as a proactive measure to curb criminal activities, assuring the Commandant of the command’s unwavering support and cooperation.
CP Afegbua further noted that the police command has continued to enjoy strong collaboration with military components in the state since his assumption of office.
The visit, both parties agreed, underscores their shared commitment to enhanced inter-agency synergy in the interest of security and safety in Cross River State.
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Betta Edu Hosts Former New York Mayor Eric Adams, Calls for Stronger U.S.–Nigeria Partnership
By BANNERNEWS Reporter
Abuja – Dr. Betta Edu on Sunday hosted the 111th Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, at her residence in Abuja, in a meeting focused on deepening U.S.–Nigeria collaboration across security, health, humanitarian response, and economic development.
Mayor Adams, a former police officer and two-term President of the New York City Council, served as New York City’s 111th mayor from January 2022 to December 2025. The Abuja engagement marked his first international visit since leaving office.
The meeting comes amid growing U.S. concerns over insecurity in Nigeria and emerging gaps in the country’s health and humanitarian sectors following recent reductions in international aid. Discussions also highlighted the renewed efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to strengthen international cooperation in protecting vulnerable communities.
Speaking after the meeting, Dr. Edu said the dialogue offered a platform to present Nigeria’s security realities from a citizen-focused perspective. She commended the Federal Government’s efforts to curb insecurity, while drawing attention to humanitarian challenges and funding gaps created by declining external support.
Health sector reforms were a major focus, particularly Nigeria’s push toward Universal Health Coverage. Dr. Edu noted that high out-of-pocket healthcare costs continue to exacerbate poverty, stressing the need for sustained international investment and partnerships.
On economic matters, she described Nigeria’s economy as stabilizing and open to mutually beneficial investments. She urged Adams to leverage his global influence to attract investors, grants, and development funding into critical sectors.
Dr. Edu called for holistic U.S.–Nigeria collaboration, emphasizing that support should extend beyond security to include health, education, and humanitarian services. She also encouraged Adams to mobilize the Nigerian diaspora in New York to promote a positive image of Nigeria and contribute to national development.
“I feel honoured to receive him, and Nigeria will greatly benefit from this strategic visit,” Dr. Edu said. “We believe he will use his global platform to advocate for Nigeria and mobilize support for our people.”
Mayor Adams praised the Nigerian community in New York, urging them to stay connected to their roots. “You are Nigerian-American, not American-Nigerian,” he said, pledging to use his networks to attract investments, grants, and programs that can reduce insecurity, improve healthcare delivery, and expand education access.
In a gesture of cultural pride, Dr. Edu presented Adams with locally made souvenirs, including beautifully crafted Adire fabrics, showcasing Nigeria’s rich heritage.