Nigeria's Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has described China's development achievements under the leadership of the Communist Party of China as remarkable on a global scale. He praised China's progress in the power sector and expressed Nigeria's commitment to strengthening cooperation with Chinese enterprises to help address the country's electricity shortages and improve its energy infrastructure.
Thursday, July 2, 2026
Video - Nigerian Power Minister praises China's 'remarkable' development
Nigeria's Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has described China's development achievements under the leadership of the Communist Party of China as remarkable on a global scale. He praised China's progress in the power sector and expressed Nigeria's commitment to strengthening cooperation with Chinese enterprises to help address the country's electricity shortages and improve its energy infrastructure.
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
World Bank backs Nigeria 2026–2032 plan with $1.25 billion to spur jobs, private investment
The World Bank Group has approved a new long-term partnership strategy for Nigeria alongside $1.25 billion in financing, aiming to drive job creation and economic growth by unlocking private sector investment and expanding access to energy, digital, and agricultural services.
The strategy builds on recent reforms that have lifted growth, revenues and reserves, and aims to translate gains into broader living standards.
Targets expanded access: energy for 32 million people, broadband for 58 million, better health and nutrition for 40 million and support for 9.5 million farmers.
Financing backs reforms to deepen capital markets, modernise digital regulation, expand electrification, ease regional trade, improve farm inputs and boost domestic revenues.
Officials say unlocking private investment and tackling structural constraints - supported by guarantees and policy reforms - is key to sustaining growth, resilience and poverty reduction.
By MacDonald Dzirutwe, Reuters
The World Bank Group approved a 2026–2032 Country Partnership Framework for Nigeria and $1.25 billion financing package aimed at driving job creation through private sector–led growth.
The strategy builds on recent reforms that have lifted growth, revenues and reserves, and aims to translate gains into broader living standards.
Targets expanded access: energy for 32 million people, broadband for 58 million, better health and nutrition for 40 million and support for 9.5 million farmers.
Financing backs reforms to deepen capital markets, modernise digital regulation, expand electrification, ease regional trade, improve farm inputs and boost domestic revenues.
Officials say unlocking private investment and tackling structural constraints - supported by guarantees and policy reforms - is key to sustaining growth, resilience and poverty reduction.
269 Nigerians return home from South Africa ahead of protest deadline
Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the ministry, said that officials from the Nigerian Mission in South Africa accompanied the group of 269 evacuees. Last Wednesday, another 66 Nigerians returned aboard a South African Airways flight arranged by a Nigerian benefactor.
Ebienfa said the evacuation process remains ongoing, with more Nigerians having been screened and cleared for repatriation in the coming days.
The returnees will undergo documentation, profiling and medical screening before receiving temporary accommodation and other assistance ahead of reunification with their families.
South Africa has recently witnessed a wave of anti-immigration protests, with organizers citing unemployment, crime and pressure on public services as major concerns.
Some anti-immigration groups have called on undocumented foreigners to leave the country by June 30 and have threatened to stage nationwide protests if their demands are not met.
The first batch of 258 Nigerian nationals evacuated from South Africa arrived in Lagos on June 11.
More than 30 students remain missing after Nigeria school attack
At least 37 students remain missing after gunmen raided their school in northeast Nigeria, according to local officials.
The attack occurred on Monday when assailants from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) group stormed a secondary school in the town of Lassa, in Borno State, which has faced years of violence by armed groups.
The AFP news agency reported on Tuesday that at least 37 students remain missing following the attack, which occurred while they were sitting exams.
At least three people were killed in the attack, including a soldier and a teacher, according to the military, who initially said that authorities had rescued 10 of them and that only one remained missing.
The “list of students in captivity”, showing the students’ genders and their parents’ mobile phone numbers, was shared with journalists by the area’s local government councillor, Ijagla Ijabila.
An intel source also showed AFP the same list.
Borno Commissioner for Education Lawan Abba Wakilbe told reporters in Lassa that 25 female students, 11 male students and one staff member were still being held, reported the Reuters news agency.
Abba Wakilbe added that eight people, including the school’s vice principal, have been freed.
Kidnapping for ransom, especially of students, has become a common tactic for both armed groups and non-ideological “bandit” gangs operating across the country’s conflict-hit north and centre.
