
The Akwa Ibom State Government announced that the inaugural international flight from Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, to Kotoka International Airport, Accra, Ghana, is scheduled for Saturday, May 2, 2026. This follows presidential approval for the airport's upgrade to international status. Governor Umo Eno stated that Ibom Air will operate the flight, with a return trip on Sunday, May 3, 2026. He described this as a significant step in expanding aviation capacity, improving global connectivity, and positioning Akwa Ibom as a destination for tourism, trade, and investment. The Governor thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the approval and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for his support, also acknowledging past state leaders. The state Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the milestone's importance for the state's strategic drive. This announcement aligns with earlier indications in December 2025 that Ibom Air would begin international operations in April 2026, after Minister Keyamo inspected the facility and expressed satisfaction with its readiness.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadThe House of Representatives has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to borrow $516,333,007 in syndicated financing from Deutsche Bank AG for infrastructure development. This approval, granted during a plenary session in Abuja, follows a report presented by Abdullahi Rasheed, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management. The loan is intended to support sections of the proposed Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway, a key infrastructure project under the Tinubu administration aimed at improving connectivity across Nigeria. President Tinubu had previously sought legislative approval for these funds, specifying that they would finance Sections 1, 1A, and 1B of the project. The 1,000-kilometer highway is designed to connect Nigeria’s North-West and South-West corridors, passing through Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos states, from Illela to Badagry. The President stated that the project is expected to significantly enhance connectivity, facilitate trade, and drive economic integration in the affected regions.

The United Nations Population Fund UNFPA and the Sokoto State Government have partnered to train 500 young women as community midwives through a scholarship scheme. This initiative aims to improve maternal healthcare and reduce mortality in rural communities. The program, called the Community Midwifery Scholarship and Bonding Scheme, will provide full scholarships to 500 beneficiaries from rural communities, with 250 enrolling in 2026 and another 250 in 2027. These trainees are expected to be deployed to underserved communities after graduation. Sokoto State Governor, Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, stated that his administration is committed to strengthening the health workforce and has already recruited over 1,500 nurses and midwives. The State Commissioner for Health, Faruk Umar, added that the scholarship scheme will help bridge the gap in skilled birth attendants. The state is also recruiting over 2,400 community health workers to enhance primary healthcare services. UNFPA also noted its family planning support, with the state's N30 million investment in child-spacing commodities matched by N50 million worth of supplies from the agency. UNFPA has earmarked over N4.6 billion for Sokoto in 2026, making it one of its highest-funded states.
Must ReadJames Faleke, the lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency and founder of the Tinubu Support Groups, has obtained the All Progressives Congress Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for President Bola Tinubu. This action formally marks the beginning of Tinubu's re-election campaign for the 2027 presidential election. The forms, valued at N100 million, were presented to Faleke by the APC National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Argungu, in Abuja. The Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled the Presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027. Party primaries are set to occur from April 23, 2026, to May 30, 2026, with presidential campaign activities commencing on August 19, 2026.
Must ReadThe World Health Organization has identified Nigeria as one of the countries contributing significantly to global hepatitis-related deaths in 2024. Viral hepatitis B and C, responsible for 95% of these deaths, caused 1.34 million fatalities in 2024, with 1.8 million new infections annually. Ten countries, including Nigeria, accounted for 69% of hepatitis B-related deaths, while another set of ten countries, also including Nigeria, made up 58% of hepatitis C-related deaths. Despite a 32% decline in new hepatitis B infections and a 12% fall in hepatitis C-related deaths globally since 2015, progress is uneven. WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus noted that while elimination is achievable with political commitment and financing, many remain undiagnosed and untreated due to stigma, weak health systems, and unequal access to care. In 2024, an estimated 287 million people lived with chronic hepatitis B or C. Africa accounted for 68% of the 0.9 million new hepatitis B infections, yet only 17% of newborns in the region received the hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine. Less than 5% of chronic hepatitis B patients and about 20% of hepatitis C patients have received treatment, despite effective therapies. Liver cirrhosis and liver cancer were the leading causes of the 1.1 million hepatitis B and 240,000 hepatitis C deaths in 2024. The WHO emphasizes the need for expanded vaccination, wider testing, improved treatment access, and stronger prevention to meet 2030 targets.