The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has urged its personnel to demonstrate compassion, professionalism and accountability in serving disaster victims. The Director-General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, made the call in an address at the agency’s 2026 Customer Service Week (CSW) celebration on Wednesday in Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the celebration is “The Extra Mile”. Umar was represented at the event by the Head of Lagos Operations, Mr Mohammed Olatunde. She said humanitarian service required more than efficiency, as the agency often served displaced families, vulnerable communities and people facing difficult circumstances.…
Author: Newsdesk
The Assembly of Healthcare Professionals has declared a seven-day warning strike over the state government’s failure to fully address its demands for improved allowances and salary adjustments. The chairman of the assembly, Ibrahim Balange, announced the decision on Wednesday, saying the strike would commence at midnight on Oct. 14. The unions under the assembly include the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), and the National Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP). Balange said the assembly issued a seven-day strike notice to the government on Oct. 7, but the expiration…
The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) has advocated the integration of digital literacy into school curricula from an early age to protect children from online abuse and exploitation. Ms Seyi Onasanya, Chief Operating Officer of NiRA, said this on Wednesday in an interview with reporters in Abuja. She described digital literacy as a necessity rather than an option, urging stakeholders to take urgent action to ensure children understood the risks associated with using digital devices and online platforms. Onasanya said protecting children in the digital space required collective efforts from parents, teachers, schools, policymakers and other stakeholders. She said NiRA…
A smart energy expert, Orebiyi Godfrey, has warned Nigerians against installing lead-acid batteries in bedrooms and other poorly ventilated indoor spaces because of potential health risks. Godfrey gave the warning in an interview with reporters in Abuja on Wednesday, urging households to adopt safer battery installation and usage practices. He said tubular batteries commonly used in Nigeria are lead-acid batteries that could release hydrogen gas and acid fumes during charging. He added that exposure to lead-containing materials could also pose serious health risks. “The real danger arises because these batteries are frequently installed indoors, in bedrooms, under staircases or in…
The Health Is Wealth for Life Sustainability in Africa (HEWELISA) and the National Park Service (NPS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote the sustainable management of Nigeria’s natural resources. The MoU, signed in Abuja on Wednesday, is aimed at promoting capacity building, skills acquisition and health extension services for park rangers and support zone communities. The five-year partnership is designed to alleviate poverty and improve livelihoods in host communities while promoting environmental conservation and the protection of Nigeria’s natural resources. Mrs Ganiyat Oladeji, Chief Executive Officer of HEWELISA, expressed satisfaction with the partnership and the confidence reposed…
No fewer than 5,000 women and newborns have benefited from the Federal Government’s free emergency healthcare programme in Bauchi State in the last three years. Dr Hassan Shu’aibu, State Focal Person for the Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) programme, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Bauchi. CEmONC is part of the Federal Government’s health sector reforms, implemented through the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA). The programme aims to improve access to life-saving emergency care for pregnant women and newborns. Shu’aibu said the programme had been implemented in eight health…
Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone Ltd., has urged Nigerian universities to prioritise research into artificial intelligence (AI) and local hardware production to strengthen the digital economy and address national challenges. Adeyanju made the call at the 3rd Biennial Postgraduate Conference of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, on Wednesday. The conference was themed “Innovative Postgraduate Research for Sustainable Development in the Era of Artificial Intelligence.” Adeyanju said agriculture, healthcare, financial inclusion, education, public services and language development were critical areas where the responsible application of AI could provide practical solutions. He urged universities to move beyond theoretical research…
The Federal Government has distributed fertilisers to 5,040 farmers in Bauchi State under the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF). The fertilisers were distributed to the beneficiaries through the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) for the 2026 cropping season. AFAN Chairman, Mr Yusuf Sambo, said this in an interview with reporters in Bauchi on Wednesday. Sambo said the fund provided 12,160 bags of fertilisers for distribution to 3,040 registered AFAN members, while the state government received 8,000 bags for distribution to 2,000 other farmers. He said each beneficiary received four bags of NPK fertiliser. The chairman said the association encouraged…
The Executive Vice-Chair of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, says the foundation is working to strengthen Nigeria’s public institutions through leadership development, public-sector reforms and other initiatives. Aig-Imoukhuede said this in an interview with reporters in Abuja on Wednesday. She said the foundation believed that capable public institutions were essential for sustainable development and improved living conditions for citizens. She explained that the foundation focused on developing public-sector leaders, supporting institutional reforms and working with governments and communities to address challenges affecting service delivery. She noted that although funding and technical expertise were important for development, lasting change depended on…
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has set a target for every country to detect and understand emerging health threats within 24 hours of their emergence by 2030, urging governments to fulfil their commitments to prevent and prepare for future pandemics. The target is contained in a new five-year strategy for the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, launched to strengthen countries’ ability to identify emerging health threats before they escalate into epidemics or pandemics. The WHO also welcomed the adoption of a United Nations General Assembly political declaration on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, which calls for sustained investment…