The Federal Government on Thursday inaugurated the distribution of free agricultural inputs worth millions of naira to farmers in Zamfara State as part of President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to boost food production nationwide. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, while presenting the items to farmers in Gusau, said the initiative was aimed at increasing food production and mitigating the current food crisis. Kyari, who was represented by the Director of Mechanization in the ministry, Mr. Sule Majeed, said the gesture was also designed to support small-scale farmers in Zamfara with vital inputs and agricultural equipment. “This…
Author: Editor
This week, our country Nigeria reached the veritable old age of 65, but the consensus in the land is that we are yet to mature. Essentially, we have wasted our youth and adult life so there is no surprise that at sixty-five, we find very little to celebrate. In his independence-day address to the Nation. President Bola Tinubu acknowledged that we do not have enough electricity to power our industries and homes today, or the resources to repair our deteriorating roads, build seaports, railroads, and international airports comparable to the best in the world, because we failed to make the…
Tragedy struck Gabari village in Garki Local Government Area of Jigawa State on Wednesday as the lifeless body of a 15-year-old boy, Sunusi Abubakar, was recovered from a local pond. The incident has once again raised urgent concerns about child safety around open water bodies in rural communities. Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Jigawa State, ASC Badaruddeen Tijjani, said the body was discovered around 9:00 a.m. in a pond known locally as Mahayin Gidan Toro, located approximately 1.5 kilometers north of the village. “His shoes and trousers were first found…
The National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) and La Shipson Pharmaceutical Ltd have concluded plans to commence local production of HIV drugs by the first quarter of 2026. This was disclosed in a statement on Thursday in Abuja by Mrs. Toyin Omozuwa, Press Secretary to Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, Director-General of NBRDA. According to her, the move followed the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two parties. She said a delegation from La Shipson Pharmaceutical Ltd, led by its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Moses Shipi, visited NBRDA during the week for further engagements aimed at finalising…
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says 166 people have died from Lassa fever between January and September 2025, with the case fatality rate now higher than in 2024. According to the agency’s Epidemiological Week 37 report, covering September 8–14, 895 confirmed cases were recorded across 21 states and 106 local government areas. This represents a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.5 per cent, compared to 16.9 per cent within the same period in 2024. The NCDC noted that while overall cases are fewer than last year, more patients are dying due to late presentation and poor…
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has scaled up its emergency response in Maiduguri, northeast Nigeria, after a sharp rise in child malnutrition and measles cases overwhelmed its facilities. Between late August and early September, MSF’s Inpatient Therapeutic Feeding Centre at Nilefa Kiji Hospital nearly doubled its bed space, yet by the third week of September was still admitting over 85 children daily. At the Shuwari extension, 3,265 children were treated for malnutrition, with 1,521 referred for ongoing care. More than 625 malnourished children were also treated for measles. “Our isolation units for measles patients quickly reached capacity and remain…
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned the Federal Government against proposed amendments to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the planned sale of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPC) equity shares, describing the move as a grave disservice to Nigeria. ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, issued the caution at a press conference in Abuja as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary. Abdullahi argued that selling off NNPC assets would not amount to reform but would instead erode Nigeria’s energy sovereignty and transfer national wealth into private hands. He recalled that on September 22, the Nigerian…
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has raised the alarm that more than 35% of Nigerian children under five suffer from malnutrition, describing it as a serious public health problem. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, the association stressed that malnutrition contributes significantly to child deaths. It also affects brain development, weakens immunity, and reduces national productivity. NARD explained that ongoing interventions include the distribution of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM), and Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) counselling. The association added that research has shown these approaches improve recovery rates…
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said that 24 people were rescued after a boat accident in Kogi State. On Thursday, NEMA said that 42 people are still missing, and rescue work is still going on. The boat accident happened on Tuesday evening. The boat, which had about 80 people on board, capsized in the River Niger. The boat left Onugwa community in Ibaji Local Government Area and was going to Olushi village when it sank. NEMA said the accident has caused many deaths, and many people are still missing. NEMA’s Director General, Zubaida Umar, asked the Abuja Operations…
The Smile Train Initiative, in partnership with the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), has provided free cleft lip surgeries to 250 patients in Kwara State over the last 18 years. The partnership continues to deliver high-quality and comprehensive treatment to children born with cleft lip and palate across the state. Prof. AbdulRasheed Nasir, Team Lead of the Smile Train-UITH partnership, revealed this during the 2025 Cleft Awareness Day rally held at Oke-Oyi in Ilorin East Local Government Area on Wednesday. He said the community rally was organized to raise awareness about cleft conditions and encourage families, especially in rural…