Author: Helen Okechukwu

An early morning explosion damaged a building within the staff quarters of the General Hospital in Bagudo, Kebbi State, on Tuesday, the Nigeria Police has begun a full-scale investigation. The Kebbi State Police Command spokesperson, Bashir Usman said the blast occurred in the early hours, triggering concern among residents before security agencies swiftly moved in to stabilise the area. According to the command, the situation was brought under control shortly after the incident, with no loss of life recorded. A combined security operation involving the police, military and local vigilante groups cordoned off the hospital environment to prevent further risk…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has cautioned political supporters in Etche Local Government Area (LGA) against ingratitude, describing it as a self-inflicted obstacle that undermines both personal advancement and collective political success. Addressing a gathering of loyalists in Etche, Wike framed gratitude as a defining value in leadership and followership, linking sustained relevance in politics to the ability to acknowledge support received in difficult moments. His visit, he explained, was largely an expression of appreciation to those who remained steadfast during the uncertainties of the 2023 general elections. The former Rivers State governor used the occasion…

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has released detailed guidance to help Nigerians distinguish genuine Kiss condoms from counterfeit versions, amid rising concerns over fake products in major markets across the country. In a public alert issued on Monday (Public Alert No. 042/2025), the agency said reports from DKT International Nigeria, the brand’s official marketing authorisation holder, indicate fake Kiss condoms have been found in markets including Onitsha, Idumota, Trade Fair Market, and cities such as Kano, Abuja, Uyo, Gombe, and Enugu. NAFDAC outlined several key differences between authentic and counterfeit Kiss condoms. Genuine Kiss…

The Lagos State Government has reinforced its social protection agenda by extending financial and medical support to elderly persons with disabilities (PWD) and elderly caregivers of children with disabilities across the state. The intervention, implemented through the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), benefitted about 100 recipients under the agency’s annual programme tagged “Cash Support and Medical Outreach to Elderly Persons with Disabilities and Elderly Caregivers.” The initiative aligns with the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s vision of inclusive governance that prioritises vulnerable populations. Held at the LASODA premises within the Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, the programme combined cash disbursement…

Bauchi State has expanded its child health services by immunising about 3.7 million children during the 2025 Measles/Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign, achieving full coverage of the targeted population and strengthening efforts to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases. Measles/Rubella (MR) is a viccine use in treating measles, mumps, and rubella, which are highly catigious. The Information Officer of the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board, Ibrahim Sani, disclosed this on Monday in Bauchi during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, noting that children aged nine to 59 months were reached across the state, exceeding initial projections. He described the outcome as…

A British biotechnology company is preparing to roll out gene-edited mosquitoes in Djibouti City, marking a new phase in East Africa’s battle against malaria as traditional control methods lose effectiveness. Oxitec, which developed the genetically engineered insects, plans to release male mosquitoes designed so that their female offspring die before reaching adulthood, preventing them from biting humans and transmitting the disease. The releases are expected to begin before the end of the year, following earlier pilot trials in the capital. Malaria remains a major public health burden in Djibouti, infecting up to one in ten people annually. The disease surged…

Nigeria cannot afford to relax its immunisation efforts as long as infectious diseases remain a threat anywhere in the world, a consultant virologist, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, has warned, stressing that global health risks make sustained vaccination programmes non-negotiable for the country. Tomori, who is also the Chairman of Biovaccines Nigeria Limited, gave the warning in an interview with journalists on Sunday in Lagos, where he expressed concern over the growing wave of vaccine hesitancy fuelled by misinformation and disinformation. He lamented that despite years of advocacy and expanded access to vaccines, some parents still resist immunising their children, a trend…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a previously convicted drug trafficker and three cargo handlers following the interception of a cocaine consignment destined for the United Kingdom (UK) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. The Director of Media and Advocacy of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi said the drugs, weighing 1.50 kilogrammes, were discovered concealed in 75 factory-sealed sachets of cold-water starch at the airport’s export shed. The anti-draft agency operatives moved swiftly to arrest the cargo agents, Jubrin Hassana, Kuku Oluwasegun and Igwe Jane, who were linked to the attempted export of the illicit consignment on…

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…