Nigeria records about 16,000 suicide deaths every year, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates, prompting fresh calls for urgent legislative action to tackle the country’s growing mental health crisis. Sen. Asuquo Ekpenyong (APC – Cross River South) raised the alarm in Abuja on Sunday while receiving members of the Suicide Prevention Advocacy Working Group — a coalition of psychiatrists, psychologists, legal experts, and civil society organisations. Ekpenyong, sponsor of the Suicide Prevention Bill, said the proposed legislation seeks to decriminalise attempted suicide and provide a framework for prevention, helplines, service delivery, and training for mental health professionals. The bill…
Author: Abdoulaye Kay
The Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners Forum (ABMPF) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene following the recent demolition of Alaba Rago Market in Lagos State. In a statement issued by its chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi I. Yelwa (Ajiyan Yauri), the forum expressed concern that the exercise had displaced thousands of traders, many of them from the North, who depend on the market for their livelihood. According to ABMPF, traders lost goods and property estimated at over ₦20 billion, while several places of worship were also affected. The forum alleged that the demolition was carried out without adequate consultation or notice…
From symbol of excellence to symbol of betrayal: The Chalawa Ultra-Modern Abattoir was not just a facility, it was a statement. A vision of excellence first initiated by Commissioner of Police Audu Bako, and courageously continued by military administrators Colonel Sani Bello and Air Commodore Ishaya Shekari, the project reached completion under the civilian government of Governor Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi in 1980. At a time when such infrastructural ambition was rare, Kano rose to become a regional leader in hygienic meat processing. Built at a staggering cost of ₦10 million — a fortune in its day — the abattoir was…
The recent clash around the Mandilas area of Lagos Island, which led to the death of one person and left many others injured, has once again exposed the growing degeneration of the Lagos Island trading communities. From Idumota through Dosunmu, Nnamdi Azikiwe Street, Tinubu Square, Broad Street, Balogun, Bankole, Offin, Oke-Arin, and down to Apongbon, what was once a clean, decent, and peaceful hub of commerce has now deteriorated into a chaotic and ungovernable sprawl. Traders have taken over the roads, obstructing motorists and pedestrians, while middlemen and street urchins harass buyers in an increasingly unsafe environment. This degeneration has…
India has emerged as the world’s fastest-growing major economy in 2024, recording a robust real GDP expansion of 6.5%, outpacing China at 5.0% and Indonesia at 5.0%, according to new global economic performance data. The figures reveal a sharp divergence in growth trajectories between Asia’s booming economies and Europe’s sluggish performance. Russia (4.1%) and the United Arab Emirates (3.8%) also featured among the top-performing economies, buoyed by energy revenues and trade resilience. Among countries recording moderate growth, North Korea posted 3.7%, Iran 3.5%, and Brazil 3.4%, while the United States and Canada grew by 2.8% and 1.5% respectively, signaling steady…
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), has called for a new strategy in the development of Abuja’s satellite towns to address long-standing infrastructure and governance challenges. Speaking at the 2025 Town Planners Day held on August 28, the Chapter Chair, Tpl. Queen I. Phillips, said the current approach to public sector-led development in satellite towns was no longer sufficient to meet the needs of growing communities. The event, themed “Regional Development in the FCT: Rethinking Public Sector-led Development of Abuja Satellite Towns,” highlighted the need to revisit the Abuja Master Plan, which…
The Chief Executive Officer of Heirs Energies Ltd., Dr. Osa Igiehon, says the company plans to raise crude oil production from 50,000 barrels per day (BPD) to 110,000 BPD by 2030. Speaking at an interactive session with energy and business journalists on Friday in Lagos, Igiehon said the engagement aimed to strengthen ties with the media and promote transparency. He addressed key issues, including Nigeria’s energy security, revitalising brownfield assets, the role of indigenous firms in oil and gas, and Heirs Energies’ sustainability and community development strategy. “All our gas production is channelled to the domestic market, supporting national growth.…
Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda on Friday, held a closed-door meeting with all 34 Local Government Area (LGA) chairmen of the state at the Government House. The meeting, which lasted for hours, was said to have centered on strengthening security across the state and advancing grassroots development initiatives. In attendance at the meeting were the Deputy Governor, Faruq Lawal Jobe; the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bishir Gambo, as well as other top government officials. Although details of the discussions were not made public, the meeting was described as strategic, reflecting the governor’s resolve to foster closer…
Nigeria’s coffee industry received a major boost on Thursday as the maiden International Coffee Festival took place in Jos, Plateau State, drawing attention to the country’s potential in the global coffee market. The National President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Dr. Farouk Rabi’u Mudi, applauded the initiative, describing it as a landmark step toward reviving coffee production and opening international opportunities for Nigerian farmers. The festival was organised by Lightzi Global Nigeria Limited, led by its Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Blessing Tangur. Dr. Mudi said Plateau was the right choice to host the event because of its…
Former Zamfara Central Senator, Kabiru Garba Marafa, has dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of betraying loyal supporters after using them to win the 2023 elections. Marafa, who coordinated the Tinubu-Shettima campaign in Zamfara, said the president abandoned the state and sidelined its people despite their sacrifices. The decision followed a two-day meeting of the Senator Kabiru Marafa Consultative Forum in Kaduna, where supporters from all 14 local government areas of Zamfara resolved to leave the ruling party. In a communique, the Forum described Tinubu’s style as “use-and-dump politics,” stressing that Zamfara delivered votes for…