Billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, has waded into the dispute between the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) and the Dangote Refinery, urging marketers to restructure and consider acquiring the Port Harcourt Refinery rather than “resisting progress.” In a statement on Monday, Otedola threw his weight behind the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, warning that the old business model of fuel importation and depot operations was obsolete. “What is DAPPMAN fighting for today? To preserve a model built on fuel imports, subsidy exploitation, and outdated infrastructure? That era is fast disappearing,” he said. Otedola said depot operations were originally structured…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has pushed back against remarks made on Monday by U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, where he suggested that paracetamol use in pregnancy and vaccines could cause autism. WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic said while a few observational studies had raised concerns, many others found no such link, and overall, the evidence remains inconsistent. “If there were a strong connection, it would have been seen consistently across multiple studies,” Jasarevic explained in a statement on Tuesday. He stressed that medicines in pregnancy should always be used with caution and under medical supervision, especially in the first…
The Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism has confirmed the drowning of more than 80 buffaloes in the Chobe River after a stampede triggered by lions. According to ministry spokesperson Ndeshipanda Hamunyela, the incident occurred in the Serondela area when lions chased a herd of buffalo from Botswana into Namibia. The animals fell from a steep cliff into the river, with many tumbling over one another. “The ministry and other law enforcement officials are on site to maintain law and order. The meat will be distributed to nearby communities with the involvement of relevant stakeholders,” Hamunyela said. A similar…
African Heads of State and Government have renewed their call for stronger, sustainable health financing to strengthen Africa’s health sovereignty. The leaders, who met virtually on Tuesday during an Extraordinary Session of the Committee of Heads of State and Government (CHSG) of the Africa CDC, commended the agency’s reforms and progress in tackling health threats across the continent. The session held on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). In a communiqué, the leaders reaffirmed Africa CDC’s mandate to provide strategic direction, scale up local manufacturing, pooled procurement, and regulatory harmonisation through the African Medicines Agency (AMA).…
Laptop prices in Nigeria have surged by about 70% in the last two years, pushing computers further out of reach for many households and students. A basic Intel Core i3 laptop that sold for ₦300,000 in 2023 now costs over ₦520,000, while fairly used systems that once went for ₦100,000–₦150,000 now sell between ₦200,000–₦350,000. Traders blame the spike on the naira’s sharp fall, with the exchange rate rising from ₦500/$ in early 2023 to around ₦1,500/$ today. Since most laptop parts are imported, the weak currency has made both new and used systems significantly more expensive. The price hike is…
A personalized mRNA vaccine has demonstrated significant potential to provide durable immune protection against pancreatic cancer, one of the most lethal cancer types. In a recently published phase 1 clinical trial in the journal Nature, researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) tested autogene cevumeran, an individualized mRNA vaccine developed by BioNTech and Genentech. The vaccine is tailored specifically to each patient’s tumor mutations, training the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. The trial included 16 patients who received the vaccine alongside immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Half of the participants mounted a strong tumor-specific T cell response, which…
After 25 years of research, Brazilian scientists have introduced polylaminin, the world’s first drug that claims to regenerate spinal cord injuries, offering hope for millions living with paralysis. Developed by Tatiana Coelho de Sampaio and her team at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, polylaminin is derived from the placental laminin protein and is injected directly into the spine. Early experimental trials involving patients with paraplegia and quadriplegia due to spinal cord ruptures have shown remarkable results. Several patients reportedly experienced full recovery, regaining mobility without lasting side effects. The drug has demonstrated the ability to regrow nerve fibers…
Borno has emerged among the 23 states to fully meet all conditions for accessing funds under the Nigeria Climate Adaptation–Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB). The National Project Coordinator of the Federal Project Management Unit (FPMU), Engr. Anda Ayuba Yalaks, disclosed this during a visit to Maiduguri, where he assessed the state’s readiness ahead of the project launch. To qualify for disbursement, states are required to provide counterpart funding, establish project offices, recruit staff, acquire operational vehicles, develop Environmental and Social Management Frameworks (ESMF) and Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs), adhere to European Investment Bank (EIB) procurement guidelines, and verify erosion sites.…
The Federal Government has begun verification of disputed and newly drilled crude oil and gas fields and wells in the Niger Delta. Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Dr. Mohammed Shehu, disclosed this in Asaba on Monday, saying the exercise will ensure oil-producing states get their rightful share of resources. Shehu said the move followed petitions from governors of Anambra, Delta, Imo, Edo, Ondo, and Rivers over ownership and boundary disputes involving oil and gas assets. The verification is being conducted by an Inter-Agency Technical Committee comprising RMAFC, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the…
Turkeys are large North American bird of the genus Meleagris, with the wild turkey being the ancestor of the domesticated turkey. These omnivorous birds are ground foragers, feeding on nuts, berries, and insects, and are known for the male’s elaborate courtship display, which involves puffing up feathers and gobbling. They roost in trees at night and are notable for their distinctive bare heads and necks, which vary in color, and the males’ unique “snood” a fleshy growth over the beak. Turkey farming Turkey farming involves raising turkeys for meat or other products, requiring careful attention to housing, feeding, and health. Key steps include preparing suitable…