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IAWPA African Director Metchie gifts money, items to ailing actor Amaechi Muonagor, urges FG to set up ‘Entertainers’s Health Insurance Fund’
The African Director, International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA), Dr. John Metchie, has decried the abnormal condition of Nigerian celebrities, especially Nollywood and Kannywood actors and actresses, who he described as endangered species.
Metchie made the observation in a press statement Friday, which he personally signed, after a delegation he sent on Thursday, visited ailing Nollywood actor Amaechi Muonagor at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State.
The delegation presented the Nollywood legend with various gifts including cash and other items.
Reacting to the feedback he got from the delegation on the condition of the comic actor, Metchie who is also the Prime Minister of Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU), said it was unfortunate that men and women who chose to be sources of our joy and happiness through their unique acts on movies are left in the cold when they need help.
According to Metchie, also the President General of Umueri community, the most celebrities in the United States, China, Europe and other countries, do not put up half of what Nigerians actors and actresses do, yet those ones are billionaires while our own celebrities wallow in poverty, in spite of their sacrifices.
He said- “I had planned to visit the Nollywood legend Mr. Amaechi Mounagor at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, but something came up that I must attend to. I therefore sent a delegation to visit him.
“Although the actor was happy for the visit and expressed his gratitude, the feedback from the delegation concerning his condition, added to what has been happening in a couple of months to many Nigerian celebrities, have made me so sad, to think that we as a people cannot show love, concern and care to the people who bring laughter to our homes. I have been doing my little best in secret but it is time to shout out that, we, the Nigerian people should reach out to the needy, including these celebrities many of who are dying in silence because they are ashamed to bring their condition to the public.
“In the last few months, many actors and actresses have died, mainly because they do not have the financial capabilities to approach good quality medical facilities for fear of picking their bills. So, we have lost several of them and we just move on as if nothing happened,” Metchie said.
He called on state and federal governments to do the needful by first of all, taking full responsibilities for the treatment of Amaechi Muonagor, all celebrities that are currently sick, including Mr. Ibu and others.
The IAWPA African Director also called on President Bola Tinubu to take bold step as he has taken in many sectors to intervene on the issue of wellbeing of actors and actresses in Nigeria by launching what he called ‘Entertainers’ Health Insurance Fund’ to comprehensively take care of actors, actresses and others in the nation’s entertainment industry.
Myesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has sacked the Acting Executive Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service, FCT-IRS, Mr Michael Ango, of his duties.
The announcement was contained in a statement late Friday by the minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.
The statement added that the decision takes immediate effect.
Olayinka said the minister directed the most senior official of the FCT-IRS to immediately assume leadership of the agency
“The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has sacked the Acting Executive Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service, Mr Michael Ango,” he stated.
He added that “the most senior official of the FCT-IRS has been directed to take over the running of the revenue agency with immediate effect.”
The statement did not provide reasons for the removal.
15 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, have left the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Amaewhule disclosed the lawmakers’ decision during Friday’s plenary, attributing their defection to what he called a “clear division” within the PDP.
“Distinguished colleagues, very happily, let me announce that your Speaker has decided, and has indeed written to my ward chairman of my decision, to leave the PDP. APC is my new party,” Amaewhule said.
Amaewhule’s Deputy, Dumle Maol, is one of the 16 lawmakers that joined APC as well.
All the lawmakers, who have jumped ship, are core loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Chief Nyesom Wike.
The Central Bank of Nigeria,has rolled out a new framework ito expedite handling of fraud accusations and refund victims.
Customers must report suspected fraudulent transactions within 72 hours under this draft guideline, and financial institutions have 16 working days to look into the matter and repay money.
The action comes in the wake of a dramatic increase in banking sector fraud.
According to data from the Financial Institutions Training Center, losses in the first quarter of 2025 increased to ₦3.29 billion, a startling 603 percent increase over the previous year. In the same time frame, reported cases also increased to 12,347.
The November 26, 2025, proposed regulations seek to improve bank accountability, expedite reimbursements, and boost prevention.
Director of the Financial Policy and Regulation Department Rita Sike signed the circular, which describes stricter regulations intended to prevent fraud before it occurs.
The apex bank’s ongoing fight against financial fraud has advanced with the adoption of this guidance. To enhance cooperation between operators, it established the Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum in 2011.
It directed banks to establish specialized fraud bureaus four years later. By requiring BVN or NIN for account opening, it reinforced Know Your Customer checks in 2023.
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