Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Kwara State Government has recorded significant milestones in the strengthening of Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent, and Young people’s health services through the EU-SARAH Initiative.

Speaking at the 4th Quarter State SARAH Initiative Governance and Coordination Committee Meeting in Ilorin, the state capital, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam, noted that the EU-SARAH Initiative has continued to make tremendous impact across the state by improving the quality of maternal and child health services.

She added that the state’s vision to drastically improve maternal, child, and adolescent health outcomes, has positioned the state as the best place to give birth and the best place to be born.

Dr. El-Imam, who said several interventions had been successfully implemented across reproductive health, adolescent health, gender equality, and sexual and reproductive health awareness, added that such efforts had translated into increased service uptake and improved health outcomes for mothers, newborns, adolescents, and young people across the state.

Lauding the dedication and collaboration of the staff of the implementing Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs),
fhe Commissioner appreciated the unwavering support of the state government under the dynamic leadership of Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, describing him as a health-driven and health-conscious Governor committed to quality healthcare delivery.

Dr. El-Imam further acknowledged the invaluable partnership of development partners UNICEF, UNFPA, and WHO, whose continuous collaboration has strengthened the EU-SARAH Initiative in the state.

Presenting the programme update, the Reproductive Health Coordinator, Dr. Kofo Ibrahim outlined key structural and implementation milestones,
explaining that the EU-SARAH governance structure includes; EU SARAH initiative Governance and Coordination Committee, RMNCAH TWG, MPCDSR TWG, Adolescent TWG both at the state and LGA.

She added that the EU-SARAH State Plan had also been fully integrated into the 2026 State Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), during the development of the State Annual Operational plan for 2026, an activity which was fully funded under the SARAH program

Dr. Ibrahin highlighted key achievements recorded, which include: Onboarding of 3,275 vulnerable persons into the Kwara State Health Insurance Scheme, capacity building of 746 Doctors and Nurse across all levels of care.

Other achievements according to her are; notification and review of Maternal, Perinatal and Child Death ( MPCDSR), provision of Adolescent Youth Friendly Health Services (AYFHS) and Delivery of targeted adolescent and youth outreaches across 8 LGAs.

She further explained that EU-SARAH also reached 4,601 adolescents and youths with services such as HIV testing, Family Planning information and services, and Antenatal care among others.

The State RMNCAH+N Coordinator at the Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Medinat Olaosebikan, highlighted the extensive training and quality-of-care interventions carried out to strengthen frontline health service delivery.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Dr. Taoheed Abdullahi, appreciated all stakeholders and partners for their participation, commitment, and shared vision of improved health outcomes for the people of Kwara State

End

• As govt refutes allegation, says no govt has power to arm anyone with AK-47

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Kwara State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the state government of complicity in the spate of kidnappings and banditry in the state.

The opposition party specifically hinged its allegation on a viral video of the confession of arrested bandits in far away Edo State.

The suspects had alleged that officials and agents of the state government supplied them with arms to carry out attacks in parts of the state.

Addressing reporters in Ilorin, the state capital, on Monday, the PDP Chairman, Isa Adamu, said: “We are deeply disturbed by the widely circulated video and reports of arrested criminal bandits apprehended by men of the Nigerian Army in far away Auchi, Edo State.
In the said video, the criminal suspects categorically alleged that officials of the Kwara State Government supplied them with AK-47 rifles and a government-crested operational vehicle for their criminal activities.

“This video evidence without any iota of doubt clearly indicates that the Governor of Kwara state, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and many of his agents, including local government chairmen, have a lot on their sleeves about criminal banditry, terrorism, and other deadly attacks that have ravaged communities in Kwara North and Kwara South for quite some time.

“This development places an enormous burden of explanation squarely on the doorstep of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who is not only the Chief Executive of the state but also constitutionally the Chief Security Officer of Kwara State.

“This is a direct allegation of state-sponsored criminality that must not be swept under the carpet. We therefore call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to treat the situation in Kwara State as a matter of urgent national concern.

“A comprehensive federal investigation must be carried out into the confessions of the arrested criminals, particularly their claims that the Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq–led Kwara State Government sponsored and supported their criminal activities.

“In the interest of justice, morality, and public safety, it is reasonable to demand the declaration of a state of emergency in Kwara State, including the suspension of the Governor, to enable an independent, transparent, and interference-free investigation into these allegations.

“We further urge the Office of the National Security Adviser to immediately advise all Service Chiefs and security agencies to suspend any official engagements or interfaces with Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq or his representatives pending the conclusion of these investigations, as he can no longer be trusted with sensitive security details.

