SDP Candidate Nathaniel Pledges Media Priority, Free Maternal Healthcare in Adamawa

YOLA —By Ojoma Yusuf,Yola

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in Adamawa State, Christopher Nathaniel, has pledged to make the media a priority of his administration if elected governor in the 2027 governorship election.

Nathaniel made the pledge while interacting with journalists in Yola, where he outlined his plans for the state, including security, agriculture, education, healthcare, transportation, electricity and media development.

The candidate described the media as the “fourth tier” of government, lamenting that journalists in the state had been relegated and lacked the resources required to effectively perform their watchdog responsibilities.

He said his administration would provide adequate support to the media, including monthly funding from security votes, to enable journalists to access timely information and effectively report government programmes and policies.

Nathaniel said government should not wait for the media to seek information, but should actively provide journalists with the necessary information to keep the public properly informed.

On security, the SDP candidate said tackling insecurity would be central to his administration, promising to establish mechanisms capable of monitoring and addressing security challenges across the state.

He also identified agriculture as a major tool for reducing poverty, saying greater investment in the sector would create economic opportunities and improve the livelihoods of residents.

On education, Nathaniel said the sector would not be neglected under his administration. He acknowledged the state government’s construction of modern schools across the 21 local government areas but said he would improve the facilities by converting them to boarding schools, recruiting more teachers and equipping them with the necessary learning facilities.

The candidate also promised free healthcare for pregnant women in public hospitals if elected, saying no expectant mother should be prevented from accessing healthcare because of inability to pay delivery or hospital bills.

He further pledged to address transportation challenges through the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered vehicles and tricycles, which he said would ease transportation costs and pressure on residents while generating additional revenue for the government.

On electricity, Nathaniel said his administration would explore the state’s water resources, including Kiri Dam and other dams, to generate electricity locally.

He said harnessing the dams for power generation would help reduce the state’s dependence on external electricity sources and ease the burden on residents and businesses.

Nathaniel said his overall agenda was aimed at building a new Adamawa by reducing poverty, tackling insecurity, improving education and healthcare, developing transportation infrastructure and strengthening the media’s capacity to hold government accountable.

He pledged that his administration, if elected, would prioritise policies designed to improve living conditions and create sustainable opportunities for the people of Adamawa State.