News
Nigeria: Local Government Council battles snakebites
Jos – Residents of Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State have expressed joy as the Transition Implementation Committee Chairman of the Area, Mr. Christopher Wallat makes available basic infrastructure to ease difficulty in road transportation and ensure timely treatment in the case of snakebites in communities.
Qua’an Pan is one of the six local government areas in the Southern zone of the State, there is a prevalence of snakebites in the locality, the road network is very poor and criminal activities are high, though there has been a respite in recent weeks.
To address some of the problems, Mr. Wallat initiated 14 projects across different communities in the area and awarded contracts for their timely execution to ameliorate the plights of the people.
Inspecting the projects which include bridges to link Shindai, Jak, Bwall, Doemak, Namu and others to neighbouring local government areas, construction of a new structure at the Snakebite Hospital with a bigger capacity to cater for more patients, the building of a PHC in Pandam community among others, Wallat expressed the willingness to provide leadership that impacts positively on the people.
His words, “This is one major road that our people depend on, the old bridge is in total disrepair and is collapsing. The bridges on this road link Shindai, Jak, Bwall, Doemak, and other neighbouring local government areas to Namu but the bridges were washed away by flood.
“Vehicles don’t ply this road again, and it is harvesting time, economic activities should be able to kickstart. And such economic activities can not happen without these bridges to ease the movement of our people and goods into the market.
“Most of the cattle being brought to Namu market often come from this place and farm produce like yam, rice, and beans among others. Students find it difficult to go to school, especially in the rainy season. This is an agrarian area; these bridges will also help in terms of quick response to any security threats in these communities.
“Without these bridges, if there are any distress calls from communities across here, security personnel cannot cross to salvage the situation. This LGA used to be a kidnapping zone and robbery among other crimes. But people are sleeping with their eyes closed now, businesses are taking shape because of the cooperation that we are getting from the security agencies and our people, criminals cannot be hibernating among our communities.”
He added, “We have been having incidences of snake bites, the previous administration of Hon. Isaac Kwallu initiated the Snakebite Clinic project but it was in a temporary site. Because of the number of people that are coming from various Local governments and States for treatments because we have subsidized treatments here, we needed to expand.
“We initiated a permanent site for the snakebite hospital, we will continue to supply the anti-snake venoms because of the situation we have found ourselves, living with snakes… I have inspected about 14 projects that we awarded their contracts in Qua’an-Pan LGA. They are ongoing, we have six of them that are healthcare facilities to ensure that the environment is conducive for people coming from different locations to access medical services…”
He said, “A dose goes for N40,000 against N100,000 charged in private hospitals. We receive patients from other local government areas in Plateau as well as those from Nasarawa, Benue, and Taraba States. The challenges we are facing have to do with a shortage of manpower, and the space being compacted, staff, patients and their relations are not comfortable.
“The Council Chairman was here and we told him some of the challenges and he said a new structure will be built, and to the glory of God we are seeing it taking place, we are praying that this will be completed in the shortest possible time.”
A native of Qua’an Pan LGA, Rita Goewam, appreciated the intervention and stated, “We have been having so many difficulties until the Council Chairman stepped in and we are witnessing a remarkable transformation.”
The Long Pandam of Pandam II, o Miskagam Cyril Doegwai expressed commitment to protecting the facility in his domain and said, “We have been using a Zinc house as clinic before this government came into power, so, we went and pleaded with them to come to our aid and they promised to look into it and to God be the glory they are doing that.
“This facility is a Referral Centre, people from Pandam town, Aningo, Gong-Ass, Janta, Koprume, and Kopdogo all come for treatment at this Referral Centre. We appreciate what the leadership of Hon. Christopher Wallat is doing for us in this community.”
Wallat however urged investors to come because “The ease of doing business is not only applicable in the State capital. We have made it very easy for investors to come, we can provide land for you, we can give you a certificate and we can protect you and give you the security to have your business going.”
End.
The outbreak is said to have spread across several ISWAP enclaves, exposing worsening sanitary conditions and the dwindling availability of medical care within the insurgents’ camps.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama disclosed the development in a post on X, citing intelligence sources familiar with the situation.
According to the sources, two other ISWAP fighters who contracted the highly infectious disease were allegedly executed by members of the group after efforts to treat them in Kimba village proved unsuccessful.
The incident is believed to reflect the increasingly difficult conditions inside the terrorist camps, where sustained military offensives have disrupted supply routes and severely limited access to medicines, healthcare and other essential resources.
Intelligence sources said the combination of poor hygiene, inadequate medical facilities and mounting operational pressure has left many of the insurgents vulnerable to disease outbreaks.
The sources further disclosed that military commanders have been advised to intensify efforts to intercept medical supplies and pharmaceutical products suspected of being destined for terrorist hideouts. Security officials believe cutting off access to healthcare supplies could further weaken ISWAP’s ability to treat injured or sick fighters and reduce the group’s operational capacity.
While the reports have not been independently verified, the development is seen as another indication of the mounting challenges facing the insurgent group as security forces continue sustained operations across the North-East.
The development was disclosed on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
In a shared post on his verified X handle, Onanuga simply announced that the victims had been released by their abductors.
“Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies,” he wrote.
As of the time of filing this report, details surrounding their release, including whether any ransom was paid or the circumstances leading to their freedom, had yet to be disclosed.
The abductions occurred on May 15, 2026, when armed men attacked three schools; Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School, in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area.
No fewer than 39 pupils and seven teachers, including a principal, were taken during the attacks.
During the attack, a teacher, Joel Adesiyan, was killed while attempting to escape.
Another teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded in the kidnappers’ den.
