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Just In: Bernard Doro Resumes Office
Bernard Doro on Tuesday officially assumed duty as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, following his appointment by President Bola Tinubu
Doro becomes the fourth person to head the ministry, taking over from Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, who now serves as the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress.
The new minister, accompanied by his wife, Dr Naomi Doro, and other well-wishers, was received by the Minister of State, Dr Yusuf Sununu; the Permanent Secretary, Dr Yakubu Kofarmata; and other senior officials of the ministry.
Speaking during his maiden address to ministry staff and heads of agencies, Doro outlined his vision and reaffirmed his commitment to President Tinubu’s poverty-reduction agenda.
He vowed to prioritize programmes aimed at lifting more than 60 per cent of Nigerians currently experiencing multidimensional poverty.
The minister stressed that collaboration and diligence within the ministry would be crucial to achieving the administration’s goal of “making hope a reality” for the poor.
Doro said, “I have lived in the UK for over two decades, so there will be a bit of adjustment to make, but I believe that by leveraging your experience, technical knowledge, and my willingness to learn, we can take this ministry to greater heights.
For some reason, there have been great expectations of me, I’m not sure why, but the bar has been set so high, and I need to work extra hard to make sure that I even get to half of the bar that has been set for me.
“I believe that we will work together to achieve even beyond that. So, my goal is simple. Mr President wants to renew the hope of Nigerians, and especially those at the bottom of the economic ladder.
“This country, by statistics, has over 60 per cent multi-dimensionally poor people. I’m sure we can do better with the resources that we have as a country. And it is our job, as the humanitarian affairs ministry and poverty reduction, to help those people move up from where they are.
“We can help them to make sure that we achieve social mobility. We can do this because of the experience that is in the house, and we will do this by working together and by collaborating. We will do this by ensuring that we are accountable to one another.
“The goal is to make sure that we make hope a reality for those demographics that we are serving, and we would be selfless in doing that.”
Doro also stated that trust is vital to achieving the ministry’s set objectives.
He said, “It feels at home, and I must say it feels like a family, and I want to believe that I can understand the culture here and be part of that culture. You can rest assured that the positive aspects of the culture here will be maintained. And where we need to rejig, we’ll need to challenge ourselves.
“I can see a team here, and a team is not just people who work together; it is people who actually trust one another. I believe that one element that is important for us is that we can trust one another as we work together, because that is how we can achieve the intended objective.
“I am taking over from someone who is a friend, who is a mentor. And it’s indeed a big shoe to fill, a big shoe to step into, but one thing that gives me courage is the fact that I have got experienced individuals here, and I know that you will support me to not only get into the shoe,but to walk in it comfortably.”
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has approved the payment of a 13th-month pension bonus to all pensioners in the state, as well as a one-off welfare support of N10,000 in November 2026.
Speaking at the Ibom Hall grounds in Uyo on Friday, during the presentation of a merit award by the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners and an endorsement of his second-term bid, Eno said pensioners deserved to rest well after their meritorious service to the state.
Eno said he was particularly impressed by the pensioners’ sense of gratitude and assured them that the state government, under his leadership, would continue to prioritise the welfare of pensioners and elderly citizens.
He said, “This is indeed humbling to me. It shows that you are truly technocrats with a laudable sense of organisation. You may be retired but not tired. I celebrate and appreciate you greatly.
“I am now directing that N10,000 be added to the November 2026 pension payment of every pensioner in support of your welfare.”
He urged them to enrol in the state’s health insurance scheme, which he said was free for people aged 65 and above, to enable them to enjoy quality healthcare.
Eno recalled that he had promised to clear the backlog of gratuities, adding that N100bn had so far been paid from the accumulated N111bn owed since 2012. He assured the pensioners that the outstanding balance would be cleared before the end of his first term.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for making funds available to states, saying this had enabled him to fulfil his promise to clear the gratuity arrears.
Eno called on the pensioners to vote massively for Tinubu in the 2027 elections, saying this would ensure the continued availability of funds for the prompt payment of gratuities and pensions, as well as other welfare packages.
He also urged pensioners from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District to vote for the re-election of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Responding, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Comrade Mazi Godwin Ikechukwu Abumisi, commended Eno for what he described as his compassion and care for pensioners in the state.
Abumisi also praised Eno’s leadership and development efforts and urged pensioners across the state to support his second-term bid in 2027.
Earlier, in his welcome remarks, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Pastor Sylvester Nkodo, thanked Eno for his leadership, saying his commitment to the welfare of elderly people and retired public servants was heartwarming.
“Governor Umo Eno is a true leader with the heart for humanity who deserves prayers and support from the people. I urge pensioners to support his administration,” he said.
The National Assembly has confirmed that 28 State Houses of Assembly have approved the proposed establishment of state police in Nigeria, paving the way for the constitutional amendment bill to be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
According to the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, the 28 approvals exceed the two-thirds majority required under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, which translates to 24 states. The National Assembly can therefore proceed with the next stage of the process towards presidential assent.
The bill was forwarded to the 36 state assemblies on September 16, 2026, for consideration, with October 15 initially set as the deadline for them to communicate their decisions. Ogunlana, however, said his office would continue to receive and verify reports from the assemblies ahead of the bill’s transmission to Tinubu.
The 28 states that have approved the proposed establishment of state police are listed below:
Adamawa
Delta
Edo
Kwara
Nasarawa
Ogun
Osun
Oyo
Plateau
Rivers
Taraba
Zamfara
Enugu
Anambra
Imo
Ekiti
Kebbi
Akwa Ibom
Bayelsa
Benue
Cross River
Abia
Yobe
Kaduna
Lagos
Kano
Sokoto
Ebonyi
A new political prediction has emerged ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with a state-by-state electoral map showing the states former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi are projected to win.
The prediction, published by Statecraft, outlines the expected performance of the three major political figures across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to the prediction, Tinubu is projected to win 15 states and the FCT, Atiku is expected to secure nine states, while Obi is tipped to emerge victorious in 12 states.
The map, which uses orange, blue and white colours to distinguish the three presidential contenders, provides a breakdown of the states each candidate is projected to win.
States Tinubu Is Projected to Win
According to the prediction, Tinubu is expected to win.
The FCT is also included in Tinubu’s projected victories.
States Atiku Abubakar Is Projected to Win
The former vice president is projected to win nine states.
States Peter Obi Is Projected to Win
Meanwhile, Obi is projected to secure 12 states.
The breakdown suggests a competitive presidential contest, with the three political figures projected to command support across different regions of the country.
Interestingly, the prediction places Tinubu ahead with 15 states and the FCT, followed by Obi with 12 states and Atiku with nine states.
However, it is important to note that the map represents Statecraft’s political prediction and not an official election result, an opinion poll or a declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The actual outcome of the 2027 presidential election will be determined by voters when Nigerians head to the polls.
The prediction has also raised questions about the possible political realignments, regional voting patterns and factors that could shape the contest in 2027.
JUST IN: Nigerian Gov Approves 13th-Month Bonus
Full List: 28 States That Approved State Police
