Calabar news in brief for January 31: Saturday’s top headlines

Kelina Hospital Leads in Prostate Surgeries

Kelina Hospital successfully performed 212 prostate surgeries in 2025, positioning itself as a leader in medical tourism within Nigeria. This significant number of procedures highlights the hospital’s capacity and expertise in addressing prostate-related health issues for both local and international patients. The hospital’s commitment to advanced surgical techniques and patient care has contributed to its growing reputation in the medical field. Source

Police, Media Pledge Public Trust

The Nigeria Police Force and media stakeholders have pledged to uphold public trust and promote gender-responsive policing. This commitment was made during a workshop in Calabar, Cross River State, aimed at enhancing collaboration between the police and the media. The initiative seeks to ensure fair representation and sensitive reporting on gender-related issues within law enforcement, ultimately encouraging a more accountable and responsive police service for the benefit of all residents in Cross River State and beyond. Source

NSITF Pensions Increased Significantly

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has approved an 1,173% increase in pensions for 2,116 Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) retirees, paying N8.7 billion in arrears. This marks the first pension increase for these beneficiaries in 21 years, raising their combined monthly pensions from N12.56 million to N159.95 million. The enhancement, which saw individual pensions rise from about N18,000 to N206,000 monthly, with over N8 million in arrears per retiree, is part of ongoing reforms to improve pensioner welfare and match with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to social protection. This action addresses long-standing disparities and restores the real value of benefits, ensuring scheme sustainability. Source

Cross River Boosts Maternal Health

The Cross River State Government, in partnership with the UNFPA, has received a significant delivery of family planning commodities. This initiative aims to enhance maternal health services across the state by ensuring access to essential reproductive health supplies for women and girls. The program underscores the government’s commitment to improving healthcare outcomes and supporting family well-being within Cross River. Source

Cross River Boosts Healthcare Delivery

The Cross River State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing primary healthcare services, as stakeholders reviewed progress at the First Quarter Meeting of the State Task Force on Primary Health Care Services. Presided over by Deputy Governor Peter Odey, the meeting highlighted improvements in healthcare delivery across the state, with commendations for development partners like WHO and UNICEF. The government emphasized its dedication to strengthening health agencies and local councils, noting Cross River’s pioneering role in implementing a health insurance policy to improve access to affordable care for residents, particularly the vulnerable. Source

Digital Economy Needs Trust, Privacy

Nigeria’s digital economy growth must be built on trust, data protection, and shared prosperity to achieve the one trillion dollar financial vision. Minister of Communications, Advancement and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, stated this on Global Privacy Day 2026, emphasizing that data privacy is fundamental to building trust and ensuring the sustainability of digital change. President Bola Tinubu’s signing of the Nigeria Data Protection Act underscores the commitment to protecting citizens’ rights and personal data. The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has generated over ₦5.2 billion in compliance revenue and created 23,000 jobs within the data protection system. Source