Tension is boiling over in Niger State as Christian pressure groups have launched a blistering attack on the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the ruling party of using zoning and consensus to systematically wipe out Christian aspirants from the 2027 primaries. In a press briefing held in Minna on Tuesday, the Niger State Christian Voice in Politics and Governance which is a coalition of Christian youths pressure groups in Niger accused APC leaders of deliberately shutting Christians out of senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly tickets, leaving the faith group with zero representation at the federal and state…
Author: Tina George
A massive sea of supporters brought the ancient city of Bida to a standstill on Sunday evening as Mallam Idris Usman Makanta, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship aspirant for Niger State, returned home after officially submitting his nomination form. The overwhelming reception, which turned a routine 30-minute commute into a four-hour gridlock, marked a dramatic resurgence for the politician following his previous bid for the state’s top office. Basking in the glow of the mammoth crowd, Makanta dismissed concerns that his ongoing court case with the state government will derail his campaign, declaring that facing legal battles is common…
World Hypertension Day, observed annually on May 17, serves as a global platform to raise awareness about high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, often described as the silent killer. In 2026, the theme “Controlling Hypertension Together: check your blood pressure regularly, defeat the silent killer” underscores that managing this condition requires collective effort from individuals, families, communities, healthcare providers, and health systems. Hypertension is a major risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, and premature death. It usually presents with no obvious symptoms until complications arise. Globally, about 1.4 billion adults live with hypertension, but only one in…
As Nigeria grapples with escalating insecurity, kidnapping, and terrorism, a disturbing new report reveals that sophisticated surveillance technologies, procured with millions of dollars to combat these violent crimes, are being routinely diverted to monitor, track, and intimidate journalists, activists, and dissenting citizens. The startling revelations are detailed in a new white paper titled “Victims Speak: Techniques, Patterns, and Impacts of Targeted Surveillance in Nigeria,”* officially launched on Thursday by Spaces for Change (S4C) at the CityGate Homes in Abuja. The report, a culmination of qualitative data gathered through the SpyStop Laboratory (SSL) in 2025, exposes a shrinking civic space where…
The Ngas people of Plateau state living in Niger state have celebrated its bi-annual Festival of Arts and Culture, tagged “Puusdung” as a means of reaffirming who they are and where they come from. The two-day event began with a gala night where a beauty pageant was held among young ladies who competed for the crown of the Miss Puusdung, and the guests were enthralled by the NGAS culture, which included its food and dances by cultural troops and performers, including Nhitshi Dancers and Pargol and group. The second day, which was the main event of the 3rd edition of…
The Wife of the President of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has declared that the nation can no longer rely on hoes and cutlasses for farming to meet the mounting food demands of its growing population, charging farmers to urgently embrace modern agricultural methods. Tinubu made this call on Saturday at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport in Minna during the official flag-off of the 2026 farming season and the massive distribution of mechanisation support equipment. Speaking to a large gathering of farmers and stakeholders, Tinubu urged the beneficiaries to maximize the newly provided tools and fertilizers. She emphasized that approaching…
Niger State Government has intensified efforts to close the immunisation gap (also known as zero-dose) among children, with renewed support from the Republic of Korea and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The state government is targeting ten local government areas over the next eight months with the available support. The initiative, unveiled during a socialisation meeting on the ROK–UNICEF partnership grant, focuses on sustaining and strengthening immunisation and essential health services in communities identified with high numbers of zero-dose children. Commissioner for Health, Dr. Murtala Bagana who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Abdullahi Imam,…
Onions remain one of the most consumed food items in Nigerian households, yet the crop’s economic potential is still largely underappreciated despite supporting millions of livelihoods across the country. With Nigeria producing about 2.1 million metric tonnes annually and generating an estimated N1.17 trillion in value, onion farming is emerging as a highly profitable agribusiness – offering employment opportunities, boosting rural economies, and positioning the country as a major player in Africa’s agricultural market. In 2019, global onion production was put at 4.5 million tonnes, with China producing 22 percent of the world’s total production, followed by Japan, Mali, and…
Niger State faces imminent risk of a polio outbreak if urgent vaccination drives are not intensified, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned, pointing to rising cases in neighbouring states. Dr Ibrahim Mohammed, UNICEF Social and Behaviour Change Specialist for the Kaduna Field Office, gave the stark alert at a one-day media engagement in Minna. He said unvaccinated children remain highly exposed and stressed the need for parents to act swiftly as the statewide polio immunisation campaign began on Sunday, March 29, 2026. Reviewing the polio situation in Bauchi, Kebbi, Kwara, Zamfara and Sokoto, Mohammed noted that the surge…
For decades, neuroscience and artificial intelligence ran on parallel tracks – one seeking to decode the mysteries of the biological brain, the other striving to build intelligent machines. Today, those tracks have collided. Following a rigorous five-day intensive training program aimed at introducing young researchers to the frontier of Neuro-AI, ASHENEWS sat down with the Coordinator of Smartbrains Neuroscience School, Lead Facilitator and renowned Neuroscientist, Professor Barnabas Danborno to unpack this rapidly evolving field. From mitigating climate change with brain-inspired microchips to the promise of personalized neuromedicine, the conversation revealed how merging mind and machine could redefine healthcare, especially here…