Author: The Whistler Newspaper

The Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti has reiterated his administration’s resolve to transform healthcare services in the state to meet global standards, revealing plans to obtain Joint Commission International (JCI) certification for Abia State University Teaching Hospital and Amachara General Hospital, Umuahia.

JCI accreditation, which is currently possessed by only a few hospitals in Nigeria, is internationally recognised as a benchmark for excellence in healthcare delivery, patient safety, and efficient hospital management.

Alex Otti made this known on Monday while receiving the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of JNCI International Limited, Clare Omatseye, alongside her delegation.

The delegation were in Abia State to brief the Governor on the level of progress recorded in the ongoing remodelling, upgrading, and installation of state-of-the-art medical equipment in tertiary health institutions across the state.

Alex Otti expressed delight over the steady progress of work at the various health facilities and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing top quality tertiary healthcare services at ABSUTH, Amachara General Hospital, and Umunneato General Hospital.

He further stated that his government is determined to make Abia’s healthcare sector a benchmark for excellence both within Nigeria and internationally.

He explained that the move to concentrate advanced radiography services at Abia State University Teaching Hospital was strategically planned to promote efficiency and achieve optimal results.

“I am happy that we have made a lot of progress. While we are doing these, we are also rejigging the management and leadership of ABSUTH, Aba. Everything is going on simultaneously.

“The decision to centralise radiography, particularly at the highest level, was not taken lightly. We concluded that it would be more useful at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital”, Otti explained.

The Governor underscored the significance of Amachara and Umunneato hospitals, stating that the facilities are being upgraded to serve as supporting tertiary healthcare centres to Abia State University Teaching Hospital.

He assured that all required approvals would be swiftly processed to fast-track the completion of the project, emphasizing that his administration remains focused on achieving tangible results and would not tolerate unnecessary delays.

“What we are doing in Aba, we want to replicate in Amachara as another specialist tertiary hospital. It’s either we are doing it right or we are not doing it at all.

“All the documents that are required to be signed, please let’s have them and we will sign and return them within the week.

“We will also put more pressure on the contractor, even if he has to work 24 hours, because I do not like the sound of delay.

“A lot of times people know what to do, but they don’t have the will to do it. Here, we know what to do and we have the will and we will not stop until we achieve it”, he added.

Earlier, while giving a detailed report on the state’s healthcare transformation programme, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of JNCI International Limited, Clare Omatseye, praised Alex Otti for placing high priority on the health sector through consistent funding and far-reaching reforms.

Clare Omatseye stated that Abia State has made remarkable strides in primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare, citing improved budgetary provisions, employment of healthcare workers, wider health insurance coverage, and the rehabilitation of more than 200 primary healthcare centres.

She further disclosed that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had donated a 1.5 Tesla MRI machine valued at $1 million, noting that the gesture reflected confidence in the Governor’s leadership and integrity.

Mrs Omatseye stated that the sophisticated diagnostic equipment would be installed at ABSUTH in accordance with the Governor’s directive to guarantee its effective use.

“The sophisticated diagnostic equipment will be installed at ABSUTH in accordance with the Governor’s directive to guarantee its effective use,” Omatseye stated.

She also highlighted the ongoing reconstruction efforts at ABSUTH, which include enhanced architectural designs that meet international standards, plans for state-of-the-art medical equipment and critical infrastructure upgrades aimed at securing JCI accreditation.

“The ongoing reconstruction at ABSUTH features upgraded architectural designs aligned with international standards, alongside plans for modern medical equipment and critical infrastructure improvements aimed at securing JCI accreditation,” she said.

Mrs Omatseye stressed that Abia remains steadily on course toward attaining globally accepted healthcare standards, adding that the current reforms are not only improving infrastructure but also boosting accessibility, affordability and the overall quality of healthcare services.

“Abia remains steadily on course toward attaining globally accepted healthcare standards, as the current reforms are not only improving infrastructure but also boosting accessibility, affordability and the overall quality of healthcare services,”Omatseye stressed.

In his vote of thanks, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ogbonnaya Enoch , praised the accomplishments of the current administration in the healthcare sector.

He pointed to the increasing international recognition the state is receiving, as well as ongoing initiatives targeted at achieving world-class healthcare standards through JCI certification and digital healthcare collaborations.

Abia Set To Obtain JCI Certification For ABSUTH, Amachara Hospital is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Nigeria’s transition to a decentralised, multi-tier electricity market is at risk from regulatory ambiguity and weak coordination between federal and state authorities, according to a new report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

In its report titled “Priority actions for the successful evolution of Nigeria’s multi-tier electricity market,” PwC warned that overlapping mandates and unclear transition frameworks could undermine investor confidence, disrupt operations, and slow the pace of ongoing reforms in the power sector.

