Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed mixed reactions to childhood immunisation, even as experts continue to stress its importance in preventing diseases such as measles, polio, and tuberculosis. The residents shared their views in separate interviews on Monday in Abuja, as part of activities to mark World Immunisation Week. The 2026 theme for the week is “For every generation, vaccines work.” Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of zero-dose children globally, according to UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Zero-dose children are those who have never received any routine vaccine, with recent estimates putting the…
Author: Newsdesk
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Monday inaugurated a newly constructed nursing quarters and two mega primary schools in Maiduguri, built by Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum. Tinubu also launched the North-East National Community Food Bank Programme, an initiative conceived by her office to combat hunger and malnutrition across the country. The nursing quarters, located beside the State Specialist Hospital, consist of eight blocks of six flats each. The units are fully furnished and equipped with air-conditioning for the comfort of health workers. The First Lady also commissioned two mega primary schools — Aliyakeri and Abbaganaram Primary Schools. Each…
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has successfully concluded Exercise Polaris II, a two-day simulation exercise on a fictional bacterial outbreak spreading globally. The organisation disclosed this on its website on Monday. According to WHO, 26 countries, 600 emergency experts, and over 25 partners participated in the exercise, which took place on April 22 and 23. The simulation enabled participating countries to test their pandemic preparedness, including activating emergency workforce structures, improving information flow, and coordinating responses with partners and WHO. Building on Polaris I held in April 2025, which focused on a fictional virus, this year’s exercise was conducted under…
The U.S. dollar weakened on Monday as evolving geopolitical signals from the Middle East reduced safe-haven demand, with investors positioning ahead of key central bank meetings later this week. The cautious market sentiment reflects uncertainty around global growth, oil supply risks, and the monetary policy direction of advanced economies. Reports of renewed diplomatic engagement around the Strait of Hormuz—a critical corridor for roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments—helped ease immediate risk concerns, prompting a mild retreat in the dollar. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against six major currencies, fell by 0.3 per cent to 98.32, reflecting…
The Catholic Television of Nigeria (CTV) says its daily audience has increased by more than 300 per cent, reaching about eight million viewers across Africa, one year after joining GOtv Channel 115. The Executive Director of CTV, Very Rev. Fr Patrick Alumuku, disclosed this in Abuja during a news conference marking the station’s 15th anniversary and its first year on the GOtv platform on Monday. Alumuku said the station was established in 2010 through the vision of the then Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan. He noted that CTV has remained committed to professionalism, balanced reporting, and spiritual values in…
The Yobe State Executive Council (SEC) has ratified N59.8 billion to fast-track the execution of viable projects and services earlier approved by the state government. Abdullahi Bego, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture, disclosed this shortly after the council’s meeting in Damaturu on Monday. The memoranda ratified covered road construction, healthcare services, transport, energy, commerce, and sports development. Bego said the council approved N34.1 billion for road projects, including the 59-kilometre Kaliyari–Baymari and 53-kilometre Bayamari–Geidam roads. He added that N8.5 billion was approved for the construction of Jajimaji Modern Market and external works at Machina and Buni Yadi modern…
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding opportunities for women through social impact interventions and creating an enabling environment for sustainable national development. Mrs Tinubu, who was represented by Fatima Abbas-Tajudeen, wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, spoke at the “Give to Gain” summit marking the 2026 International Women’s Day. The event was organised by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and partners in Abuja on Monday. The summit, themed ‘Rights, Justice, Action for All Women and Girls’, highlighted the critical role of Nigerian women in businesses, families, and communities,…
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has urged newly inducted Ambassadors and High Commissioners-designate to advance Nigeria’s interests using the 4Ds framework of Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora. She gave the charge on Monday in Abuja at the commencement of an induction programme organised to prepare the envoys for their diplomatic assignments. Odumegwu-Ojukwu congratulated the envoys and urged them to strengthen economic diplomacy by attracting investments, boosting trade and tourism, and supporting Nigeria’s economic diversification drive. She said the induction programme reflected the government’s commitment to building a professional and result-oriented diplomatic service capable of advancing Nigeria’s…
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has urged journalists to remain truthful, objective, and professional in their reportage to promote democracy and public trust. Otu gave the charge on Monday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Calabar while inspecting a 15 KVA solar-powered inverter he donated to the union. Represented by his Commissioner for Information, Dr Erasmus Ekpang, the governor said he values honesty and described himself as a straightforward leader committed to transparency and open engagement with the media. He noted that his support for information management underscores his recognition of the media’s critical…
The Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Dr John Asein, has decried the high rate of piracy and other forms of intellectual property (IP) infringement, particularly the unauthorised streaming of live sports content in Nigeria. Asein said the trend continues to undermine legitimate markets, discourage investment, and threaten the long-term sustainability of the sector. He made this known during a novelty volleyball match organised by the NCC between staff of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) on Monday in Ibadan. The match was held to commemorate the 2026 World Intellectual…