Bwaje, an agrarian settlement tucked inside Gurdi Ward of Abaji Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sits quietly on the edge of modern Abuja, yet lives as though untouched by the city’s development.

For more than a century, the community has existed without basic amenities many Nigerians consider foundational.

According to the traditional ruler, HRH Aliyu Isah, Bwaje has never benefited from government intervention at either the FCT or area council level.

No school, no health centre, no access road, no borehole, and not even a polling unit. To access any public facility, residents must travel to neighbouring villages.

With a population of over 2,300 people — including Fulani, Hausa dry-season farmers, and other indigenous groups — the community grapples daily with challenges that mirror the hardship of rural life in pre-independence Nigeria.

When Abuja Metro visited, women were seen drawing water from the only well in the village, a structure residents dug themselves last year.

Before then, residents relied solely on the Gurara River—nearly two kilometres away.

The chief said water scarcity is only one layer of the crisis. Without a school building, children take lessons inside the village mosque.

He noted that parents have been forced to enroll their children in a primary school in Gurdi, a difficult two-kilometre journey made worse during the rainy season when flooding makes the river impassable.

Health emergencies, he said, often turn tragic. With no health facility in Bwaje, patients rely on motorcycles to reach Gurdi for treatment.

The community recently lost two pregnant women who died before they could reach the health centre across the river.

Road access into Bwaje paints an equally grim picture. There are no culverts or bridges across the streams leading into the village, making transport nearly impossible for farmers who move produce to markets in Yaba and Abaji.

During the visit, the poor condition of the narrow paths and the absence of any engineered road were clearly visible.

Over the years, the community has also been denied a polling unit. On election days, residents travel to Gurdi to cast their votes — a journey HRH Isah said reinforces feelings of abandonment.

He added that politicians often visit during campaign seasons to make promises that disappear after ballots are counted.

He appealed to the Abaji Area Council chairman to provide Bwaje with essential amenities, including a borehole, a health centre, a primary school, proper road access, and a bridge linking the community to its neighbours.

Responding, the Chief of Staff to the council chairman, Mohammed Kandi, said the council had directed its Works Department to assess the community’s needs for inclusion in next year’s budget.

He added that the chairman had recently visited Bwaje during campaign rounds and promised to address the issues raised.

Despite these assurances, residents remain cautiously hopeful. For a community that has waited over 100 years, visible government presence — not promises — is what they long for.

Source: Daily Trust

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…Minister to Undergo Overseas Treatment

President Bola Tinubu is reportedly considering appointing a replacement for the Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, following concerns over his deteriorating health.

Presidency sources said Edun, who has been battling undisclosed health challenges for weeks, is expected to travel abroad for medical treatment. His temporary absence has triggered consultations on who might oversee the ministry’s affairs in the meantime.

Appointed in August 2023, Edun has been central to Tinubu’s economic reform agenda, driving fiscal and monetary policy coordination and implementing measures to stabilise the naira and boost government revenue.

He oversaw key reforms such as expanding the Treasury Single Account (TSA), automating public revenue systems, and leading the Accelerated Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee, which simplified Nigeria’s tax structure.

Edun also played a major role in subsidy removal, debt restructuring, and strengthening relations with international lenders, which improved fiscal stability and investor confidence.

While details of his illness remain private, officials confirmed the president’s support for his full recovery. “The president holds Mr. Edun in high regard. His health challenge is unfortunate, but governance must continue,” a senior aide said.

Analysts say his successor will inherit both the gains and challenges of ongoing reforms, including inflation management, revenue generation, and economic growth.

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By Ameh Gabriel

A two-day free medical outreach has been scheduled in Kaduna State in honor of the Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, OFR.

This was contained in a statement signed by Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director Defense Information (DDI) on the 4th September, 2025.

The initiative, jointly organised by the Tukur Yusuf Buratai Humanity Care Foundation, the Tukur & Tukur Foundation, and the Southern Kaduna AIDS Foundation (SKAID), will take place on Thursday, September 4, and Friday, September 5, 2025, at the Primary Health Care Centre, Mabuhu Zonzon, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area, starting at 9:00 a.m. daily.

The outreach will provide residents with free medical consultations, treatments, and drugs, alongside eye screening and care, as well as ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) treatment.

Organisers have urged members of the public to spread the word, encouraging individuals with health challenges to take advantage of the humanitarian programme.

The initiative, according to the organisers, underscores their commitment to expanding access to healthcare for underserved communities and also reflects the people-centred leadership of General Musa.

The announcement was made in a statement signed by Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defense Information, on Thursday.

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By Ameh Gabriel

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to issue a service-wide circular mandating all Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to implement compulsory health insurance in line with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act, 2022.

The directive, announced through a statement by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, is aimed at expanding health coverage, reducing out-of-pocket expenses, and strengthening accountability across government and the private sector.

According to the order, MDAs must immediately enrol their employees under the NHIA health insurance plan, with the option of supplementary private coverage where necessary.

The directive also introduces new compliance requirements:

Public Procurement: All companies and contractors bidding for government projects must present a valid NHIA-issued Health Insurance Certificate as part of eligibility documents.

Licenses and Permits: Applicants seeking the issuance or renewal of licenses, permits, or other official approvals must show proof of valid NHIA Health Insurance Certificates.

Verification System: The NHIA will develop a digital platform for real-time verification of insurance certificates to ensure transparency.

Compliance Monitoring: MDAs must work with NHIA to establish internal procedures for verifying certificates and monitoring adherence.

While reinforcing the Act, President Tinubu also urged constructive engagement with the private sector to avoid creating unnecessary burdens for businesses.

Signed into law in 2022, the NHIA Act makes health insurance compulsory for all Nigerians and empowers the Authority to take necessary steps to achieve universal coverage. However, nearly three years later, coverage levels remain alarmingly low despite reforms in the health sector.

The new directive, according to the Presidency, is designed to close this gap and accelerate Nigeria’s journey towards universal health care.

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The decision was reached during the council’s 13th meeting held in Yola, chaired by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri. A significant portion of the funding—₦2.097 billion—was earmarked for the construction of internal roads, drainage channels, landscaping, and solar-powered streetlights within the newly completed Yola Town Market.

“This project will transform the market into a modern commercial hub, improve safety, and attract more businesses,” the council affirmed, stressing the administration’s commitment to revitalising trade centres.

The works, contracted to Amija Nigeria Limited, are scheduled for completion within six months.

In a related development, the council also approved ₦496 million for the recapitalisation of the Adamawa State Health Supply Management Agency. The fund, described as a revolving resource, is designed to improve access to quality, affordable medicines while strengthening healthcare delivery systems.

“Our goal is to ensure that no citizen is left behind in accessing safe and essential medicines,” the council said. “This investment aligns with our vision of achieving universal health coverage.”

The agency, now a legislated body under national healthcare reforms, is charged with ensuring the availability of genuine medical supplies and combating the distribution of counterfeit drugs.

The council also reviewed progress on ongoing urban development projects, including the construction of 1,000 housing units, which form part of the state’s broader strategy to improve living standards and infrastructure.

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