Author: Helen Okechukwu

For decades, the people of Tudun Wada in Kaduna South have watched the rains come, bringing with them the same familiar cycle of fear, loss, and displacement. Each year, as the waters of River Kaduna rise, families are forced to flee their homes, leaving behind belongings, memories, and livelihoods. Residents are now calling on both state and federal authorities to take long-term action, beyond the temporary relief measures that have become routine. They want the river dredged, illegal dumpsites cleared, and vulnerable households relocated to safer ground. Nassim Suleiman, a resident of over 30 years, described the yearly ordeal: “When…

A five-year-old girl, her father and her uncle died in the early hours of the New Year after their vehicle rammed into a parked waste collection truck on the Obiri-Ikwerre flyover in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. The victims, identified as Mr Ahmed, his daughter, Sheila, and his brother, Afiz, died after their vehicle rammed into a stationary waste collection truck allegedly parked without warning signs on the flyover shortly after crossover night. According to report on Friday, a brother of the deceased, Engr. Amoo Ajiboye, blamed the tragedy on what he described as the indiscriminate parking of…

Former fighters of the disbanded Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF) have endorsed the Federal Government’s decision to engage High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, in the protection of Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure, describing the move as a stabilising force in the restive Niger Delta. The ex-agitators, in a statement released on Friday in Warri, Delta State, said the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, alongside other former Niger Delta fighters, had contributed significantly to the relative calm currently being enjoyed in the region. Signed by the group’s former spokesman, Captain Mark Anthony, the…

The National Assembly (NA) has taken steps to safeguard the credibility of the legislative process following allegations that versions of recently passed tax laws circulating in the public domain differ from those approved by parliament. The move follows growing public debate sparked by claims that the contents of the tax Acts may have been altered after passage by the 10th National Assembly. In response, the leadership of the federal legislature has directed the Clerk to the National Assembly to release official legislative records to enable independent verification by Nigerians. During plenary, a lawmaker from Sokoto State, Abdussamad Dasuki, raised concerns…

The Nigerian naira opened trading for 2026 on a steady footing at the official foreign exchange window, even as a modest premium persisted in the parallel market, reflecting lingering cash-driven demand outside formal channels. Data from the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) shows that the local currency traded at an average of N1,445.99 to the United States dollar on January 1, signalling relative stability after closing the final session of 2025 at approximately N1,445.24. The performance capped a period of mild appreciation recorded toward the end of December, when the exchange rate fluctuated within the N1,445–N1,470 band. Market analysts attribute…

A major source of essential medicines for residents of Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, has been wiped out following a devastating fire that destroyed Moore Pharmaceutical Store and several adjoining shops in the Michelin area of the city. The incident occurred in the early hours of 1 January, along Hamaruwa Way, where the popular pharmacy operated within a commercial building housing multiple businesses. By the time the fire was brought under control, the structure and its contents had been completely destroyed. Residents who witnessed the incident said the fire spread swiftly, leaving shop owners helpless as flames consumed drugs, medical…

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its determination to block the country from being used as a route for illegal wildlife trade following the interception of hundreds of prohibited donkey skins in Adamawa State. The Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘D’, Bauchi on Thursday, said it seized 718 pieces of donkey skins with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over N24 million in Mubi on 26 December 2025. The Comptroller of the unit, Abdullahi Ka’ila, disclosed this on Tuesday during a press briefing in Bauchi. Ka’ila explained that the seizure was the outcome of actionable intelligence and a coordinated…

By Jeremiah Aminu ‎ ‎Sexual harassment stands as a prevalent issue haunting employees in many corporate institutions around the globe. As defined by the Labour Standards Bill (2008), this vice refers to “any unwelcome sexual advance, conduct or request made by an employer, manager, supervisor or a co-employee to an employee, whether the employee is a man or woman and includes any conduct of a sexual nature which creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading or offensive environment”. This vice manifests through several means. For instance, it is enacted through the verbal medium whereby the harasser employs innuendos while communicating with the…

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has emphasised that effective and forward-looking budget planning is critical to improving the welfare of children and vulnerable households in Katsina State. Speaking at the opening of a seven-day capacity-building workshop for Katsina State government officials in Kaduna, the Chief of UNICEF’s Kano Field Office, Rahama Farah, stressed that Medium-Term Expenditure Frameworks (MTEF) and Medium-Term Sector Strategies (MTSS) offer a vital pathway for turning policy intentions into measurable outcomes for children. Farah explained that sound budget frameworks go beyond meeting statutory requirements, noting that they shape government priorities and determine the scale and quality…

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, has commended the state’s Primary Health Care Task Force for its innovative telemedicine initiative, describing it as a significant milestone in healthcare delivery. Speaking on during the recently held 2025 fourth-quarter meeting of the State Task Force on Primary Health Care (PHC) at Government House, Prof. Odu praised the team’s commitment to improving access to healthcare services across the state. She noted that the telemedicine demonstration during the commissioning in Ahoada showcased the government’s dedication to leveraging technology for better healthcare outcomes. Prof. Odu also highlighted the broader achievements of the task force,…