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Exclusive Breastfeeding: FG Set To Approve Six-Month Maternity Leave

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The National Food and Nutrition Committee and the Federal Ministry of Health on Friday took its public Place campaign on Exclusive Breastfeeding to public servants and residents of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in commemoration of the World Breastfeeding Week.

This is even as the Federal government has disclosed that it would soon approved 6 months compulsory maternity leave for all the working mothers across the country.

The awareness campaign, themed: Enabling Breastfeeding: Making a Difference for Working Parents was organised in collaboration with the USAID, ScaleUp Nutrition, Helen Keller International; UNECEF; Gain; Save the Children ; Action Against Hunger; Breakthrough Action; World Food Programme and Nutrition International among others.

Speaking on the awareness campaign, the Director, Head Micronutrient Deficiency Control, Federal Ministry of Health, Chief Uruakpa John said the essence of the campaign was to enlighten the public, especially the working mothers on the importance of breastfeeding, because, ‘’when you breastfeed a child exclusively, the immunity of that child is built against disease and infection’’.

He said, ‘’breastfeeding is significant in the life of every human being, we are all mammals and we are created to breastfeed our babies when they are born. So, when the mother is not there to their babies when they are born, they suffer greatly in terms of growth and proper development because the enablement of immunity and protection from the mothers’ breast will not be there.

‘‘So, breast milk is what the whole world is celebrating to encourage our mothers both working class and full time mothers to breastfeed their children. It is not a matter of breastfeeding; you must exclusively breastfeed your child for you to get the best out of that breast milk. When you breastfeed a child exclusively, the immunity of that child is built against disease and infection.

‘‘If you give a child exclusively breast milk for six months, you have equipped the child nutritionally and by the time you introduce, whole food, complimentary food, the child will be able to grow properly. He will get all the antibiotics and all he needs to survive.’’

‘‘The essence of this campaign is to keep on encouraging our mothers and organization to provide enabling environment for our mothers to breastfeed. That is why government it their wisdom has approved 16 weeks for maternity leave and we are pushing for six months. Which we are getting feelers that it would soon be approved. Even at that, some states have approved 6 moths and even giving fathers for 2 weeks and they are pushing more, if they can approve 4 weeks they will accept that.

‘‘We are pushing this lately because our women are trying lately, bringing lives, if they did not breastfeed, we would not be here as doctors, workers and journalists, directors, permanent secretaries,. We talk about leaders because some of them were not well breastfed and we can see the results.’’

Addressing journalist, Country Director of Nutrition International, Dr. Osita Okonkwo, said they were involved in the campaign for exclusive breastfeeding because many working mothers are difranchised, and sometimes they lose their jobs or may not be allowed to breastfeed because of work place policies.

And for this reason, he said they embarked on creating awareness for government and private organization to make it possible for pregnant women, when the return from work, have access to their children and be able to breastfeed effectively.

‘‘That is why we are here to sensitise ministry of education and other ministries they they should create work place policies that will make it friendly for women to breastfeed adequately.

‘‘Specifically, we want people to see pregnancy and child delivery not as a problem but the way to go in the sense that we will provide at least 6 months maternity leave for women to be able to breastfeed their children and also for those who have gone to work to see where they can comfortably breastfeed their children. Essentially, exclusively breastfeeding for 6 months and complimentary breastfeeding for 2 years.’’ He further suggested that paid leave and also guaranteeing working mothers job security will be a good incentive for them, which will enable them to do effective breastfeeding.

Also speaking, Lead Midwive for Wellbeing Africa, Princess Usung, said the theme of this year celebration is the best so far, because mothers are being deprived of breastfeeding their children for 6 months and this has brought a breach between mothers and their babies.

‘It is advisable that policy makers, employers and managers to set aside a breastfeeding cubicle for nursing mothers, so that during the work hours, they can take some time off to breastfeed their children. The importance of breastfeeding cannot be overemphasised as it is easily digestible, and provides nutritional benefits to children.’’

She also advocated for paid leave for at least 6 months for working class mothers for them to breastfeed their children.

For her, the 16 weeks that has been put in place can be extended for 6 months and for the fathers, he is of the view that they should be given paternity leave to support their wives because it goes hand in hand and collaborative support can always foster optimum breastfeeding for our children.

On her part, Senior Maternal, Newborn Health and Nutrition Adviser to USAID, Angela Samba, said USAID has been engaging in grassroot awareness creation for breastfeeding because behavioural change does not come easy.

‘‘We know that behaviour change is not something that happens overnight, but we are making effort are making with various partners. In the 2018 NDHS survey, it was revealed that stunting rate was 29% but last year we had mixed survey which showed us that we had improved from what it was before.

‘‘So, it is showing us that our effort is paying off, we may not be there yet, but we will continue talking about it, through awareness creation. Our efforts is mostly around communities, creating awareness and encouraging people to adopt some of these breastfeeding practices and other health behaviours. We also have other USAID partners that are working around health facilities, system strengthening and policy advocacy to ensure that all of these efforts are geared towards giving the desired result.’’

