Author: Helen Okechukwu

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has intensified calls for heightened community awareness and early medical intervention as the country faces a persistent surge in Lassa fever cases. Health officials are warning that delays in seeking treatment and low preventive knowledge continue to fuel fatalities, even as overall infection numbers fluctuate. Analysis of recent patterns shows that outbreak clusters remain concentrated in Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, and Edo states, which together account for nearly nine out of every ten confirmed cases. This geographical concentration underscores the uneven distribution of risk and points to environmental and behavioural factors, including…

Trading in the foreign exchange market on 7 January, delivered another reminder of the fluid nature of the naira’s relationship with major global currencies, as movements against the euro reflected shifting pressures across both the official and informal markets. According to data from the NGNToday platform, the euro closed at N1,667 at the official market and N1,715 at the parallel market, following a weaker outing by the naira in the previous session. The outcome marked a change in direction from 6 January, when the naira had depreciated at both market segments, trading at N1,687 to the euro officially and N1,680…

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has announced the activation of counselling and welfare support services for students and staff following the sudden death of an 18-year-old medical student, Timilehin Toromade. Toromade, a Part Three student of the College of Health Sciences, Department of Medicine and Surgery, reportedly died in his sleep in the early hours of Tuesday, 6 January, 2026, throwing the university community into mourning. In a statement issued by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, the institution said the support measures were put in place to help students and members of staff who have…

The nursing profession in Nigeria has been thrown into mourning and anger following the killing of a 28-year-old nurse in Abuja, with colleagues and professional bodies demanding swift justice over what they describe as yet another avoidable loss to urban crime. Chinemerem Chuwumeziem, a staff member of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abuja, was allegedly murdered by a suspected one-chance robbery syndicate on January 3, 2026, shortly after she completed her afternoon shift and began her journey home. Her body was discovered the following morning by the roadside and later deposited at the FMC Jabi mortuary. The incident has sparked…

The euro retreated against the Nigerian naira on 6 January, as the foreign exchange market adjusted to changing demand conditions following the relative calm recorded a day earlier.  Latest figures published by the NGNToday platform show that the European currency exchanged at N1,687 through official channels, while the rate in the parallel market slipped to N1,680, indicating a depreciation from the levels seen on 5 January. Market observers describe the development as a correction rather than a sharp shift, noting that trading activities at the start of the week were marked by caution and reduced volumes.  Dealers in the informal…

The United States (US) dollar maintained a steady exchange rate against the Nigerian naira on Sunday, 5 January, extending the calm recorded a day earlier amid cautious trading across Nigeria’s foreign exchange market. According to figures released by the NGNToday platform, the dollar continued to trade at N1,430 at the official market and N1,490 in the parallel market, unchanged from rates observed on January 4. The lack of movement in both segments of the market suggests a temporary balance between demand and supply, as market participants appear to be adjusting to prevailing price levels. Currency analysts say the stability reflects…

The British pound maintained a steady position against the Nigerian naira on 5 January, extending the stability recorded a day earlier despite lingering pressures within the foreign exchange market.  Figures published by the NGNToday platform indicate that the pound continued to exchange at N1,925 at the official window and N1,995 at the parallel market, unchanged from rates observed on 4 January. The absence of movement in both segments of the market suggests a temporary balance between demand and supply, even as broader structural challenges continue to weigh on the naira.  Currency analysts say the steady performance reflects cautious trading behaviour,…

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has warned that Nigeria’s worsening insecurity cannot be resolved through military action alone, insisting that youth unemployment must be addressed as a core part of the country’s counter-terrorism strategy. Falana said while equipping and motivating the armed forces remains critical to defeating terrorism and banditry, failure to confront widespread joblessness among young people will continue to fuel criminality across the country. Speaking during an interaction with journalists in his hometown of Ilawe-Ekiti, Ekiti State, at the weekend, the senior advocate argued that social insecurity has become a breeding ground for…

Rundele High School, Agba Ndele, in Emohua Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State, is on the brink of collapse as deteriorating infrastructure and a severe shortage of teachers have crippled learning, forcing the school to record zero enrolment in Basic One (JSS 1), according to its Old Students’ Association. The alarm was raised by the Rundele High School Old Students’ Association (RUHSOSA) during its inaugural meeting held on Saturday at the school’s conference hall, where members lamented that over 65% of the school’s infrastructure, including classrooms and teachers’ quarters, are dilapidated and overgrown with weeds, creating an unconducive learning…

Political alignments in Rivers State shifted again on Saturday as the Okrika people openly declared their backing for the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, while reaffirming loyalty to President Bola Tinubu. The endorsement came during a “thank you” visit by Wike to Okrika Local Government Area (LGA), where community leaders and political groups rallied around him against the backdrop of the lingering feud between Wike and Governor Siminilayi Fubara. At the event, the Rivers Ijaw People’s Congress announced its decision to withdraw support for Governor Fubara and align with Wike. Addressing the gathering, the congress chairman, Senator…