Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa has announced his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to strengthen development efforts and reposition the state in national politics. Fintiri disclosed this at a news conference on Friday in Yola. He said the decision followed extensive consultations with stakeholders, aimed at ensuring long-term stability, development and prosperity for the people of Adamawa. The governor said that the move would enable the state to support President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on social welfare, infrastructure, housing and inclusive economic development. He added that “after wide consultations with a large…
Author: Newsdesk
The UN narcotics control body, INCB, says a shipment of chemicals used to make fentanyl that could have produced up to 1.6 billion potentially lethal doses has been blocked. The International Narcotics Control Board, which disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, added that an international early warning system intercepted the shipment. It said the interception highlighted the vital role of cooperation in tackling the rapidly evolving illegal drugs trade. INCB is an independent, quasi-judicial body established under the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. In its 2025 Annual Report, INCB said that authorities used its pre-export notification platform to…
The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Buba Marwa, has said that the National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP 2026-2030) would strengthen Nigeria’s ongoing drug control efforts. Marwa stated this at the Agency’s national headquarters on Thursday in Abuja while receiving the final summative evaluation report on the performance of the NDCMP 2021-2025. A statement by the NDLEA spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi said with the serious and holistic efforts being put into the preparations for the next master plan, its implementation, when finally produced, would have significant positive impact on the nation’s public health and national security.…
The Federal Government has embarked on the distribution of food and nutritional support items in Benue under the Presidential Initiative for Food and Nutrition Assistance. Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction (FMHAPR), Dr Bernard Doro, who led the exercise, said it was aimed at supporting vulnerable households affected by displacement, insecurity, and loss of livelihoods. This is contained in a statement issued on Friday by the Head of Information and Public Relations Unit of the ministry, Chinyere Ulasi. Doro described the intervention as an urgent humanitarian response and a strategic step toward linking emergency assistance with long-term social protection,…
Cote d’Ivoire plans to bring forward the start of its cocoa mid-crop season for the first time ever, allowing authorities to significantly reduce the price paid to farmers as the country confronts rising unsold inventories. Ashenews gathered through the government and regulatory sources that the measure is intended to restore competitiveness to the country’s cocoa exports following a slump in global prices that has made Ivorian beans comparatively expensive on international markets. The West African nation, which remains the world’s largest cocoa producer, has seen bags of cocoa accumulate in warehouses inland and at key export ports in recent months,…
MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has reported a profit after tax of N1.11 trillion for the full year ended 2025, representing a recovery from a loss of N400.44 billion recorded in 2024. The company posted a profit before tax of N1.70 trillion, compared to a loss of N550.33 billion in the previous year. This was disclosed in a corporate disclosure released to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Thursday. The strong performance was supported by a net foreign exchange gain of N90.27 billion, in contrast to a loss of N925.36 billion recorded in 2024. Total revenue rose by 54.9 per cent to…
Health experts have called for greater public awareness, early prevention, and stronger government-private sector collaboration to tackle the growing burden of osteoporosis in Nigeria, particularly among the elderly. They made the call during the official commissioning of the Centre for Osteoporosis and Bone Health in Ibadan on Thursday. The Chief Executive Officer of the centre, Prof. Temitope Alonge, emphasized the need for deeper synergy between governments at all levels and organized private-sector health operators to improve access to quality healthcare for the public. He described osteoporosis as a condition in which bone mineral density decreases to the point that even…
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has intensified efforts to unlock an estimated $1 billion in health financing through debt-for-health swaps, as part of a broader strategy to secure sustainable funding for the continent’s health systems. Dr Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC, announced this during a weekly high-level regional press briefing on Thursday. Kaseya said sustainable financing is now one of the institution’s five strategic pillars, with a strong emphasis on mobilizing innovative domestic resources and exploring previously underutilized mechanisms such as debt swaps. “When we talk about sustainable financing, we are looking at increasing…
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…
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…