Author: Helen Okechukwu

By Ridwanullah Sakariyah The former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has filed a N1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over the search of his Abuja residence. The suit followed a raid carried out by ICPC officials at his home. The agency said the operation formed part of an ongoing investigation linked to alleged surveillance equipment. El-Rufai, through his team of lawyers led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Oluwole Iyamu, asked the court to declare the search warrant used for the operation invalid, null, and void. Details revealed…

The Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board has stepped up efforts to reduce pregnancy-related deaths with the inauguration of a specialised committee to review and respond to maternal and child mortality cases across the state. The State Sub-Committee on Primary Health Care Maternal, Perinatal and Child Death Surveillance and Response (PHC-MPCDSR) was inaugurated recently as part of a broader strategy to strengthen accountability and improve health outcomes for women and children. The meeting was chaired by the Board’s Executive Secretary, Dr Chituru Adele, the committee draws members from key institutions, including the National Population Commission, the National Primary Health…

The Rivers State Government has stepped up efforts to strengthen its healthcare system through large-scale recruitment and career advancement for medical personnel across the state. Governor Siminalayi Fubara announced that thousands of health professionals have been employed to bridge manpower gaps and improve service delivery in public health facilities. He said the move is part of a broader strategy to ensure residents receive timely and quality medical care. Speaking at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the governor explained that the recruitment drive covers doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and other essential healthcare workers needed at primary, secondary and tertiary…

The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the killing of a man in Ahoada West Local Government Area of the state, announcing the arrest of three suspects in connection with the incident while investigations continue. This incident was confirmed by the Command spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko on Monday. The confirmation followed the interception of the suspects by the Youth and Joint Task Force, supported by soldiers guarding critical facilities, as they allegedly attempted to dump the corpse of the deceased in Ukpeliede community on Sunday. Those arrested are identified as the Vigilante Vice Chairman of Okogbe community, Joshua, a vigilante member,…

The Federal Government (FG) has issued a stern warning to electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) and licensed meter service providers, declaring that any firm found charging consumers for meter installation will face prosecution. The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, gave the directive while unveiling plans by the government to deploy millions of smart electricity meters nationwide under a World Bank–supported initiative aimed at ending estimated billing and protecting consumers. According to the minister, the Federal Government has concluded arrangements to import about 3.4 million smart meters, out of which one million units are expected to be installed in the first…

The Lagos State Police Command confirmed that a gospel musician has been taken into custody following the discovery of the bodies inside a studio located within the HFP Shopping Complex along the Abraham Adesanya corridor. Those who lost their lives were identified as Mathew Ogundele, Itunu Ogundele, Joseph Sanya and Mathew Awosanya. Police said three of the deceased were members of the musician’s band, while the fourth was a blogger contracted to handle publicity for an upcoming three-day birthday music concert. Investigations revealed that the group had gathered at the studio for preparations and decided to remain there overnight. By…

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has cautioned Nigerians against the use and distribution of an unauthorised and unregistered brand of Risperdal 2 mg tablets currently circulating in the country, with confirmed reports from Kaduna State. In a public alert shared on Saturday, the agency disclosed that the affected Risperdal 2 mg tablet batch was not approved for sale or distribution in Nigeria. Johnson & Johnson, the Marketing Authorisation Holder for Risperdal, confirmed that the product was illegally diverted into the Nigerian market after being manufactured for distribution in Turkey. NAFDAC explained that investigations by…

Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) has reinforced its partnership with the Rivers State Ministry of Health in advancing cancer prevention, awareness, and early detection, as the hospital marked the 2025 World Cancer Day within its premises. According to the post shared on Thursday, the commemoration, held under the global theme “United by Unique,” featured an awareness walk and an interactive health education session aimed at promoting informed choices and early health-seeking behaviour among staff and members of the hospital community. Speaking through the Deputy Chief Medical Director, Dr Simon Uriah, the Chief Medical Director of RSUTH, Prof. Chizindu Alikor,…

The naira strengthened sharply at the official foreign exchange market on Tuesday, appreciating by 1.3% to close at N1,372.91 per dollar, reflecting improving liquidity and stronger supply conditions in the FX market, says Aboki Forex platform. Data from the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) showed the local currency gained N17.45 from the previous day’s close of N1,390.36/$1. During intraday trading, the naira rallied further, with the dollar briefly falling to as low as N1,360 before settling around N1,367. In contrast, activity in the parallel market remained largely unchanged, as the naira traded flat at about N1,450 to the dollar. This…

For the first time in over three years, global health agencies have restarted preventive cholera vaccination campaigns, after a significant boost in vaccine supply. The World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, announced the move on Wednesday through a shared document, signalling a major step in the fight against the deadly waterborne disease. Mozambique is leading the comeback, launching the first preventive campaign since 2022, when global shortages forced authorities to halt vaccinations. The country’s efforts come amid ongoing cholera outbreaks and the aftermath of floods that affected more than 700,000 people, damaging…