The report comes at a critical phase in Nigeria’s electricity market restructuring, as recent policy shifts expand the role of state governments and sub-national regulators in managing intra-state electricity activities. While the decentralisation drive is intended to improve efficiency and attract investment, PwC cautioned that poor alignment between tiers of government could create systemic uncertainty.

According to the firm, regulatory overlap remains one of the most significant risks confronting the reform process. It noted that as states assume greater control over electricity markets within their jurisdictions, friction with existing federal institutions is inevitable unless clear boundaries and transition rules are established.

PwC stressed that inconsistent or unclear arrangements could heighten uncertainty for utilities, investors, and consumers alike, potentially weakening the foundation of the evolving market structure. The firm emphasised that clarity in governance frameworks and coordination mechanisms is essential to ensure a stable and predictable operating environment.

Beyond regulatory concerns, the report highlighted persistent structural weaknesses in the electricity distribution segment, which continue to constrain sector performance despite ongoing reforms. These include chronic liquidity challenges, unresolved legacy debts, inadequate metering, and ageing infrastructure.

PwC noted that liquidity pressures across the value chain remain a major impediment, with distribution companies particularly affected.

The firm explained that unreliable consumption data has contributed to billing inefficiencies, frequent disputes, and weak revenue collection, further compounding financial stress within the sector.

It added that without credible and accurate data systems, regulatory decisions become more difficult to implement and sustain, thereby weakening overall market underscored that decentralisation alone would not resolve long-standing inefficiencies in the power sector.

Instead, it called for coordinated interventions to address foundational issues, particularly in distribution networks, where infrastructure deficits continue to limit service reliability and operational efficiency.

PwC further observed that investment outcomes in the electricity market would depend significantly on governance quality, regulatory certainty, and the structure of projects being implemented under the new framework.

While acknowledging ongoing reform efforts, the firm maintained that addressing underlying financial and operational weaknesses must remain a priority to achieve meaningful and sustainable improvements in power supply.

It concluded that establishing clear regulatory boundaries, strengthening data systems, and ensuring effective collaboration between federal and state authorities would be critical to stabilising Nigeria’s electricity market transition and unlocking long-term sector growth.

Regulatory Overlap Threatens Nigeria Electricity Market Transition – Report is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Aisha Achimugu, founder of Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Ltd, has denied that her wealth was built on her association with Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos State, insisting she has been an entrepreneur since 2001.

Achimugu made the denial in an interview with Channels Television on Monday, amid swirling controversy over her finances and an ongoing legal battle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“I started my business in 2001. My background is a decent family. My late husband was the MD of PPMCC. I met him in the course of the work. I actually met him doing business in NNPC,” she said.

When directly asked whether her money came from Sanwo-Olu or any of her influential friends, she said “Not at all.”

The businesswoman came to national attention in January 2024, when she hosted a seven-day 50th birthday celebration on the Caribbean island of Grenada. 

The lavish event drew prominent figures from Nigeria’s entertainment industry and political class, including Governor Sanwo-Olu, sparking public speculation about the source of her wealth.

More than a year later, the EFCC declared her wanted over money laundering allegations before arresting her at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on April 29, 2025. 

In March 2026, a federal high court in Abuja granted a final forfeiture order of $13 million allegedly linked to her firm. 

Presiding judge Emeka Nwite held that the EFCC had proven the funds were proceeds of fraud. Achimugu’s firm has since commenced an appeal against the order.

On the forfeited funds, Achimugu declined to go into specifics, citing the pending litigation, but firmly distanced herself from the narrative that the money was found in her possession.

“My house was raided. Only $50,000 and N13 million belonging to my mom was found in my house and my personal belongings,” she said.

“I don’t know where Nigeria got the impression that I have $13 million in my house. I’m not a bank. I won’t keep $13 million in my house.”

On the oil block held by Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Ltd, Achimugu said it was awarded to the company through what she described as a “competitive and transparent” bid process.

Addressing her well-documented access to political power — illustrated by Sanwo-Olu’s presence at her birthday — Achimugu argued that her connections were a function of her success, not its cause.

“I have always had access to power and governance. I’m a known Nigerian. I have friends, and I have done well. I have not done anything that will make anyone stay away from me,” she said.

“I’m an entrepreneur and business owner. Having to know those who will increase my portfolio is very important to me. It is not about Governor Sanwo-Olu at all.”

She added that the Lagos governor was simply among guests who were already present at the venue of the celebration.