While the 2014 kidnapping of hundreds of schoolgirls from the town of Chibok by members of Boko Haram remains Nigeria’s most infamous, school abductions continue to be prevalent across the country.
In May, gunmen kidnapped more than 40 pupils – who remain in captivity – from Borno State’s Mussa village.
That same month, armed men rounded up dozens of schoolchildren from three schools in Oyo State – a rare attack in southwest Nigeria, considered to be the safest region in the country.
Nigeria has been fighting an armed uprising since 2009, concentrated in the northeast.
While violence has waned since the peak of the conflict a decade ago, analysts have warned of an uptick in attacks since last year.
By AFP and Reuters
The attack occurred on Monday when assailants from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) group stormed a secondary school in the town of Lassa, in Borno State, which has faced years of violence by armed groups.
The AFP news agency reported on Tuesday that at least 37 students remain missing following the attack, which occurred while they were sitting exams.
At least three people were killed in the attack, including a soldier and a teacher, according to the military, who initially said that authorities had rescued 10 of them and that only one remained missing.
The “list of students in captivity”, showing the students’ genders and their parents’ mobile phone numbers, was shared with journalists by the area’s local government councillor, Ijagla Ijabila.
An intel source also showed AFP the same list.
Borno Commissioner for Education Lawan Abba Wakilbe told reporters in Lassa that 25 female students, 11 male students and one staff member were still being held, reported the Reuters news agency.
Abba Wakilbe added that eight people, including the school’s vice principal, have been freed.
Kidnapping for ransom, especially of students, has become a common tactic for both armed groups and non-ideological “bandit” gangs operating across the country’s conflict-hit north and centre.
While the 2014 kidnapping of hundreds of schoolgirls from the town of Chibok by members of Boko Haram remains Nigeria’s most infamous, school abductions continue to be prevalent across the country.
In May, gunmen kidnapped more than 40 pupils – who remain in captivity – from Borno State’s Mussa village.
That same month, armed men rounded up dozens of schoolchildren from three schools in Oyo State – a rare attack in southwest Nigeria, considered to be the safest region in the country.
Nigeria has been fighting an armed uprising since 2009, concentrated in the northeast.
While violence has waned since the peak of the conflict a decade ago, analysts have warned of an uptick in attacks since last year.
Related story: Gunmen abduct students during exams in Nigeria
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Nigeria launches first mental health policy tracker to monitor implementation of reforms
Nigeria has launched its first public-facing Mental Health Policy Commitment Tracker, a digital platform designed to independently monitor implementation of the country’s mental health laws and policies amid concerns over slow progress in carrying out key reforms.
Developed by advocacy organisation Nigerian Mental Health (NMH), the tracker was officially launched virtually on Monday after an initial public unveiling in May.
NMH announced the launch in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES.
According to the organisation, the platform enables policymakers, researchers, civil society organisations and members of the public to monitor progress on commitments under the National Mental Health Act and related policies, including mental health financing, workforce development, treatment access and state-level reforms.
By Fortune Eromonsele, Premium Times
Developed by advocacy organisation Nigerian Mental Health (NMH), the tracker was officially launched virtually on Monday after an initial public unveiling in May.
NMH announced the launch in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES.
According to the organisation, the platform enables policymakers, researchers, civil society organisations and members of the public to monitor progress on commitments under the National Mental Health Act and related policies, including mental health financing, workforce development, treatment access and state-level reforms.
Why the tracker matters
Late President Muhammadu Buhari signed the National Mental Health Bill into law in January 2023 after two failed legislative attempts dating back to 2003.
The legislation replaced the outdated Lunacy Act and marked a major shift in Nigeria’s approach to mental healthcare by strengthening the rights of people living with mental health conditions and providing for institutions such as a Department of Mental Health Services and a Mental Health Fund.
However, more than three years later, implementation of several provisions of the law has remained slow.
According to NMH, key institutional structures required under the Act, including the Department of Mental Health, have yet to be fully established.
The organisation also said the federal government missed its December 2025 target to fully decriminalise attempted suicide, while implementation of the 2023 National Mental Health Policy and the country’s first Suicide Prevention Policy Framework has been limited.
