The Kogi State Ministry of Health’s Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Programme, in collaboration with Sightsavers, has inaugurated the 2025 Mass Administration of Medicines (MAM) for Onchocerciasis (River Blindness) prevention in the state. The mass medicine distribution, aimed at preventing river blindness, will cover all 3,200 communities in the state and target 4.5 million people aged five years and above. The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adeiza Abdulazeez, who declared the two-day MAM review meeting open on Monday in Lokoja, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminating river blindness in the state. Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Steven…
Author: Newsdesk
The Rotary Club International, District 9127, says it has conducted free medical screening for 500 residents of Jos as part of activities marking its 121st anniversary. Mr. Owolabi Folaranmi, Assistant Governor of the Rotary Club of Jos Tin City and State Coordinator for Rotary Day Celebration (RODAC), disclosed this on Monday in Jos. He said the initiative aimed to promote preventive healthcare and support vulnerable members of the community. Folaranmi explained that the screening was designed to help residents detect health conditions early and seek appropriate medical attention. According to him, Rotary remains committed to humanitarian service and improving people’s…
President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Wandile Sihlobo as Presidential Envoy on Agriculture and Land, a move aimed at accelerating growth and tackling long-standing structural challenges in South Africa’s agricultural sector. The appointment, announced by The Presidency on Saturday, underscores the strategic importance of agriculture to the country’s economic growth path, amid persistent constraints and emerging opportunities at home and abroad. Sihlobo currently serves as Chief Economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz) and is a member of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council. He is also a Senior Lecturer Extraordinary in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Stellenbosch…
…scaling capacity to 45,000T to support East Africa’s fish farming growth Tunga Nutrition (Kenya) Limited — a joint venture between Kenyan agribusiness groups and Skretting managed by global feed giant Nutreco — has launched a state-of-the-art aqua feed production facility in Nairobi, marking the beginning of a new era for the East African aquaculture sector. The launch which took place mid last week is poised to boost installed feed production capacity from 24,000 metric tons to 45,000 metric tons annually, positioning the site among the largest dedicated aquafeed operations in East Africa. Named “Growing Capacities, Growing Communities,” the modern plant…
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has commenced the full automation of its licences and permits processes. This reform aims to eliminate paperwork bottlenecks, reduce port delays, and strengthen revenue assurance across Nigeria’s trade corridors. The initiative was formally introduced yesterday at a sensitisation programme at the Customs Training College Auditorium, Ikeja, Lagos, with similar engagements taking place simultaneously across all Customs zones nationwide—signalling the Service’s readiness for a coordinated digital rollout. The programme was anchored by Comptroller Ngozika Anozie, Comptroller of the Licences and Permits Unit under the Tariff and Trade Department. It was attended by the Zonal Coordinator of…
Gianluca Prestianni will not play for SL Benfica against Real Madrid in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League tie after being provisionally suspended by UEFA amid an ongoing investigation into a racism allegation involving Vinícius Júnior. Benfica was officially notified of the temporary suspension on Friday, with the disciplinary measure taking effect immediately while UEFA continues to review the incident. The case stems from the first leg of the tie at the Estádio da Luz on February 17, when Real Madrid defeated Benfica 1‑0. Video footage captured an on-field exchange between Prestianni and Vinícius after the Brazilian scored, during…
Israel on Monday reported the second H5N1 bird flu outbreak of the season at commercial poultry farms in Moshav Nahalal in the northern region, affecting 8,000 turkeys. Israel’s Agriculture and Food Security Ministry said the latest outbreak follows a previous one in early January at a duck breeding site in Sadeh Yaakov, approximately five km from Nahalal. The ministry has established a 10-km quarantine zone around the affected site, urging owners of ornamental birds, backyard poultry, and free-range flocks to keep their flocks indoors. The public is advised to purchase poultry and eggs only from regulated retailers. It added that…
The Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd. has partnered MySmartMedic, a subsidiary of Uniccon Group of Companies, to deliver digital healthcare to underserved rural communities nationwide. The agreement was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding signed on Monday at Uniccon Group’s headquarters in Abuja. NigComSat Managing Director, Mrs Jane Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, described the initiative as a “game changer” aimed at connecting Nigeria’s hardest-to-reach communities through satellite technology. According to her, the project targets the 70 per cent of Nigerians living in rural areas, stressing that digital health must extend beyond major cities. “We want to take solutions to the remotest areas. The…
The Bauchi State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has seized 2,115.8 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs and secured 35 convictions within four months. Ashenews gathered through the State Commander of the Agency, Mr Hassan Yaqub on Monday in Bauchi. He attributed the feat to sustained intelligence gathering, professionalism and strategic deployment of personnel across the state. “Since I took over on Oct. 31, 2025, we have recorded unprecedented arrests and seizures. “So far, we have seized 2,115.8kg of assorted drugs within Bauchi metropolis and other parts of the state,” he said. Yaqub explained that…
A Professor of Pediatric Radiology in the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Prof. Ayodeji Anike Olatunji is to deliver the 125th Inaugural Lecture of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye in Ogun State on Tuesday 10th March 2026. Prof. Olatunji will speak on “Beyond Shadows: Imaging Science and the Radiologist’s Quest To Reveal The Unseen” at the OGD Lecture Theatre of the Main Campus in Ago Iwoye at 2pm. She had studied at the Crowther Memorial College, Lokoja before obtaining her MBBS Degree at the University of Lagos and did her specialization both at the citadel of Radiology learning, University College Hospital…