Author: Helen Okechukwu

To protect public health in Rivers State, the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) destroyed fake, expired, and substandard drugs worth N4.7 billion on Thursday. The destruction took place at the Rivers State Waste Management Authority (RIWAMA) Dumpsite in Aluu, Ikwerre Local Government Area, where the harmful substances were set ablaze. This exercise, which began yesterday, is part of ongoing efforts to combat contraband drugs across six South-South states. Read Also: NAFDAC probes suspected fake Amoxycillin capsules Speaking on behalf of the Director-General, the South-South Director of NAFDAC, Chukwuemeka Oligbu, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to tackling the…

Twelve passengers have reportedly gone missing after a suspected sea pirate attack along Isaka in Okrika Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State. According to reports, out of the twenty passengers that boarded the boat on Thursday, nine were rescued by security personnel and transported to the state capital. Meanwhile, reports indicate that the boat driver passed through Kilometer 10, a prohibited channel for commercial boat operators, which has been described as an act of disobedience. The Chief Press Officer, Boma Waribo, confirmed in a signed statement that the boat was en route from Bonny LGA. The Bonny LGA Chairman,…

The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has revealed that the number of deaths recorded in the first four weeks of 2025 surpasses the figure recorded in 2024, with 48 deaths reported. As of the first four weeks of 2025, it was noted on Thursday that 53 deaths had been recorded, according to a report retrieved from the NCDC. About 191 suspected cases are being traced to combat the spread. Lassa fever, which is spread by the common African rat, also known as the Mastomys rat species, has remained endemic in Nigeria and a few West African countries, including Benin,…

An official of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has reportedly been shot by a man in a police uniform in Lagos. The official is said to sustained injuring. The tragic incident occurred today when a team from the Lagos Sector Command of the FRSC embarked on an enforcement and implementation exercise launched nationwide to clamp down on fake number plates. Lagos Sector Commander, Corps Commander Kehinde Hamzat, declined to comment on the incident but urged journalists to be patient in order to determine the cause of the incident. Read Also: FRSC moves against fake diplomatic, unauthorized number plates Although…

Former House of Representatives member Dakuku Peterside has criticized the plan to restart oil exploration in Ogoni, Rivers State. Oil exploration in the region was halted in the early 1990s due to public unrest, environmental degradation, and other controversies. In a February 5 interview with Channels TV, the former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) emphasized that key issues must be addressed before resuming operations. Peterside shared his concerns two weeks after President Tinubu and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike met privately with Ogoni leaders, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Read Also: Plans afoot to restart oil…

Eradicating female genital mutilation (FGM), which leaves millions of girls and women with lifelong physical, emotional, and psychological scars, has led to a global call for collective action from health organizations. By 2030, an estimated 27 million more girls will be affected if the issue is ignored. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO) have reaffirmed their commitment to halting this harmful practice, describing it as a violation of human rights. A report noted that more than 230 million girls and women are currently suffering from the consequences of…

Ensuring and combating the emergence of the Lassa fever surge in the state has led the Ondo State Government to upgrade and equip the Public Health Laboratory (PHL) centre. In collaboration with the Institute of Human Virology (IHVN), the completed laboratory facility will assist the testing centre located at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owo. The handover ceremony was held on Thursday at the Public Health Laboratory Centre, Reference Hospital, Igbatoro Road, Akure. The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Adeniran Ikuomola, confirmed over 400 suspected Lassa fever cases were recorded along with 100 cases since the recent outbreak in the state. During…

Over 17 children have reportedly died in a fire outbreak at Tsangaya School (Almajiri school), injuring 16 others in Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State. In an interview with Channels Television on Wednesday, Mannir Haidara, the chairperson of Kaura-Namoda Local Government, confirmed the incident, stating that more details would be shared later. Speaking to a TV station, a resident of the community, Abdul Bello, said the tragic incident occurred at the study center of Mallam Ghali. The fire, which started late Tuesday night, raged for four hours and became more severe due to corn and millet stalks stored on…

To prevent the emergence of disease outbreaks in Ondo State, the state Chairman of the Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria, Sanitarian Funke Babajide, has called for proper waste disposal among residents. This call was made during a one-day sensitization workshop held on Wednesday, centered on the socio-economic implications of indiscriminate waste dumping along motorway and key areas in Akure. During the program, the Chairman of the Ondo State Waste Management Authority (OSWMA), Mrs. Yinka Alabi, sought collective collaboration from stakeholders to achieve a conducive environment. She highlighted the effects of improper waste disposal in the state, which include an…

After the death of Dr. Ikenna Erinne, a Canada-based Nigerian doctor, on 26 January, his ex-wife Suzzette Chibuogu has broken her silence, called for a change of narrative as she denied a link to her husband death. The NEW DAILY PRIME reported on 2 February that the 36-year-old cardiologist, Dr. Erinne, who hailed from Anambra, allegedly committed suicide. A Facebook influencer, Clayton Udoh, claimed that the late cardiologist committed suicide after he was ordered by the court to pay $15,000 monthly for child support fees. To this end, the ex-wife of the late Dr. Erinne took to her Instagram page…