• Minister of Power orders replacement of old equipment to combat the constant collapse of the national grid
• FG announces free caesarean section for vulnerable and poor women
• Tinubu asks that the media hold the government accountable to democracy
• Governor of Abia State renames Abia State Polytechnic after first governor
• Sokoto residents lament about the disruption of peace by the Lakurawa members

Across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, these are the five top Nigerian news stories you shouldn’t miss.

Minister of Power orders replacement of old equipment to combat the constant collapse of the national grid

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has instructed that all aged equipment be replaced to stop the constant collapse of the national grid, as it has become a shameful occurrence.

The Minister promised that the total replacement of all old equipment would be completed within six months, and he also instructed the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and other agencies of the ministry to begin the urgent implementation of the inter-agency committee’s recommendations to address the ongoing grid failures in the power sector.

This news came with the grid’s eleventh and most recent collapse on Thursday, November 7, caused by a surge in frequency from 50.33Hz to 51.44Hz.

FG announces free caesarean section for vulnerable and poor women

The federal government, through Ali Pate, the minister of health and social welfare, has announced that all poor and vulnerable women will be granted free caesarean sections (C-section) nationwide.

The minister stated that the FG’s reason for making C-sections accessible for poor women is to combat maternal and neonatal mortality rate, which ranks among the highest worldwide.

“A pivotal feature of this initiative is the provision of free caesarean sections for poor and vulnerable women who meet eligibility criteria, covering services provided through public and private facilities empanelled by the National Health Insurance Authority,” Pate said.

The minister also affirmed that an additional 120,000 health workers will be engaged to support primary care across Nigeria.

Tinubu asks that the media hold the government accountable to democracy

President Bola Tinubu has informed Nigerians and the Nigerian media to hold all government officials, appointed and elected, responsible in a way that would promote democracy in Nigeria.

The President was represented by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who shared the President’s words at the 20th edition of the All Nigeria Editors Conference in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

“In any thriving democracy, the roles of the government and the media are intertwined, both essential in serving the public interest,” he said.

Governor of Abia State renames Abia State Polytechnic after first governor

Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has renamed the Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, after the first governor of the state, the late Dr Ogbonnaya Onu.

The governor announced celebrating the late governor’s name by renaming a tertiary institution after him on Thursday, November 7, during a commendation service held in honour of the deceased at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia.

Sokoto residents lament about the disruption of peace by the Lakurawa members

Residents of Sokoto State, along with government officials, have called for the federal government’s attention, lamenting that the members of the Lakurawa group have brought nothing but chaos and destruction to the state.

The military in the state has also complained that the existence of the group in the state has worsened the insecurity issues in the North West.

Residents of the state have voiced out about the group claiming to protect the people in Sokoto; however, they (Lakurawa members) have imposed some rules that are inefficient and in line with the people’s rights in the state.

“They claim they are protecting us against bandits and at the same time imposing certain religious laws on our communities. Recently, they beat some of our youths for shaving their beards. The same treatment is meted to those with hairstyles or who listen to music,” a resident said.