Author: Helen Okechukwu

Human rights lawyer and social critic, Dele Farotimi, has said Nigeria’s growing exposure to foreign military involvement is a consequence of poor leadership and weak governance structures. Farotimi made the assertion while reacting to reports of alleged United States (US) airstrikes on ISIS-linked targets in parts of north-west Nigeria, a development that has raised concerns about the country’s control over its security space. In a post on his X handle, the lawyer argued that Nigeria’s sovereignty has been steadily diminished by successive administrations that have failed to demonstrate the authority and capacity to secure the nation independently. He maintained that…

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has cautioned motorists against drunk and drug-impaired driving as vehicular movement increases across Cross River State during the festive season. The warning was issued on Thursday at Odukpani Junction, a major entry point into Calabar, where the Corps intensified patrols and subjected drivers to alcohol and drug screening as part of its yuletide safety operations. The Cross River Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr Innocent Etuk, gave the caution while overseeing the inspection of the Corps’ electronic metro counting equipment, designed to monitor traffic volume, vehicle speed and categories throughout the festive period. According…

The Kaduna State Government has warned that avian influenza goes beyond an animal health challenge and poses a direct risk to public health, urging poultry farmers and live bird marketers to strengthen preventive measures to avert possible outbreaks. The News Agency of Nigeria noted that the warning was issued on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ engagement on avian influenza mitigation in Kaduna, where the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Abubakar Abba, emphasised that strict biosecurity practices remained the most effective defence against the disease. Abba stressed that poor hygiene and weak farm controls could accelerate the spread of avian influenza, with…

Nigeria’s upstream petroleum regulator has set its sights on higher crude oil output and accelerated gas development as Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan formally assumed office as Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). Speaking at her first town hall meeting with management and staff on Tuesday, 23 December, Eyesan said growing production levels would be central to the Commission’s agenda as it carries out its mandate under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021. She said the NUPRC would position itself as a business enabler rather than a bottleneck, stressing that effective regulation must support investment, innovation and…

The training, organised by the Directorate of Nursing Services, Lagos State Health District V according to the post shared on Tuesday, brought together maternal healthcare providers from public health facilities across the district.

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has challenged the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) to significantly increase its financial commitment towards the welfare of families of fallen and retired members of the Armed Forces, urging its leadership to triple earlier pledges made in support of the Nigerian Legion. The governor made the call on Tuesday during the Emblem Appeal Launch marking the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration, held at the Government House in Port Harcourt. He stressed that contributions to the annual appeal should reflect genuine appreciation for the sacrifices of military personnel who gave their lives in…

Young people leaving care in England will now be entitled to free prescriptions, dental treatment and eye care until their 25th birthday under new government measures aimed at tackling health inequalities. The Department of health and social care (DHSC) said the support package also includes a pilot scheme offering paid NHS internships for care leavers and a guaranteed interview programme fo NHS jobs. A separate three-year pilot will focus on improving access to mental health services for children in care. Government figures estimate there were more than 97,000 care leavers aged between 17 and 25 in 2025, although officials believe…

By Helen Okechukwu and Fatimah Idera As preparations for the 2025 Christmas and end-of-year festive celebrations draw closer, Nigerians, including buyers and sellers across regions, remain optimistic about a reduction in food prices across markets despite the increasing rate of insecurity and other human challenges. Data retrieved from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicated that as of November 2025, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose to 130.5, surpassing the previous month’s figure of 128.9 by a margin of 1.6 points. With this increase, monthly inflation climbed to its highest level in four months, largely driven by food-price inflation linked…

Nigeria has secured a place in global health decision-making following the appointment of the Director-General of the Nigerian Natural Medicines Development Agency (NNMDA), Prof. Martins Emeje, to the World Health Organisation’s Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (STAG-TM). Emeje was selected alongside 19 experts drawn from different regions of the world and was further named a Co-Chair of the group at the WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine held recently in New Delhi, India. His co-chair, Prof. Susan Wieland, is the Director of Cochrane Complementary Medicine in the United States. The advisory group was constituted…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has entered into a partnership with Taraba State University, Jalingo, to strengthen efforts at curbing drug abuse and illicit substance use among students and youths within and beyond the campus community. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa, disclosed this when he received the Vice Chancellor of Taraba State University, Prof. Sunday Bako, who led members of the university’s management on a courtesy visit to the agency’s headquarters over the weekend. Marwa said the collaboration aligns with the newly launched national drug test policy for schools, which mandates…