The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has urged Yoruba people to remain vigilant as insecurity spreads across the country, warning that recent attacks in northern and central states pose a growing threat to the South-West.

A statement issued on Sunday in Ibadan by his media aide, Adeola Oloko, said the monarch made the call in Ode-Omu, Osun State, during the weekend celebration of Ode-Omu Day.

In recent weeks, the northern part of the country has recorded a surge in terrorist and bandit attacks, leaving many killed or kidnapped.

Fresh incidents in Kwara and Kogi—states that share borders with the South-West—have heightened regional anxiety and prompted governors in the zone to convene an emergency security meeting.

Speaking at the Ode-Omu event, Ladoja said the situation demands increased alertness.

“Let me use this occasion to urge Yoruba people to be vigilant amid security challenges facing Nigeria,” he said.

The monarch commended the community spirit of the people of Ode-Omu under the leadership of the Alaye of Ode-Omu, Oba Bolarinwa Oladipupo, praising their continued investment in development projects.

“I want to pledge the readiness of Ibadan to always support Ode-Omu’s development. Next year, an illustrious son and Parakoyi of Ibadanland, Chief Tunde Afolabi, will be drafted to chair Ode-Omu Day,” he added.

Ode-Omu Day is an annual celebration during which the community reviews its progress and sets development goals for the future.

Earlier, a former Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, reminded attendees of the historical ties between the two communities, noting that “Ibadan ancient warriors settled Ode-Omu in its present location in 1909.”

He also commended the royal fathers for their strong turnout, particularly the Olubadan.

Members of the Olubadan-in-Council present included the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola; the Osi Olubadan, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi; and the Ekerin Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Sharafadeen Alli, who represents Oyo South in the Senate.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, was represented by the Salu of Edunabon, Oba Kehinde Oladepo, while the Ogunsua of Modakeke, Oba Francis Adedoyin, also attended with his chiefs.

A civic coalition, One Voice Group, in partnership with the Plateau Unity Touching Lives Welfare Foundation, has launched a statewide voter-registration mobilisation drive aimed at taking registration services directly to residents across the 17 local government areas of Plateau State.

Speaking during a briefing with journalists in Jos on Sunday, the founder of One Voice Group, Aaron Arigbe, said the initiative was designed to ensure that “no eligible citizen should be left behind.”

Arigbe explained that mobile registration units, working in collaboration with officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, would move through villages, settlements and other hard-to-reach communities to eliminate the transportation and distance barriers that often depress voter participation in rural areas.

“This is about strengthening democracy and giving power to the people,” he said. “Your voice matters, your vote counts, and together we will ensure every Plateau resident can proudly say, ‘I am registered, and I will vote.’”

He added that the campaign, which begins this month, is expected to empower thousands of first-time voters and re-engage those who had not taken part in recent elections.

“We will take registration to villages, settlements and rural areas so everyone’s voice can be heard,” the group said in a statement.

The organisations stressed inclusivity, unity and full civic participation, urging all eligible residents to seize the opportunity. The initiative, which the group describes as a “Voice for All” project, will run until the close of registration with the goal of ensuring that no eligible voter is excluded from the 2027 polls.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission in Plateau State recently raised concerns over the poor collection of Permanent Voter Cards.

During a stakeholders’ meeting in Jos last week, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mallam Mohammed Sadiq, lamented the low response despite widespread sensitisation.

“We keep on mentioning to the good people of Plateau State that the owners of the over 101,000 PVCs should come over, because it will surprise you that in the last three months, only 1,004 out of over 101,000 came and collected their voters’ cards, which represents 0.09 per cent.

“That means that even one per cent collection, we have not reached in Plateau,” the REC said.

No fewer than 4,000 pregnant women across Nigeria have received free caesarean sections under the National Health Insurance programme, marking one of the most remarkable gains recorded through the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative.

This is according to the 2025 health statistics report released by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

The surgeries, fully subsidised and conducted in designated facilities, form part of a broader national push to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths and strengthen frontline health systems.

Launched in November 2024, MAMII is designed to reduce maternal deaths by 30 per cent and neonatal deaths by 20 per cent in 172 high-burden local government areas across the country.

The initiative deploys a suite of targeted, context-specific measures that focus on governance, accountability, community demand creation, skilled service delivery, and improved financing and performance management.

Since commencement, the programme has identified the major drivers of mortality in these LGAs and has begun implementing tailored solutions to address them.

“MAMII has achieved significant progress in strengthening Nigeria’s health system response to maternal and neonatal mortality. One hundred and eighty-six LGAs have developed context-specific costed work plans using the national comprehensive implementation guide to improve antenatal care attendance; over 400,000 pregnant women have been line-listed, with the number of referrals on the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System increased from 86 to 32,711, with 4,000 caesarean sections done at no cost to the pregnant women enrolled under the National Health Insurance programme.

“Lifesaving maternal, newborn and child health commodities have been distributed to over 500 facilities, and emergency transport systems have been activated in LGAs in 12 states. Early data trends show increased facility and antenatal attendance as well as skilled birth attendance.

“The gains made so far can be attributed to significant efforts by LGAs, states, and the Federal teams,” the report read partly.

The report noted that across the 172 LGAs, progress has been significant, as a total of 435 health facilities have been revitalised, while 729,724 women booked their first ANC visit before 20 weeks of pregnancy, and 794,205 women completed their fourth ANC visit.

Between the first and third quarters of 2025, the report showed that the LGAs recorded 731,559 deliveries, 21,172 stillbirths, 841 maternal deaths, and 1,245 neonatal deaths.

The health system indicators also show notable improvement. More than half (52 per cent) of the LGAs now have at least two Level-2 facilities, while 78 per cent have a Primary Health Centre in every ward under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.

It added that there has been a 17 per cent reduction in maternal deaths and a 12 per cent reduction in newborn deaths in the intervention areas.

According to the report, 25 per cent of BHCPF facilities are linked to the SEMSAS/NEMSAS referral system, which has already processed 7,451 completed referrals.

The report also revealed that only 12 per cent of BHCPF facilities have at least two midwives, even as 47 per cent of LGAs have been equipped with heat-stable carbectocin, a key drug for preventing postpartum haemorrhage.

Meanwhile, 20 per cent of BHCPF facilities have at least one laboratory technician. To support community-level interventions, 411,296 women have been line-listed across the 172 LGAs for closer follow-up.

Despite the gains, the report stated that significant gaps remain.

“The key gaps identified include that many LGAs lack sufficient community health workers for household-level tracking and demand creation, and inadequate numbers of functional designated Basic and Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care facilities.

“Emergency transport services are still limited in coverage, with delayed driver payments and weak digital systems. Similarly, Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response implementation remains weak across facilities in the 172 LGAs, and delays in the release of funds under the annual Operational Plans threaten continuity,” it stated.

To consolidate progress and sustain reductions in maternal and newborn mortality, experts recommend prioritising community health system strengthening and fully scaling functional BEmONC and CEmONC facilities.

“To sustain the continuous reduction in maternal and newborn deaths, stakeholders must prioritise strengthening community health systems, scaling BEmONC and CEmONC facilities, ensuring full functionality of emergency transport services, and institutionalising MPDSR in a timely manner, as these are critical to sustaining impact.

“With continued high-level coordination and the expansion of global best practices, MAMII can catalyse Nigeria’s progress toward reducing preventable maternal and neonatal deaths,” it added.

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