Author: Helen Okechukwu

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has seized massive quantities of fake, substandard, and banned drugs worth billions of naira in a major enforcement operation at the Onitsha Bridgehead Drug Market. The agency made this known on Saturday through a post on their X page. During the raid, officials discovered unregistered narcotics, including banned tramadol, cleverly hidden inside plumbing material shops. This discovery was based on intelligence reports, leading NAFDAC to extend its search beyond the drug sections of the market. Meanwhile, traders in the market accused the agency of unfairly targeting non-drug sections, but…

About twelve persons have reportedly lost their lives in the Niger State road accident that occurred on Saturday morning. The tragic accident that claimed the lives of four women and eight men occurred along the Lapai-Agaie road of the state. According to the Daily Trust report, out of the four women who lost their lives, three were said to be siblings. The accident was a result of a frontal collision between the Wemer passenger bus, carrying 15 passengers, and a trailer at Nami village. However, it was gathered that two women and the Wemer driver sustained severe injuries and were…

A report from Cancer Research UK (CRUK) has disclosed that residents living in deprived areas in the United Kingdom (UK) recorded nearly 60% higher cancer death rates when compared to affluent regions. In the recent study titled Cancer in the UK 2025: Socioeconomic Deprivation, annually, over 28,400 deaths were attributed to deprivation in the UK. The report noted that late diagnoses and preventable risk factors such as smoking are linked to increased factors. The report highlighted ongoing disparities in cancer care and outcomes between wealthy and deprived communities. According to Naser Turabi, CRUK’s director of Evidence and Implementation, little progress…

To prevent the spread of monkeypox (Mpox) and other infectious diseases in the state, the Rivers State Ministry of Health has launched the Pox screening application (Mpox app) and inaugurated an infectious institute. The Mpox application is a state-of-the-art digital tool. The Institute of Infectious Disease Research and Development (IIDRD) was commissioned on Friday through the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH). The event also saw the unveiling of the institute’s handbook. The centre was established to improve disease surveillance and management, indicating a significant advancement in the state health sector and all of Nigeria. At the launching ceremony, dignitaries from…

No Roof, No Water, No Chairs’ – Rivers State Parents Speak Out on Rivers’ School Disaster Rivers State, one of the oil-rich states in Nigeria, ranks among the top four states receiving the highest federal allocations. Accordingly, Rivers State receives more than ₦ 426.84 billion federal allocation every month. Despite these huge resources, our reporter reveals that many public primary and secondary schools in the state remain in a deplorable and abandoned state. By way of emphasis, in 2024, the Rivers State’s budgetary allocation to the education sector stood at N 40. 426 billion, but sadly, many of the state’s…

The Chairman of the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Bauchi State Chapter, Abdulahi Ibrahim, has expressed concern over the withdrawal of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) from HIV/AIDS interventions. According to the Voice of Nigeria publication, Ibrahim noted their withdrawal poses a great risk within the state and asserted that the shortage of treatment centres, lack of clinical support, and essential services can lead to the spread of the disease. While issuing a warning, emphasised the lack of treatment could result in drug resistance and complications. “We have more than 22,000 volunteers in…

Rising temperature witnessed across the country has led the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) to issue a warning to citizens to take precautionary measures against the heat surge effect. This was made known due to the increase in several states observing extreme heat conditions. The agency revealed this in a post shared on X on Thursday, alarming that on Wednesday, with temperatures heating 38 and 40 degrees Celsius while Yelwa recorded 40 degrees Celsius, marking the highest temperature. NiMet acknowledges that the air temperatures might remain at this level, showing the possibility to increase in some notable areas. However, the moisture…

After a violent attack that claimed 20 lives in Mbaa community, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has withdrawn corps members from the area. The attack was suspected to have been perpetrated by herders. On Thursday in a statement released in Makurdi, the NYSC’s Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations in Benue State, Yahuza Adamu, confirmed the evacuation. Due to the security threat, Adamu said the decision to withdraw corps members was made, reaffirming the NYSC’s commitment to their security and safety. The statement read: “Since the beginning of incessant attacks on…

The Kwara State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to training 28,000 female students across 70 public secondary schools located in the state’s three senatorial districts. This was revealed in a post shared on Thursday via the state government’s Facebook page. In partnership with the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project, the State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development aims to achieve this initiative. The five-day workshop, titled “Digital Literacy Skills Programme for Educators and Secondary School Girls,” was declared open at Bovina View Hotels. While explaining the initiative’s objectives, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, the State Commissioner…

The Defence Headquarters has revealed that over 12,000 ex-insurgents along with their families has surrendered to the De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration (DRR) programme since its launched. The 12-months programme is conducted under the Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC) initiative. 789 former insurgents are currently enrolled into the programme. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, disclosed this at the OPSC Stakeholders Meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday. Represented by the Chief of Defence Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal Sayo Olatunde, Musa stated that the military is preparing to reintegrate 381 ex-Boko Haram fighters back into society. Read Also:…