Author: Helen Okechukwu

The Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Temitope Ilori, has announced plans to commence the local production of HIV test kits and antiretroviral (ARV) drugs in Nigeria. According to Dr. Ilori, the initiative is expected to begin before the end of 2025 as part of the government’s strategy to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2030. She made this known on Friday during the inauguration of the Kwara Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) and Paediatric ART Acceleration Committee in Ilorin. Dr. Ilori highlighted several key measures aimed at strengthening HIV response efforts. These include…

Niger has successfully become the first African country and the fifth globally to be declared free from onchocerciasis, a deadly parasitic disease known as river blindness. Onchocerca volvulus is the parasite that causes river blindness and is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected black fly, mainly found near rivers. Marking a significant breakthrough, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Health Organisation Director-General, on Thursday congratulated the nation for its tireless dedication in attaining this milestone. “I congratulate Niger for its commitment to liberating its population from this blinding, stigmatizing illness that causes so much human suffering among the…

To control the spread of the recent Ebola outbreak in Uganda, the World Health Organisation pledges to support the national health authorities of Uganda with $1 million from its Contingency Fund to accelerate early action. This was contained in a document made available on their website on Thursday, following its confirmation of the outbreak. In its effort to bring the virus under control, WHO noted that senior public health experts will be deployed to work with mobilised country office staff. Among its responses to tackle this surge are the supplies of medical equipment and personal protective gear, which are to…

In tackling the issue of child trafficking in the country, the Rivers State Police Command says its team has apprehended two suspects, Ugochukwu Onyebuchi and Ogechi Nmezi, for an alleged child trafficking deal. The command spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, made this known in a document made available to journalists on Wednesday, acknowledging that the two female suspects were arrested on 24 January. Iringe-Koko revealed the suspects allegedly conspired to defraud two female victims named Juliet Blossom and Esther Michael under the disguise of facilitating baby adoptions. Meanwhile, in the past, the suspects was said to have, “lured one Gift Chimanu, the…

After the abduction of five residents and a family in Abuja by bandits, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command says it has launched a rescue operation for the victims. The attack occurred on Sunday at around 11 p.m. when an armed group numbering 20 arrived at the Health Centre extension area of Chikakore, a community in Kubwa, FCT. The victims whose homes were targeted and abducted include a resident named Adesiyan Akinropo, his wife, his son, a visitor, and a neighbour. The Hope Newspaper reported that a victim who sustained a head injury after she was struck with the…

A swift response by vigilant community members at Artillery Junction in Port Harcourt led to the arrest of a minibus driver, Kelechi accused of collaborating with armed robbers to rob passengers. One chance drivers’ is a popular Nigerian slang commonly used for commercial vehicle robbers who usually disguise as commercial drivers The incident unfolded late Sunday night when two women raised an alarm, claiming they had been attacked by a group of robbers working in conjunction with the driver. The women, who had fled the scene of the robbery, spotted the driver at a nearby fuel station and alerted bystanders.…

The Rivers State Police Command, through the operatives from the Hawk Unit, has announced the arrest of a suspected group of criminals at Blessing Street, Kom-Kom, in the Oyigbo Local Government Area. The spokesperson of Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, on Monday in a document shared with journalists, said this arrest came following a successful raid at their hideouts on 25 January. The Iringe-Koko highlighted that under the leadership of Commissioner of Police (CP) Olugbenga Adepoju, the force has witnessed significant results in two separate operations conducted as the fight against crime continues. The suspects are Peter Victor, aged 38, a native…

After a gun duel, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has successfully neutralised three leaders of the suspected Eastern Security Network (ESN) with an additional three terrorist members, bringing the number to six. According to the document released on Saturday, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police spokesperson, said a successful attack was carried out following credible information. Adejobi said the operatives from the Imo State Command’s tactical unit on Friday launched an attack within the forest of Ihube, Okigwe Local Government Area (LGA) with the aim to dislodge their hideouts. Adejobi stated, “Upon approach, the operatives came under heavy fire from suspected IPOB/ESN…

Omoyele Sowore, an activist, has revealed that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has summoned him for allegedly disobeying the order of police officers at a checkpoint located along Lagos Airport Road. The letter read that Sowore has been asked to be present along with his legal team at the Force Intelligence Department (FID) in Abuja on 27 January by 10 am. Recalled that on 9 January, Sowore posted a video on X that showed him confronting the police officers at a checkpoint, alleging they were causing a traffic jam, and when asked to pull over, he refused to comply but…

In a significant milestone, the Nigerian government has signed a pact with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to join the Global Activator Network (GAN) to enhance healthcare delivery. On behalf of Nigeria, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, signed the deal, and the Managing Director of the WEF, Jeremy Jurgens, signed on behalf of the global economic body at Davos, Switzerland. Prof. Pate said, “The well-being of our population, especially women, children, and those who are vulnerable, is a key part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of our President. So, by signing this memorandum, joining the…