Residents were thrown into shock after a couple, Paul Onyeama and Adline Ogbonna, allegedly beat their 10-year-old adopted daughter to death in the Igando area of Lagos State.

It was learnt that the incident occurred on Sunday, following weeks of alleged abuse.

It was gathered that the couple who lived on Jemesi Papa Street had reportedly subjected the child to persistent maltreatment, including frequent assaults and sending her on strenuous errands despite her young age.

The girl, identified as Faith, was said to have fallen ill for about two weeks, but the alleged abuse reportedly continued unabated.

A resident, Adekunle Taofeek, said Metro on Monday that the situation escalated on Sunday when the husband and wife were said to have severely beaten the ailing child, leading to her death.

He said, “The couple had adopted a 10-year-old girl. They had been consistently maltreating and assaulting the child, while also sending her on unnecessary errands.

“I was informed that the girl had been sick for about two weeks, yet the abuse continued. Yesterday, both the husband and wife allegedly beat the child severely despite her condition, and sadly, she died.”

It was gathered that the suspects later rushed the victim to a hospital, where she was confirmed dead on arrival.

Angered by the development, youths in the area who learnt of the incident apprehended the woman.

Another resident, who requested anonymity for personal reasons, told our correspondent that the husband, who had allegedly left home earlier to procure a tricycle to dispose of the girl’s corpse, was also held by the youths.

“The moment the girl died, they kept her corpse in the room and acted as though nothing had happened. The wife even came out this morning to cook in the kitchen like nothing had happened.

“It was residents who had been observing what was going on that raised the alarm about the whereabouts of the girl before they discovered that she had died. If they had succeeded in disposing of the body, no one would have known her whereabouts,” the resident said.

He added that the matter was promptly reported at the Igando Police Division.

Police operatives were thereafter deployed to the scene, leading to the arrest of the couple and the recovery of the child’s body.

A police sources said that the suspects, during interrogation, claimed the girl was sick and died while receiving treatment at a hospital.

“Our preliminary findings revealed that the child was already dead before she was brought to the medical facility. The case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, for further investigation,” the source said.

Speaking further on the incident, Taofeek, who is the state coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, said the medical facility where Faith was taken confirmed that she was brought in dead.

“While I was questioning the suspect, he claimed the girl was sick, that they rushed her to the hospital, and that she died while receiving treatment. I then asked which hospital was involved.

“Unfortunately for him, the doctor there is known to me and also my personal physician. I called the doctor to verify the claim, and he confirmed that a child was brought to the hospital, but she was already dead on arrival,” he added.

Taofeek also vowed that justice would be pursued in the matter.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, could not be reached for comments as calls to her telephone line were not answered. A text message sent to her had yet to be replied to as of the time of filing this report.

Punch 

Habiba Abubakar, mother of Abdulsamad Jamiu, the National Youth Service Corps member killed in Dei-Dei, Abuja, has narrated how she received the news of her son’s death, describing a distressing sequence of events marked by confusion and fear.

Speaking in an interview with TheCable on Monday, Abubakar said she was away with her husband for a burial ceremony when a neighbour alerted her to gunshots in their area in the early hours of the day.

“I travelled on Thursday, hoping to come back on Saturday to meet my son at home. Only for me to receive a call from my next neighbour around 2:30. ‘I said hello. Hope there is no problem?’ She said she’s hearing gunshots. Fear gripped me,” she recounted.

She said repeated attempts to reach her children were unsuccessful, as her first son’s line was switched off while her daughter’s phone was engaged.

When she eventually contacted her husband, she said he initially withheld details of the incident.

“Initially, he didn’t want to tell me the actual truth.

He said, ‘Soldier carried Abdulsamad.’ I said, soldier, Abdulsamad? How, for what? He said, no, they want to go and interrogate him,” she said.

Abubakar added that her phone was taken from her during the moment of distress, and when she requested it, family members claimed they could not find it.

“That was when I knew that my son was not alive again,” she said.

According to her, she continued to press her daughter, Farida, for clarity but was repeatedly asked to remain calm due to concerns about her health.

“I’m getting to Abuja, only for me to discover that my son was dead,” she said.

Recounting what she was later told about the incident, Abubakar alleged that soldiers gained access to the compound by scaling the fence rather than using the gate, moved through the back entrance, and went directly to her son’s room.

“They shot him through the door. They shot the door two times,” she claimed.

She further alleged that after the shooting, soldiers instructed local vigilante members to clean the scene, reportedly retrieving cleaning materials from her kitchen.

“They entered my kitchen, took Klin, from there, took a bucket and gave the vigilante to mop the blood. What happened? Why would they do that?” She queried.