It said these implementation gaps informed the development of the tracker, which is intended to independently verify whether mental health commitments are being translated into concrete action.
Speaking at the launch, NMH founder Chime Asonye said policy commitments should be accompanied by measurable implementation.
“Visibility must be matched by measurable execution,” he said, adding that the platform is designed to ensure commitments lead to tangible legal, institutional and service delivery outcomes.
According to NMH, the tracker serves as a public dashboard that aggregates government data, legislative updates, budget documents, verified stakeholder submissions and community-reported evidence.
Each policy commitment is assigned an implementation status, such as “Not Started, In Progress, Delayed or Completed”, allowing users to monitor progress across the federal and state levels.
The platform tracks regulatory milestones under the National Mental Health Act, as well as governance structures, budget allocations, workforce capacity, access to treatment, affordability and broader rights-based reforms.
Late President Muhammadu Buhari signed the National Mental Health Bill into law in January 2023 after two failed legislative attempts dating back to 2003.
The legislation replaced the outdated Lunacy Act and marked a major shift in Nigeria’s approach to mental healthcare by strengthening the rights of people living with mental health conditions and providing for institutions such as a Department of Mental Health Services and a Mental Health Fund.
However, more than three years later, implementation of several provisions of the law has remained slow.
According to NMH, key institutional structures required under the Act, including the Department of Mental Health, have yet to be fully established.
The organisation also said the federal government missed its December 2025 target to fully decriminalise attempted suicide, while implementation of the 2023 National Mental Health Policy and the country’s first Suicide Prevention Policy Framework has been limited.
It said these implementation gaps informed the development of the tracker, which is intended to independently verify whether mental health commitments are being translated into concrete action.
Speaking at the launch, NMH founder Chime Asonye said policy commitments should be accompanied by measurable implementation.
“Visibility must be matched by measurable execution,” he said, adding that the platform is designed to ensure commitments lead to tangible legal, institutional and service delivery outcomes.
According to NMH, the tracker serves as a public dashboard that aggregates government data, legislative updates, budget documents, verified stakeholder submissions and community-reported evidence.
Each policy commitment is assigned an implementation status, such as “Not Started, In Progress, Delayed or Completed”, allowing users to monitor progress across the federal and state levels.
The platform tracks regulatory milestones under the National Mental Health Act, as well as governance structures, budget allocations, workforce capacity, access to treatment, affordability and broader rights-based reforms.
Stakeholders back initiative
The launch brought together government officials, policymakers, researchers, civil society organisations, development partners, media practitioners and representatives of the creative industry.
Among the organisations supporting the initiative are Lagos Mind, Mind Over Matters NG, Stilt NG, Our Beta Life, the Mental Health Transformation Organisation (MHT) and Hevolve Foundation.
Mental health advocate and musician Hadiza Blell-Olo, popularly known as Di’ja, urged public figures to move beyond raising awareness by supporting partnerships that strengthen mental health reforms, noting that the tracker provides a framework for improving policy accountability.
Also speaking, the National Mental Health Coordinator at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Tunde Ojo, said independent accountability mechanisms can help strengthen implementation and improve service delivery.
NMH said the platform is open to policymakers, practitioners, researchers and members of the public, who can submit verified implementation updates and feedback to improve transparency and support mental health reforms across the country.
The launch brought together government officials, policymakers, researchers, civil society organisations, development partners, media practitioners and representatives of the creative industry.
Among the organisations supporting the initiative are Lagos Mind, Mind Over Matters NG, Stilt NG, Our Beta Life, the Mental Health Transformation Organisation (MHT) and Hevolve Foundation.
Mental health advocate and musician Hadiza Blell-Olo, popularly known as Di’ja, urged public figures to move beyond raising awareness by supporting partnerships that strengthen mental health reforms, noting that the tracker provides a framework for improving policy accountability.
Also speaking, the National Mental Health Coordinator at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Tunde Ojo, said independent accountability mechanisms can help strengthen implementation and improve service delivery.
NMH said the platform is open to policymakers, practitioners, researchers and members of the public, who can submit verified implementation updates and feedback to improve transparency and support mental health reforms across the country.
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