Author: Helen Okechukwu

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,…

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…