The terrorists holding the victims had reportedly made a four-point demand before agreeing to free the captives, including the release of detained terrorist commanders, payment of ransom, two Hilux vehicles and the implementation of Sharia-related law.
The Oyo State Government had consistently maintained that no ransom would be paid to secure the release of any victims.
The incident had triggered weeks of public anguish, with the Nigeria Union of Teachers embarking on a month-long strike in the state to press for the victims’ rescue before suspending the action in July.
It also drew federal intervention, with military and police authorities repeatedly assuring Nigerians that operations to secure the victims’ freedom were ongoing.
Reactions have trailed to trail the disclosure by the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, that Nigerian soldiers now earn a minimum monthly salary of N100,000 following recent welfare reforms by the Federal Government.
Veterans and serving personnel have described the amount as grossly inadequate in the face of Nigeria’s rising cost of living, while some accused the Federal Government of failing to implement a more substantial salary review promised months ago.
The criticism comes amid renewed concerns over troop welfare, military funding, and the effectiveness of efforts to boost morale among personnel battling insecurity across the country.
A retired soldier, Abdul Isiak, argued that the current salary falls far short of what is needed to meet basic living expenses.
“It is not enough at all. What is N100,000 in the current situation of the country? It cannot go far. They should do better. If soldiers are paid more, they will be more motivated and committed to their duties,” he said.
Another retired military officer, Sergeant Zaki Williams, questioned the accuracy of the figure disclosed by the minister and described the amount as inadequate for personnel who risk their lives in service to the nation.
“I doubt if they are even paying up to that amount now. Even if they are, it is too little. Any government paying a soldier N100,000 in today’s economy is not serious enough about the welfare of its troops,” he said.
Williams noted that soldiers face enormous challenges and deserve better remuneration and working conditions.
Also reacting, the Coordinator of the Coalition for Concerned Veterans, Abiodun Herbert-Durowaye, said the salary does not reflect the sacrifices made by military personnel.
“How can that be sufficient for someone putting his life on the line for the country? Consider the cost of food, housing, transportation, and children’s education. N100,000 is far from adequate for those responsible for protecting the nation’s peace and security,” he stated.
The reactions followed comments by the Minister of Defence during an interview with News Central, where he disclosed that the minimum monthly salary of soldiers had increased from N49,000 to N100,000 under the current administration.
According to the minister, the Federal Government has made deliberate efforts to improve troop welfare despite funding challenges facing the military.
“When they started, a soldier was collecting N49,000 monthly. We tried so hard, now he’s collecting N100,000,” he said.
Musa, however, acknowledged that the defence sector remains underfunded and requires greater financial support to effectively address the country’s security challenges.
The minister also advocated stricter penalties for kidnapping, including the possibility of introducing the death penalty for convicted kidnappers, arguing that stronger deterrents are necessary to curb the growing wave of abductions across the country.
The debate over soldiers’ welfare comes at a time when the military continues to confront multiple security threats, with stakeholders insisting that improved remuneration, better equipment, and enhanced welfare packages are critical to boosting morale and operational effectiveness.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced that travellers in the United States seeking Nigerian visas must now submit their applications directly at Nigerian diplomatic missions following the termination of its contract with a third-party visa processing company.
The new directive, which takes immediate effect, ends the role previously played by Online Integrated Solutions (OIS Services), which had been responsible for receiving and processing Nigerian visa applications through its centres across the United States.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the NIS Public Relations Officer, Akinsola Akinlabi, said visa applicants are now required to submit their documents directly at the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington, D.C., or at the Nigerian Consulates in New York and Atlanta until further notice.
The immigration service did not state the reason for ending its partnership with OIS Services.
However, Akinlabi assured applicants that adequate measures have been put in place at the embassy and consulates to ensure a smooth transition. He added that visa submission, processing and approval would continue without disruption.
He also urged prospective travellers to monitor the official communication channels of the Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigerian diplomatic missions in the United States for updates on visa application procedures.
A Professor of Economics and Governance, Prof. Chiwuike Uba, has called on South African Government to take active responsibility of protecting foreigner and desist from ‘compromising inaction’.
Uba, Chairman of the ACUF Initiative for Policy and Governance, made the call on Thursday in Enugu in a statement he titled: “South Africa Is Playing with Fire, and Its Elites Are Holding the Match”.
He said that the lack of intentional action against the individuals and groups perpetrate the xenophobic attacks, who are non-state actors, raises serious questions under international law.
The don noted that “protection of non-nationals is a clear obligation, not a discretionary act.”
According to him, persistent failure to uphold this responsibility undermines both legal commitments and diplomatic credibility.
Uba said that the implications of the development extend far beyond South Africa, adding that it would have economically, politically and diplomatically consequences both to the country and Africa in general.
He noted that economically, the country is not just another market.
“It is a continental anchor. Its financial systems, industrial base, and regional linkages make it central to African growth.
“Prolonged instability would ripple outward, constraining trade, deterring investment, and weakening regional integration,” he said.
On the Political aspect, he said that South Africa had long been seen as a model of democratic transition and constitutionalism.
“If that model begins to fracture, it sends a powerful signal across the continent.
“It emboldens those who argue that institutional democracy cannot deliver, and it weakens reformist voices elsewhere,” he said.
Uba said that diplomatically, xenophobic violence is not a domestic issue when it targets foreign nationals.
He said, “It is an international concern that tests regional solidarity and diplomatic patience.
“Each episode forces other African governments to respond, balancing domestic outrage with the need to preserve bilateral relations.”
The don noted that over time, the balance in the country would becomes harder to maintain as non-state actors would be emboldened to perpetrate other unlawful acts as they view the government as weak or inactive.
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