The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with the Lagos State Government, has begun distributing relief materials to victims of the Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) building fire. A statement signed by Mr. Mohammed Olatunde, Head of Operations at NEMA’s Lagos office, made this known on Saturday. Olatunde said the flag-off ceremony, held at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, Oko-Oba, Agege, marked a coordinated response to the Dec. 24, 2025, fire disaster at Balogun Market, Lagos Island. He noted that the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, represented by the South-West Zonal Director, Mr. Akiode Saheed, expressed sympathy…
Author: Newsdesk
The naira extended its downward trend on Friday, closing at N1,361.5 per dollar—its weakest level in three weeks—as persistent demand pressures and limited foreign exchange (FX) supply weighed on the market. Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) show the local currency depreciated through most of the trading week, underscoring sustained volatility in the FX market. The naira fell from N1,355/$ on Thursday and N1,348.1/$ on Wednesday, after earlier settling at N1,350.99/$ on Tuesday and N1,349.67/$ on Monday. Compared to the previous Friday’s closing rate of N1,342.5/$, the currency has weakened by nearly N20 within a week. Friday’s closing…
The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has called for sustained, collective action to treat malaria as a national emergency. In her message on World Malaria Day, observed annually on April 25, she said, “Malaria is not just a public health challenge but a national emergency, particularly as Nigeria bears the highest global burden of the disease. “When we stand united, we can achieve a malaria-free world. “Today, on World Malaria Day, we reaffirm our commitment to ending malaria and protecting the health of every individual. “The 2026 theme, ‘United Against Malaria,’ highlights the urgent need for sustained collaboration, increased domestic…
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has successfully destroyed terrorist hideouts in the Southern Tumbuns area of Borno. This was stated by the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, on Saturday in Abuja. Ejodame said the operation was conducted on Friday at about 1850 hours over Ali Sheriffti, a known terrorist enclave, following credible intelligence on insurgent activities. “The NAF air assets carried out a focused surveillance sweep, during which several insurgents were sighted moving along concealed tracks and were traced to structures hidden under dense foliage. “Following positive identification, the NAF executed a precise strike,…
The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that over the past 50 years, vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives, as ordinary people chose to protect themselves, their children, and their communities from diseases like measles, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, and rotavirus. WHO made the statement on Friday as World Immunisation Week, running from April 24 to 30, begins. During the week, WHO and partners are highlighting the benefits of vaccines at every stage of life, as well as the scientific breakthroughs that have led to effective inoculations against malaria, HPV, cholera, dengue, meningitis, RSV, Ebola, and mpox. This year…
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) says recent attacks in Borno State have forced more than 5,000 residents of Ngoshe in Gwoza Local Government Area to flee their homes. MSF Field Communication Officer, Abdulkareem Yakubu, disclosed this in a statement, warning that the violence has worsened an already fragile humanitarian situation. He said the displacement followed attacks on March 3, which reportedly left several people dead and others abducted. “Survivors fled with little warning,” Yakubu said, adding that they sought refuge about 15 kilometres away in Pulka under harsh conditions. He noted that many displaced persons, mainly women, children, and the elderly,…
Mr. Chika Nwosu, Managing Director of PalmPay, says fraud concerns, trust deficits, and limited integration are major challenges facing Nigeria’s digital payments ecosystem. He spoke on Friday at the Payments Forum Nigeria (PAFON 3.0) in Lagos, themed “Fair Digital Payments as a Catalyst for Deepening Financial Inclusion in Nigeria.” Nwosu said that while digital payment platforms have improved, many Nigerians remain sceptical due to fears of fraud and transaction failures. He noted that before 2019, transaction failure rates exceeded 10 per cent, undermining public confidence in electronic payments. “The major challenge facing the sector today is trust. Digital payments are…
Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited has inaugurated six projects in oil spill-impacted communities in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State. The projects include a 12-classroom block in Agbonchia community, a 200-capacity town hall in Akpajo community, and ICT upgrades, backup power supply, and renovation works at Community Secondary School, Aleto. Others include the desilting of a four-kilometre drainage system in Aleto, as well as electricity upgrades and the installation of prepaid meters in Aleto and Okerewa communities. Speaking at the event in Agbonchia on Friday, the company’s Vice President for Relations and Sustainable Development, Dr. Igo Weli, said the…
No fewer than 30 traditional rulers across the southern part of Kwara State have fled their palaces following a sustained wave of kidnappings, killings, and violent attacks, reporters have learnt. Correspondents gathered from two credible community leaders that the affected monarchs are seeking refuge in urban centres, including Ilorin, Osogbo, Offa, and Lagos. Findings show that some of the affected traditional rulers are from Omugo, Afin, Oreke, Oreke Oke-Igbo, Olohuntele, Alabe, Ganmu Ailehri, Ologanmo, and Igbo Agbon communities. While some have been away for months, others have been absent for nearly a year. Their displacement, triggered by repeated attacks by…
An oncologist and Medical Director of Jacaranda Cancer Centre, Abeokuta, Dr. Kehinde Ololade, has said that cancer is not a spiritual attack but a disease that can affect anyone, regardless of status, gender, or ethnicity. Ololade stressed that early presentation remains crucial in combating the cancer scourge. He made this known on Thursday while speaking with journalists during a visit by the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, led by its Chairman, Dr. Adetokunbo Vaughan. The oncologist described the visit as a sign of strong collaboration needed to tackle the growing burden of cancer…