However, the state government had earlier debunked the allegation, adding that “no State Government has the power to arm anyone with AK-47.”

A statement by the Commissioner for Communication, Bolanle Olukoju, said: “Neither did the individuals mention that Kwara State Government gave them any weapon.

“The Ifelodun Local Government Authority, for its part, has clarified that the security van was given to the vigilantes initially deployed in Ifelodun to strengthen existing security. These vigilantes have since left Ifelodun.

“However, the LGA had repeatedly complained to relevant authorities that its van was not returned to its pool.

“To win the war against banditry and other violent crimes, we urge enhanced interagency coordination, intelligence sharing, and cooperation amongst the security agencies.

“As the security forces are probing the development, we urge people, especially online media platforms and bloggers, to avoid biased assimilation of information or misrepresenting things, because such behaviour poses existential threat to human life and public peace.”

End

.. tasks FIRS N35trillion revenue in 2026
.. As FG laments N30trillion shortfalls from N40trillion targeted revenue for 2025

The Senate Monday through its committee on Finance , expressed displeasure with multiple budgets implementation in a fiscal year by the federal government as experienced in 2025 .

It consequently tasked the Federal Inland Revenue Service ( FIRS) , to increase its projected revenue target for 2026 from N31trillion to N35trillion even as the federal government lamented shortfalls of N30trillion from N40trillion revenue target for 2025 .

Displeasure of Senators on multiple budgets implementations in a fiscal year , came to the fore during interactive session the Finance Committee , Chaired by Senator Sani Musa ( Niger East), had with leading Managers of the Nation’s economy on the 2026 – 2028 Medium Term Expenditure Framework ( MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paoer ( FSP) .

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy , Wale Edun , had in his contextual explanations on projections for 2026 budget and implementation of the 2024 and 2025 budgets , informed the committee that while revenues for 2024 budget have been met, that of 2025 have not been met .

” Funding for the capital components of the 2024 budget have been met through realization of the total projection of N26trillion revenue but that of 2025 have not been met .

” Out of projected N40trillion revenue for 2025 fiscal year , only N10trillion have been realized, leaving a shortfall of N30trillion and consequently , making the federal government roll over 70% of capital projects captured in 2025 fiscal year to 2026 “, he said .

Worried by the submission , some members of the committee like Senators Danjuma Goje ( Gombe Central ) , Olalere Oyewumi ( Osun West) , Victor Umeh ( Anambra Central ) , Aminu Iya Abbas ( Adamawa Central ) etc , expressed displeasure with multiple budget implementations in a fiscal year .

Specifically , Senator Goje in his remarks said the practice of implementing multiple budgets in a single year is unacceptable to Nigerians .

” This ugly situation we found ourselves on multiple budget implementations should please end by this year . It is not acceptable. Things must be normalized from next year “, he said .

Senator Oyelere in his comment told the Minister that since budgetary proposals were not given to the government by the governed , government should please present realizable proposals to avoid non – implementations which usually dove tailed into multiple implementations in subsequent years .

Senator Victor Umeh and Ireti Kingibe in their remarks , wondered why the federal government did not fill the missing gaps in revenue targets , with borrowings approved for it from time to time by the Senate and by extension, the National Assembly .

Senator Sani Musa in his capacity as Chairman, however came to the rescue of the Minister by assuring his colleagues and by extension, Nigerians that the required normalization in budget projections and implementation shall be done from 2026 .

He added that 3 – man ad – hoc committee shall be set up by the committee to laise with the Minister and the Accountant – General of the Federation on payment of local contractors for projects executed in 2024 before expiration of the budget on 31st of this month.

For FIRS , Senator Sani Musa tasked its Chairman, Zacch Adedeji , to work towards realizing N35trillion as target revenue for 2026 fiscal year and not the earlier projected N31trillion mentioned by the Chairman.

The FIRS boss had in making the projection said the agency under him, realized N20.2trillion revenue in 2024 and N25.2trillion in 2025 .

He however said that the huge revenue being realized by FIRS and other agencies like Customs , are being swallowed and made insufficient by multiple budget implementations in a fiscal year.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning , Senator Atiku Bagudu and Minister of State ( Petroleum ) , Senator Heineken Lokpobiri in their submissions , defended the parameters set for the N54. 4trillion 2026 budget .

The parameters are 1.84million oil production per day , $64.85 oil price benchmark , N1, 512.00 to 1USD as exchange rate etc .