World Breastfeeding Week holds every 1st-7th of August, every year. The theme is geared towards creating an enabling environment for working parents so that they can breastfeed their children optimally.

 

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Couple Kidnapped, One Shot In Ondo Estate Attack

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Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a couple from their residence in the Iluabo area of Akure North Local Government, Ondo State.

During the attack, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday, February 21, 2026, the assailants shot one person before seizing the victims.

The gunmen had stormed Olaribigba Estate in the community when they whisked Mr Jamiu Olawale and his wife into the bush.

Following the development, which has created tension in the agrarian community, residents protested and barricaded the road leading to the community over the incessant kidnappings and insecurity in the community.

According to sources, the couple had arrived at their residence in an ash-coloured Toyota Camry when they were attacked by the gunmen, who lay in ambush for them.

During the incident, a neighbour of the abducted couple, Patrick Ilumaro, who was seated in front of his residence, was shot by the gunmen while fleeing from the community.

A neighbour of the victims revealed that Ilumaro was swiftly rushed to an undisclosed medical facility where he is currently receiving medical treatment.

While confirming the incident, the Ondo State Police Command disclosed that tactical teams as well as conventional operatives have been deployed to the community.

In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, the operatives are already combing the axis in an effort to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.

“Concerted efforts are ongoing to ensure the safe return of the abducted persons and bring those responsible to justice.

“Members of the public are urged to remain calm and go about their lawful activities. Meanwhile, the Command urges them to provide credible and actionable information that may assist in the investigation to the nearest police station.”

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Brake Failure Leaves One Dead, Four Rescued At Abule-Egba

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One person died and four others were rescued following a road accident at Ekoro Junction, Abule-Egba, on Friday evening, according to a statement from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority.

The Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, made this known in a statement issued on the agency’s X handle on Saturday.

According to the agency, the crash occurred at about 7:30 p.m. when an empty MACK tanker suffered a sudden brake failure, lost control and rammed into a Toyota Corolla before crashing into a roadside shop.

LASTMA said the tanker, with registration number EKY 900 XY, collided with a Toyota Corolla marked AAA 823 AY.

The impact caused extensive structural damage to the shop and triggered panic among traders and pedestrians in the area.

“The magnitude of the collision led to the immediate confirmation of one fatality at the scene, while four other trapped persons were extricated from the wreckage through coordinated emergency rescue efforts,” the agency stated.

The authority said it immediately activated its Rescue and Recovery Protocol, deploying specialised operatives to manage the situation.

“Personnel implemented strategic traffic diversion, vehicular evacuation procedures and crowd management in synergy with other emergency responders to forestall secondary incidents and guarantee unobstructed access for rescue operations,” LASTMA added.

It stated that emergency teams carried out rescue operations and provided medical attention to the injured victims.

According to the agency, a heavy-duty tow truck was later deployed to evacuate the damaged tanker and clear debris from the road to restore normal traffic flow.

The agency disclosed that the tanker driver fled the scene shortly after the crash and security operatives have since launched efforts to apprehend the driver and initiate legal proceedings.

“Security personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Ekoro Division, responded expeditiously, maintaining public order, securing the accident perimeter and assisting in investigative processes aimed at establishing the precise sequence of events that culminated in the mechanical failure and subsequent collision.

“The incident precipitated considerable traffic congestion extending across adjoining routes toward Abule-Egba, necessitating robust traffic management interventions by LASTMA officials who remained on ground directing vehicular movement and implementing diversion strategies to alleviate the backlog,” it said.

According to the agency, its General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and urged transport operators, particularly drivers of articulated vehicles, to prioritise routine vehicle maintenance.

“Preventable mechanical deficiencies remain a significant contributory factor in severe road traffic crashes,” Bakare-Oki said.

He also advised motorists to exercise vigilance, obey traffic regulations and maintain responsible driving practices, especially within densely populated commercial corridors.

Bakare-Oki assured the public that security agencies would conduct a thorough investigation to determine the immediate and remote causes of the incident and ensure that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with extant laws.

The agency said other emergency responders at the scene included the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Ambulance Service, the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit and officers of the Nigeria Police Force, collaborated to coordinate rescue, medical response and environmental safety measures.

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Court Sets Feb 25 For El-Rufai’s Arraignment In DSS Cybercrime Case

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The Department of State Services (DSS) will arraign former Governnor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai, on February 25 over alleged cybercrime and breach of national security.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court has fixed the date for the arraignment of the former Governor on a three-count criminal charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) after the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho assigned the case to her.

NAN earlier reported that the DSS, on Monday, filed a three-count criminal charge against El-Rufai following his alleged involvement in wiretapping the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

The charge, instituted by the Nigerian secret police, is marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026.

The service accused El-Rufai of breaching the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act (2024) and the Nigerian Communications Act (2003.)

In court, El-Rufai was alleged to have, on Feb. 13, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, admitted during the interview that he and his cohorts unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the NSA, Mr Ribadu.

The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.

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