Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has flagged off the construction of the area’s first general hospital in Ohanku-Ndoki, Ukwa East Local Government Area (LGA), to improve access to secondary healthcare. Speaking at the event on Thursday, Otti said the facility would be the first secondary health institution in the area and is expected to address long-standing gaps in quality medical care for residents. The governor stated that the project underscores his administration’s commitment to equitable and high-quality healthcare delivery across the state, especially in rural and undeserved communities. He noted that, upon completion, the hospital would serve people in…
Author: Newsdesk
Equatorial Guinea has announced plans to achieve zero indigenous malaria transmission in targeted districts by 2028, as part of its ambitious Vision 2030 malaria elimination strategy. Hon. Mitoha Ondo’o Ayekaba, Minister of Health, Social Welfare and Health Infrastructure, disclosed this on Thursday during a high-level engagement briefing with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The minister outlined the country’s transition from long-standing malaria control to full national elimination. He explained that the strategy builds on more than two decades of sustained interventions, particularly on Bioko Island, where malaria control efforts began over 20 years ago. The…
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned fruit dealers and sellers against using calcium carbide to ripen fruits for commercial purposes. The warning was issued by the NAFDAC Coordinator in Sokoto State, Mr Abdulsalam Lawal, during a public awareness campaign at a fruits market in Sokoto on Thursday. Lawal urged fruit dealers and sellers to stop the dangerous practice, which he described as highly harmful and posing serious risks to public health. He cautioned that consuming fruits ripened with calcium carbide could lead to severe health issues, including kidney damage, cancer, hypertension, and other…
The Nigerian Navy Provost Regulating School Makurdi on Thursday offered free medical services to residents of Kanshio Community in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State. The Commandant, Commodore Suleiman Abdullahi, who flagged off the medical outreach, said the exercise targeted 1,000 beneficiaries. Abdullahi explained that the gesture was in appreciation of the Kanshio Community’s overwhelming support for the school. He described the outreach as part of the Navy’s civil-military relations efforts with host communities and one of several ways to express gratitude for their continued cooperation. Abdullahi noted that the Navy has enjoyed a cordial relationship with the people…
The Federal Government has shifted from voluntary waste management to mandatory enforcement, making plastic producers, importers, and brand owners legally responsible for the full lifecycle of their products and associated waste. The Director-General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Prof. Innocent Barikor, announced this on Thursday during a stakeholders’ sensitization programme on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in Owerri. The event, organised for manufacturers, Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs), recycles, collectors, and NESREA staff from the South-South and South-East zones, focused on building awareness and collaboration. Represented by Deputy Director Mr Chukwudi Nwabuisiaku, Prof. Barikor described plastic waste…
Chad Harbach once reflected on a reality many Nigerians know all too well when he noted that for many years, he simply didn’t have health insurance. In our corner of the world, that lack of coverage isn’t just a statistic; it is the thin line between a quick recovery and a financial catastrophe. At its core, health insurance is a simple, protective pact. You provide a regular premium to a provider, and in exchange, they shoulder the crushing weight of medical bills, granting you a golden ticket to a network of professional doctors, life-saving medications, and specialized treatments that would…
A cross-section of residents in KAMA community, Udege Development Area, Nasarawa Local Government Area, has raised serious concerns over alleged spillage from lithium mining operations affecting farmland, waterways, and the broader environment. Lithium, a mineral-rich chemical essential for batteries in electric vehicles, smartphones, and renewable energy systems, holds significant economic value but can pose serious hazards if extraction and processing are poorly managed. In interviews with reporters on Thursday, residents claimed that mining spillage had reduced agricultural yields and polluted local rivers, raising fears of long-term environmental damage and health risks. They alleged that operations by Avatar New Energy Materials…
The Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) are taking concrete steps to deepen collaboration on environmental protection and sustainable forest management. The renewed partnership was formalized during a strategic courtesy visit on Thursday by the NESREA South-West zonal team, led by Acting Zonal Director Mr. Peniel Jack, to FRIN’s Director-General, Prof. Zachariah Yaduma. During the visit, Jack commended Prof. Yaduma’s leadership in advancing climate change mitigation through large-scale tree planting initiatives. He highlighted NESREA’s high regard for FRIN’s expertise and its pivotal role in promoting environmental sustainability and global forest…
Prof. Charles Adetunji, a biotechnology researcher and Director of Research at Edo State University, Uzairue, has stated that the ethical boundaries governing Genetic Modification (GM) in Nigeria are defined by rigorous regulatory oversight, professional ethics, and respect for cultural and socio-economic values amid ongoing public concerns. Adetunji made the remarks during a telephone interview with reporters on Thursday. He explained that in Nigeria—where agricultural biotechnology is actively promoted and GM crops have been approved for commercial release—ethical considerations are shaped not only by science but also by cultural values and socio-economic realities. According to him, maintaining a balance between scientific…
Armed militants linked to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) launched a brutal assault on communities in Adamawa State, killing at least 18 people and causing widespread destruction in the early hours of Tuesday night. The attacks struck Kirchinga and nearby agrarian settlements in Madagali Local Government Area, a region close to the Sambisa Forest — a known stronghold for Islamist insurgents — and part of Governor **Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri’s political home base. Residents said the fighters arrived under the cover of darkness, firing indiscriminately and shooting villagers as they fled into surrounding bushland to escape…