Life changed drastically for Murtala Umar Isa in 2023 after a motor accident left him unconscious in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital for six months. “Here in Sokoto city,” Umar recalls, his eyes moist with tears as he struggles to brush off the jokes people now make about him. The 27-year-old, an indigene of Isa Local Government Area, Sokoto State, had simply stepped out to buy items for Iftar during Ramadan. Little did he know the day would end in tragedy. “If I had known, I wouldn’t have gone along the Usmanu Danfodiyo…
Author: Editor
A final-year pharmacy student from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has died during clinical training at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) in Ituku Ozalla. His death has caused anger and led to a petition from the university’s alumni. An alumni group called the Noble Foundation, made up of graduates from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, sent a strong message to the UNN Governing Council. They criticized the poor and unsafe conditions that pharmacy students face at the training location in Ituku Ozalla. The petition came after a sad video went viral, showing the student’s body crushed by…
Lately, the question of whether to switch off one’s phone or put it in airplane mode during flights has become a subject of controversy in Nigeria. Altercations have also ensued between flight crews and passengers over failure of the latter to switch off phones. When it comes to using phones during a flight, the debate often centres on safety, compliance with regulations, and passenger convenience. Putting one’s phone in airplane mode disables the phone’s cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connections, which can interfere with the plane’s communication and navigation systems. In airplane mode, one can still use one’s phone for offline…
The UK’s Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) has warned that Nigeria is highly vulnerable to climate hazards that endanger children’s health, education, and development. FCDO’s Director of Development, Cynthia Rowe, said this on Monday while handing over a school and health facility built under the Climate Resilient Infrastructure for Basic Services (CRIBS) project in Chamo, Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa State. She noted that Nigeria ranks second globally among countries where children face the greatest climate-related risks, threatening their survival and potential. The CRIBS project, she explained, is being implemented by UNICEF, FCDO, development partners, and the Kano and…
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, is this week hosting a gathering that could shape the future of West Africa’s health security. The 2025 ECOWAS Lassa Fever International Conference (ELFIC) has brought together scientists, policymakers, donors, and community leaders in a united front against epidemics that continue to strain the region’s fragile health systems. The four-day forum is designed to strengthen vaccine acceptance and promote innovations in prevention and control. Organised by the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), a specialised agency of ECOWAS, and its partners, the event is being held under the theme: “Beyond Borders: Strengthening Regional Cooperation to Combat Lassa and…
Renowned virologist, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, has urged West African governments to take concrete steps in the fight against Lassa fever, a viral haemorrhagic disease that continues to threaten the region. Tomori, a former President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, made the call on Monday in his keynote address at the 2nd International Lassa Fever Conference in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The conference, themed “Beyond Borders: Strengthening Regional Cooperation to Combat Lassa Fever and Emerging Infectious Diseases,” seeks to reaffirm regional commitment, mobilise political will, and drive collective action against epidemics. Tomori noted that although progress has been made since the…
As the Africa Climate Week (ACW) and the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) unfold in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the African Union (AU) is stepping forward to lead the charge for a realistic, people-centered, and African-driven climate agenda. This moment signals a shift in Africa’s climate diplomacy—from one of vulnerability to one of vision, leadership, and innovation. The urgency of now Africa is no stranger to the devastating impacts of climate change. With rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and devastating floods, the continent remains on the frontline of the climate crisis—despite contributing less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Recognizing this…
A meeting between Dangote Refinery and oil workers’ unions, PENGASSAN and NUPENG, ended without any agreement. The workers want Dangote staff to be allowed to join unions, but Dangote strongly disagrees. The meeting was meant to solve the conflict between both sides, but no progress was made as of the time this report was written. The unions are angry that Dangote Refinery is stopping its workers from joining their unions. To show their displeasure, some fuel depots in Lagos and Port Harcourt were shut down by union members. In Apapa, Lagos, which has many fuel storage depots, NUPENG blocked fuel…
Nigeria prides itself on being the largest democracy in Africa. Our Constitution guarantees freedom of association, the right to political participation, and the liberty to hold dissenting views. But democracy is not judged by the mere existence of elections or political parties—it is measured by the protection of rights, fairness of the political process, and the absence of fear in civic engagement. Unfortunately, the reality in Lagos State often paints a troubling picture. Time and again, there have been reports of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) resorting to intimidation, violence, and the use of thugs to suppress opposition voices.…
In my personal encounter with the realities of politics today, I have come face to face with the painful truth that integrity is no longer the guiding light it once was. Men and women who once stood tall in conviction now compromise their values for token stipends. I have seen people who pledged undying loyalty to a cause or leader suddenly shift ground when financial inducements are introduced. It is a sobering reality that the pursuit of short-term gain has eroded the very foundation upon which true leadership ought to stand. The betrayal of loyalty is one of the most…