Author: Helen Okechukwu

Helen Okechukwu is an award-winning investigative journalist with three years experience. She specializes in health, accountability and transparency reporting.

NAFDAC DG

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has received 15 containers of counterfeit pharmaceuticals and substandard tomato paste valued at N20.5 billion from the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). The handover took place at Onne Port, Port Harcourt, where the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, presented the seized goods to NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye. Read Also: Customs handovers N24.6 million worth of illicit drugs to NAFDAC According to NAFDAC Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola on Sunday, the haul included 1.3 million bottles of codeine syrup, 12.6 million Tramadol tablets, 9.3 million falsified Diclofenac tablets, 280 packs…

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Suspected drug dealers

As the fight against drug peddlers continues across the country, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has thwarted the efforts of drug traffickers following the seizure of hard drugs including cocaine and high-dose tramadol hidden inside 71 vehicle side mirrors. The Director of Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the NDLEA carried out the successful operation at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, bound for Libreville, Gabon. Meanwhile, three suspects linked to the consignment have been arrested. According to Babafemi, the first batch, intercepted on 19 July 2025, contained 57,420 tramadol 225mg capsules and 57 cocaine pellets weighing 1.60kg.…

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Rescued Victim

Rescuers in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have saved a 27-year-old man from Niger Republic after he was trapped for nearly ten hours under the debris of a collapsed three-storey building in Lifecamp. It was learnt that the building gave way around 6:15 p.m. on Saturday. Police at Lifecamp Division received a distress call and, led by the Divisional Police Officer, sealed off the site and launched an urgent rescue mission. According to the Commands spokesperson Josephine Adeh on Sunday, the Divisional Police Officer of Lifecamp Division upon receiving the alert, a police team in collaboration with officers from National…

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Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, speaks about Grants, Loans of the Renewed Hope administration.

The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation has addressed concerns from media stakeholders over the recent suspension of Badeggi FM’s operations in Minna, Niger State. Minister Mohammed Idris noted that the suspension of broadcasting licences in Nigeria is the statutory responsibility of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), in line with the provisions of the law. This was disclosed in a document shared by the Special Assistant of Media to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Rabiu Ibrahim on Saturday. “While acknowledging the concerns raised, the ministry notes that the suspension of broadcasting licenses falls within the purview of…

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UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has commended Nigerians for practising breastfeeding, as data shows that over 90% of mothers breastfeed their children. The Chief of Nutrition at UNICEF Abuja, Nemat Hajeebhoy, revealed this on Friday during the commissioning of Breastfeeding Week at Ambursa, in Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi State. The event aimed to promote exclusive breastfeeding as a key step for child health and development says News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report. Speaking at the gathering, the organiser said the mission was to prioritise mothers and children by building sustainable support systems. “Breastfeeding is not just…

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X-ray of human brain

A treatment for Alzheimer’s disease turned down for National Health Service (NHS) use has been shown to keep patients’ memory stable for as long as four years, according to new research. Lecanemab, a drug already approved by the United Kingdom’s (UK) medicines regulator, was found to delay the progression of dementia significantly when given at the earliest stages of the illness, according to The Independent report. Alzheimer’s disease also known as senile dementia is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions due to the accumulation of protein in the brain cell. Patients taking part in the…

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Ways to practice Self-care

The Federal Government (FG) has urged the Nigerian media to champion national advocacy on self-care as part of efforts to strengthen the health system and improve public health outcomes. In a virtual media workshop organized by White Ribbon Alliance Nigeria (WRA Nigeria), with support from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMOH&SW) and the Self-Care Trailblazer Group (SCTG), this call was made. According to the Voice of Nigeria (VON) report, the event, themed “Media as a Catalyst for Advancing Self-Care for Sexual, Reproductive, and Maternal Health in Nigeria”, brought together journalists, development partners, and policymakers. World Health Organisation…

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President Bola Tinubu speaking at an APC Caucus meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

President Bola Tinubu has rewarded Nigeria’s senior women’s national football team, the Super Falcons, along with team officials, with national honours, financial gifts, and housing for their triumphant performance at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco. At a presidential reception in Abuja, Tinubu conferred the title of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) on all team members. He also approved a three-bedroom apartment for each of them under the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme. The Special Adviser to the President, Bayo Onanuga, further disclosed that President Tinubu awarded a cash gift equivalent to $100,000 to…

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Resident doctors protest over poor working conditions.

Medical doctors under the Lagos State Government have begun a three-day warning strike in protest against salary deductions they say were imposed without consultation or justification. The industrial action, which kicked off at 8am on Monday, 28 July, is expected to last until Thursday morning, 31 July. According to the Medical Guild, the body representing the affected practitioners, the strike is a direct response to what it describes as the government’s “breach of trust” and failure to honour previous agreements. Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, chairman of the Guild, Dr Japhet Olugbogi, said the controversy began in April…

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