The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Ipalibo Banigo, has called for increased investment in Nigeria’s health sector, saying the country remains below its commitments to healthcare financing.

Ms Banigo made the call on Monday in Abuja after she was recognised as the Health Champion 2026 at the Health Sector Reform Coalition (HSRC)/Nigeria Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Civil Society Organisations-Media Mid-Year Review of Nigeria’s Health Sector Reforms.

The event brought together government representatives, civil society organisations, development partners and media professionals to review progress on health-sector reforms and efforts to improve health outcomes in Nigeria.

Increased health investment

Receiving the recognition, Ms Banigo, a medical doctor and senator representing Rivers West Senatorial District, said Nigeria still had significant ground to cover in meeting its health-financing commitments.

She noted that despite the country’s commitment under the Abuja Declaration to allocate 15 per cent of its annual budget to health, actual government spending remains considerably below that benchmark.

“We are not up to the 15 per cent declaration, the Abuja Declaration; we are not there yet. Even at six per cent, we are not close to it,” she said.

She stressed that stronger efforts were needed to increase domestic financing for healthcare.

Her call comes as the National Assembly continues to pursue legislative measures to expand domestic resources available for healthcare.

Legislative

One of the measures sponsored by Ms Banigo is the National Health Act (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to increase the allocation to the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) from one per cent to two per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

The BHCPF is intended to support the delivery of basic healthcare services, particularly through primary healthcare facilities.

Beyond the BHCPF, Ms Banigo has also sponsored the Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSB) Tax Bill, which seeks to replace the existing flat-rate levy on sugary drinks with a percentage-based levy linked to retail prices.

The Senate passed the bill in June 2026.

Under the proposed framework, revenue generated from the levy would support health promotion, disease prevention and primary healthcare.

Health advocacy

The Health Champion 2026 recognition was presented to Ms Banigo for her advocacy and legislative contributions to Nigeria’s health sector.

Presenting the plaque, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, applauded her contributions and encouraged her to sustain the effort.

Mr Pate’s commendation came as stakeholders at the event reviewed ongoing reforms to improve health financing and health outcomes across the country.

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Ms Banigo expressed appreciation to the organisers, government representatives, civil society organisations, development partners, media professionals and other stakeholders involved in the review.

Ms Banigo said the recognition had further strengthened her resolve to continue supporting policies and reforms aimed at improving healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested a former staff member of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and 12 others over their alleged involvement in the vandalism of electricity cables worth more than N350 million in Abuja.

The suspects were also arrested in connection with alleged car theft, armed robbery and human trafficking across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and neighbouring states.

The NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commandant Babawale Afolabi, disclosed this during a parade at the Corps’ National Headquarters in Abuja and at a crime scene in Yangoji, Kwali Area Council.

Afolabi said the arrests were made by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS) as part of efforts to protect critical national assets and infrastructure.

He said the operations covered the FCT and Nasarawa, Plateau, Kogi, Benue, Niger and Kaduna states.

“One of the major suspects arrested is 25-year-old Isaac Zegbe, a former AEDC employee, who allegedly worked with his accomplices to vandalise more than 15 kilometres of aluminium conductors between Yangoji and Abaji.

“The vandalised cables were valued at more than N350 million and were later supplied to buyers in different markets across the FCT,” he said.

Following a sting operation, operatives recovered a large quantity of the vandalised cables at Gudu Market and arrested suspected receivers.

One of the suspects, identified as Chijoke Christian, allegedly admitted that he knowingly bought the stolen cables.

The Corps said it had obtained a court order to seal the shops of merchants linked to the purchase of the stolen aluminium cables.

The NSCDC also said its intelligence operations led to the arrest of a four-man syndicate allegedly involved in stealing Toyota vehicles across the FCT and neighbouring states.

The suspects were identified as Adamu Yusuf, Hassan Bukar, Adamu Musa, also known as Yellow, and Abdulsalam Isa, alias Kada.

In another operation, operatives arrested four suspected members of an armed robbery gang identified as Nuhu Ndam, Ponbin Lamkur, Yilcwat Sohdan and Ganpyal Dul.

The Corps said an AK-47 rifle, 16 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition and N70,000 cash were recovered from the suspects.

The NSCDC also reported a breakthrough in a human trafficking investigation following the recovery of Micaiah Nana, the last of 16 children allegedly trafficked by Archibong Anderson on January 15, 2026.

According to the Corps, the people who allegedly bought the child have been arrested and are assisting with the investigation.

Other suspects arrested included Bilyaminu Musa and Abba Yusuf, who were allegedly involved in power cable vandalism in Abuja city centre.

Another suspect, Theophilus Oche Oboii, was arrested over the alleged theft of 15 tractor batteries from the National Agricultural Seeds Council in Kwali. The batteries were reportedly sold for N20,000 each.

“Items recovered during the operations included a stolen Toyota Camry with registration number YAB 163 EE, cut armoured electrical cables, 15 tractor batteries, master keys, cutting tools, knives and a stolen travel bag containing clothes,” he added.

Afolabi said the NSCDC would continue to go after criminal networks involved in the theft and destruction of critical infrastructure.