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Older Persons Day: FG distributes rice, wrappers to senior citizens in Abuja

Published

6 years ago

October 21, 2020

As the world rounds off activities to mark the 2020 International Day of Older Persoms, the Federal Government on Tuesday in Abuja distributed 200 bags of rice and 200 pieces of wrapper to some senior citizens.
Also shared to the old people were 500 sachets of tomatoes sauce, 500 pieces of washing soaps, among other items.
Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, disclosed this in a key note address at a ceremony to mark the day.
She said that the gesture was in continuation of govenment’s efforts toward a better life for the older persons.
Farouq said that this year’s event was expected to hold on Oct. 1, 2020 with the theme: “Pandemics: Do They Change How We Address Age and Ageing?”.
“However, due to coincidence with the Independence Day Celebration, the event was brought forward to this day to ensure full participation of our senior citizens.
“The International Day of Older Persons is a day to stand against ageism and to promote the development of a society that is hospitable to people of all ages.
“The elderly are the world’s fastest growing population group, with those 60 years or older constituting one person in every 10.
“The figure is expected to rise to one person in five by the middle of the century,” Farouq said.
Speaking earlier, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said that the ministry was doing it best to ensure that the health of older persons was improved according to UN specifications.
“The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Health, is committed to establishing Regional Centres for Older Persons to take care of their wellbeing,” he said.
NAN reports that Ehanire was represented by Dr Saidu Ahmed, National Coordinator in charge of Healthcare for Older Persons in the ministry.
Also speaking, Mrs Hauwa Jibril, Founder, ‘Pause Old People’s Home, Abuja’, congratulated the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs for achieving a lot within a short period, especially at the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During the pandemic, the ministry distributed palliatives to people, including the older persons. Many other stakeholders have also contributed to the well being of senior citizens.
“It is regrettable to note that older persons in Nigeria are suffering from stigmatisation and neglect. Some of them are called witches and wizards.
“I will like to call on governments at all levels to subsidise their drugs, healthcare and transportation. They should be provided with ambulances, wheel chairs and house rents to support them and make life easy.
“Let’s continue to celebrate our older ones and make them happy,” Jibril stressed. (NAN)

News

Zimbabwe considers controversial presidential term-extension bill

Published

22 hours ago

June 2, 2026

milcah

Zimbabwe’s justice minister introduced to parliament Tuesday a controversial constitutional amendment bill that would extend the term of the president, but faces fierce opposition and court challenges.

Parliament has to vote on sweeping changes to the constitution approved by the cabinet in February that include a provision that would extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term until 2030.

The measures would also do away with general presidential elections, giving parliament the power to appoint the president, and extend the terms of lawmakers from five to seven years.

The amendment has become one of the most contentious political issues in Zimbabwe, where Mnangagwa’s Zanu-PF party enjoys an overwhelming majority in parliament.

After introducing the proposal, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi told journalists the government was determined to push the measure through a parliamentary debate.

He said a 90-day public consultation process was successful and widely supported.Related News

Opponents say the consultations were marred by intimidation and violence, with anti-amendment activists assaulted by suspected state agents or arrested.

Several legal challenges seeking to stop or invalidate the amendment process are before Zimbabwe’s courts.

Critics say the bill would entrench the Zanu-PF, which has governed the resource-rich country since independence in 1980, overseeing crippling economic crises and accused of corruption and repression.

Mnangagwa came to power in 2017 in a military-backed coup that ousted Robert Mugabe, president for 30 years.

He was elected for two five-year terms, in 2018 and 2023, which is the constitutional limit for a president.

AFP

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National Governance Index Showcases Best-Performing States

Published

2 days ago

June 1, 2026

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Top 10 Performers:

Kaduna State 73%
Delta State 70%
Anambra State 65.5%
Niger state 65.1%
Ekiti State 64.5%
Akwa Ibom State 64%
Lagos State 64%
Oyo State 61%
Enugu State 56.5%
Borno state 54%

Middle 10 Performers:

Kwara State 53.5%
Abia State 52%
Ondo State 51%
Nasarawa State 50.5%
Osun State 49.5%
Ogun State 48.5%
Kano 48.5%
Kogi State 48%
Edo State 47%
Jigawa State 46.8%

Worst 10 Performers:

Bauchi State 44%
Ebonyi State 42%
Katsina State 41.5%
Gombe State 40%
Kebbi State 34%
Plateau 33.5%
Rivers State 30%
Benue State 25%
Yobe State 22%
Taraba State 20%

These rankings are based on the CIAPS Governance Performance Index (CGPI) report, which evaluates states’ performance in areas like e-governance, transparency, and accountability.

The CIAPS Governance Performance Index (CGPI) is an initiative of the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies, CIAPS. CGPI was conceived as a catalyst for benchmarking, documenting, measuring and encouraging good governance in Nigeria.

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RUN Set to Mobilize Millions of Youth for Tinubu/Akpabio Ahead of 2027

Published

3 days ago

May 31, 2026

milcah

Following the conclusion of party primaries, Rising Up for a United Nigeria (RUN) as a civil society group championing the cause of all youths and middle age citizens has congratulated His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his landslide victory in the presidential primaries recently held.

RUN also congratulated Senator Godswill Akpabio for emerging unopposed and the wild jubilation that greeted his victory as the Senator representing his constituency, the good people of Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria at large.

In a press release signed by Amb. Solomon Adodo and made available to journalists, a copy of which was sighted by our correspondent, the group described the win of the duo as beam of hope for Nigeria beyond 2027.

According to him, “the win of Asiwaju and Akpabio signals a beam of hope for Nigeria that beyond 2027, we shall be consolidating on the gains of synergetic partnership between the legislature and the executive as a precursor for rapid development.

“The support extended to Mr. President by the Senate President has yielded significant strides in fasttracking development across all parameters that affect national productivity”

The group therefore called on all Nigerians to come out in their numbers to support the president while outlining series programs with potentials to foster national unity across regional and religious lines.

“As a group representing the interests of Nigeria youths, we are determined to key into the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President towards improving the skill set of Nigeria youths towards increased productivity and an end to unemployment”, the release stated.

The group expressed confidence in the possibility of a new Nigeria of our dreams with the victories of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Godswill Akpabio who will definitely be handed a second term as the Senate President “to continue synergizing with Mr. President for a better Nigeria”.