Police in Kagadi District, western Uganda, are responding to a canoe accident in which dozens of passengers are feared missing after the vessel capsized on River Nguse. According to a police statement on Wednesday, the canoe, carrying an estimated 35 to 40 passengers, overturned on Tuesday night at Kyaleni Village. Authorities said they responded immediately, rescuing one survivor, a local resident. The exact number of missing persons remains unconfirmed, as there was no passenger manifest. READ ALSO: China hands over new ECOWAS headquarters Marine police have launched search and rescue operations, and investigations into the cause of the accident are…
Author: Newsdesk
A Kaduna Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday sentenced 27-year-old farm manager Israel Tony to eight months in prison for stealing 30 crates of eggs. Tony, a resident of Barnawa, Kaduna, was charged with theft. Magistrate Ibrahim Emmanuel handed down the sentence without the option of a fine and also ordered Tony to pay N243,000 in compensation to the complainant. Prosecutor Insp. Chidi Leo told the court that the offence occurred between February and April in Maraba Rido, Kaduna. Leo said Williams Dogo, of Sabon Tasha, Kaduna, reported the matter to the Sabon Tasha Police Station on April 22. READ ALSO: Nigerian…
The Nigerian naira has weakened further against the British pound, trading at an average of N1,896/£, even as the UK currency faces mounting pressure in the global foreign exchange market. Latest figures from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) indicate that the naira continues to trade within the N1,825 to N1,950 per pound range, reflecting ongoing volatility in the currency market. Analysts say the naira’s performance is being shaped by a mix of domestic policy measures and external factors. The CBN’s decision to retain the Monetary Policy Rate at 26.5 per cent has helped sustain investor interest in naira-denominated assets,…
The Police Command in Ekiti has launched a manhunt for gunmen who attacked a Christ Apostolic Church in Eda Oniyo-Ekiti, killing a pastor and abducting worshippers. SP Sunday Abutu, the command’s spokesperson, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti. Abutu said the incident occurred on Tuesday at about 10:30 p.m. when church members were holding a night vigil on the outskirts of the town. Preliminary investigations indicate that about five armed men invaded the prayer ground, fatally shot the pastor, and abducted some congregation members. READ ALSO: Report: Nigeria’s military spending jumps 55% to $2.1bn amid worsening insecurity…
The Nigerian naira extended its downward trend on Tuesday, closing at N1,383 to the US dollar amid renewed pressure in the foreign exchange (FX) market and a continued decline in the country’s external reserves. Data obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed the local currency weakened from N1,369/$ recorded on Monday, underscoring sustained depreciation in recent trading sessions. Intraday trading saw the naira fluctuate between N1,367.5/$ and N1,385/$, with a simple average rate of N1,380.19/$. Tuesday’s closing rate marks the weakest level since April 7, 2026, when the currency traded at N1,389/$. On a week-on-week basis, the naira…
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has assured stakeholders of seamless operations with no disruption during the rehabilitation of Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos. Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, General Manager of the NPA’s Corporate Communication and Strategy Unit, gave the assurance during an interview with reporters on Wednesday in Lagos. The Federal Government announced that the Lagos ports rehabilitation will begin in Q2 2026, with completion expected within 48 months. In March, Nigeria and the UK sealed a £746 million export finance deal to support the redevelopment of the two major ports. Under the agreement, UK Export Finance (UKEF)…
The National Association of Retirees of State Governments has threatened a nationwide protest unless governors urgently review pension payments in line with existing labour laws. Mr. Simon Anchaver, President of the union, made the call in Yenagoa during the inauguration of the Bayelsa interim executive of the newly registered union. The union demanded that all 36 governors prioritise pension payments. It also called on President Bola Tinubu to establish a Ministry for Pension Affairs to guarantee annual budgetary allocations for pensioners’ welfare. The union criticised the arbitrary payment of pensions by some governors but commended Nasarawa State Governor for releasing…
The Enugu State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to fighting malaria through strategic interventions, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, said. Ugwu spoke on Tuesday in Enugu while briefing reporters as part of activities marking World Malaria Day (WMD), organised by the state Health Ministry and its partners. He noted that the state government has introduced free diagnostics, treatment, preventive tools, and expanded community-based programmes to tackle malaria. “This year’s theme, ‘Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must,’ captures the moment perfectly. For the first time in history, the tools, science, and strategies to eliminate malaria…
Dr. Farida Abdulmalik, Programme Director of Support for Women and Teenage Children (SWATCH), an NGO, has identified stigma, denial, and economic hardship as major drivers of new HIV/AIDS cases in Kano State. Abdulmalik spoke with reporters on Tuesday in Kano. “Stigma remains a major barrier to testing and treatment. Some patients fear their families or communities will find out, while others stigmatise themselves and withdraw from society,” she warned. She added that denial of HIV status contributes to complications and preventable deaths. “Denial is a serious issue. We have seen cases where pregnant women refused to accept their status, leading…
Many commuters in the Mararaba-Nyanya-Kurudu axis of the Federal Capital Territory were stranded on Tuesday as commercial tricycle operators stayed off the roads in protest. The operators were reportedly protesting alleged extortion by some union officials in the area. The FCT Chairman of Keke Operatives Positive Initiative (KOPI), Mr. Suleiman Babaji, told reporters that his members woke up on Saturday to a sudden hike in the daily ticket fee at Mararaba Park. “We woke up on Saturday to the sudden increase in ticket fees at Mararaba Park. The rise from N100 to N200 prompted an emergency meeting of unions, after…