Visibly emotional, Abubakar insisted that her son was inside his room at the time of the incident.

“Who did he offend? I want to know. Who did you offend?” She asked repeatedly.

Jamiu, 24, was killed in the early hours of April 25 at his family residence in Dei-Dei Shagari Quarters while his parents were away. His sister was reportedly in the house at the time.

The Nigerian Army, through the Headquarters Guards Brigade, had earlier stated that Jamiu died after being caught in crossfire when troops responded to a distress call over an armed robbery incident.

Brigade spokesperson, Olawuyi Odunola said soldiers came under fire from fleeing suspects and that the fatality occurred during the exchange.

However, the family has rejected the military’s account, describing it as inaccurate and misleading.

In a statement issued on Monday, the family argued that the trajectory of the bullet indicated it was fired from outside the room through a closed door, which they said does not align with a crossfire scenario.

They added that no weapons were recovered from the scene and that witnesses reported hearing only a single gunshot.

The family also alleged that soldiers at the scene admitted, in the presence of a Divisional Police Officer, that the shooting was a mistake.

Among its demands, the family called for an independent investigation, the suspension and prosecution of those involved, a retraction of the military’s statement, and a formal apology.

“The Nigerian Military operates under a constitutional mandate to protect Nigerian citizens. On the night of 25th April 2026, that mandate was catastrophically and fatally violated,” the family stated.

NYSC member’s mother recounts son’s death in Abuja shooting

Former All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in Rivers State, Tonye Cole, says every party will always push to weaken the opposition.

Cole said this on Monday when he appeared as a guest in an interview on ‘Prime Time’, a programme on Arise Television.

He was reacting to the activities of the ruling APC towards the African Democratic Congress, ADC, noting that such happens everywhere around the world.

He said, “Every party, regardless of being APC or not, will always push to weaken the opposition. It is the opposition’s response to that push that makes democracy work. This happens all over the world.

“First and foremost, it’s one of the things that I personally have looked forward to, that democracy always requires an opposition, and if that opposition is strong, then it brings legitimacy to the entire process.

And so one of the things that you are seeing now is an opposition that is now determined that, let’s come together. Is that good for democracy? Absolutely. Would the APC oppose such a coming together? Definitely.

“I’m one of those creatures that believe that competition actually makes you better. Competition makes you think smarter. It makes you look forward at your own weaknesses and your strength.”

2027: Every party will always push to weaken opposition – Tonye Cole

Manchester United have moved very close to confirming their Champions League spot, thanks to a 2-1 win over Brentford on Monday night.

The Red Devils had defeated Chelsea 1-0 in their last game, as they began to pull away from other clubs chasing the top five places.

Against the Bees, they took the lead through Casemiro’s towering header.

Benjamin Sesko doubled their advantage before the break, as Michael Carrick’s men took control of the game.

The match was ending towards a 2-0 win until Mathias Jensen curled in an effort into the bottom corner.

United remain in third place with 51 points, three more than Liverpool who they play this weekend.

EPL table: Man Utd one win away from confirming Champions League qualification

German Chancellor, ‌Friedrich Merz has said that Iran is humiliating the United States and getting US officials to travel to Pakistan and then leave without results.

The Chancellor equally stated that he did not see what exit strategy the US was pursuing in the Iran war.

Merz stated this on Monday during a talk to students in the town of Marsberg.

“The Iranians are obviously very skilled ⁠at negotiating, or rather, very skillful at not negotiating, letting the Americans travel to Islamabad and then leave again without any result.

“An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards. And so I hope that this ends as quickly as possible,” he added.

Recall that United States President Donald Trump has harshly criticized NATO allies for not sending their navies to help open the Strait of Hormuz during the conflict.

The waterway has remained virtually shut, causing market turmoil and unprecedented ‌disruption ⁠in energy supplies.

War: Iran humiliating US – German Chancellor

Manchester United midfielder, Casemiro, on Monday night, made history following his side’s Premier League 2-1 win over Brentford.

Two goals from Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko gave the Red Devils all three points against Brentford at Old Trafford.

The win over Brentford means Man United remain in third position on the Premier League table with 61 points from 34 games.

However, Casemiro made 11 tackles, won 16 duels and made 9 clearances during the encounter against The Bees.

According to OptaJoe, with the stats, the Brazilian midfielder is the only player in the last 20 seasons to record all of those numbers in a single Premier League match.

Casemiro joined Man United from Real Madrid in 2022, and the 34-year-old will leave the Premier League club at the end of the season.

EPL: Casemiro makes history after Man Utd’s 2-1win over Brentford