Amidst a worldwide backlash against tech firms for allowing children access to artificial intelligence (AI) and exposing them to its negative influence, California-based Meta will halt teenagers’ access to AI characters. Meta Platforms Inc, which owns Instagram and WhatsApp, said that starting in the “coming weeks,” minors will no longer be able to access AI characters “until the updated experience is ready”, although they’ll still be able to access Meta’s AI assistant. The company said this applies to anyone who gave Meta a birthday that makes them a minor, as well as “people who claim to be adults but who…
Author: Newsdesk
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, has inspected the proposed World Bank and Federal Government–supported Sustainable Power and Irrigation in Nigeria (SPIN) Project in Katsina-Ala, Benue State. The minister also inspected ongoing Federal Government water supply projects across the state. The inspection tour, conducted on Friday, covered the SPIN project site in Katsina-Ala, the Ugbema Semi-Urban Water Project in Buruku Local Government Area, and the upgrading of the Buruku/Gboko Water Supply Scheme. Speaking at the SPIN project site in Katsina-Ala, Utsev said the inspection was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to assess water facilities…
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has inaugurated a reformed National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) dedicated to polio eradication, marking a significant step in Nigeria’s ongoing fight against the disease. Dr Muyi Aina, Executive Director and CEO of NPHCDA, told reporters on Friday in Abuja that the initiative represents more than just a structural reset. He described it as a demonstration of dedication by stakeholders united in the mission to eradicate polio in Nigeria. Highlighting a renewed focus on accountability and results, Aina urged partners and institutions to prioritize action, data, and evidence over routine meetings. “To every…
The Gombe State Government, with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has inaugurated a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) to support survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Speaking at the Gombe Specialist Hospital on Friday, the Deputy Governor, Mr Manassah Jatau, described the initiative as a significant step towards combating sexual violence in the state. Jatau, who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Habu Dahiru, said the centre would provide a safe space for survivors to access medical, psychological and legal support. He explained that the facility would operate as a one-stop centre, offering a…
Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State says his administration will take drastic measures to end open defecation and address inadequate immunization across the state. Nwifuru made this known on Friday when a UNICEF advocacy team, led by the organizations Nigeria Chief of Field Services, Miss Judith Leveillee, paid him a visit at the Government House in Abakaliki. The governor said he had approved UNICEF’s call for the immediate eradication of all forms of open defecation, malnutrition and poor immunization coverage in the state. “We know the negative implications of open defecation and erratic immunization, and concrete actions must be taken…
The Agbelebu Foundation has launched a free health insurance scheme for elderly citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs), aimed at ensuring access to essential healthcare services without financial burden. The Founder of the foundation, Mr Gbenga Abiola, said in a statement issued on Friday that the initiative fulfilled a long-standing commitment to supporting society’s most vulnerable members. Abiola said the foundation had earlier rolled out the Family Adoption Project in 2025, which provided sustained welfare support to 500 disadvantaged households in Lagos State. The former Vice Chairman of Agege Local Government explained that the initiative stemmed from a deep commitment…
The Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADeV), Nigeria, has commended the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for enforcing the ban on sachet alcohol and sub-200ml polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. This is contained in a statement signed by the Executive Director of SRADeV, Dr Leslie Adogame, and made available to journalists on Friday in Lagos. Adogame described the enforcement as “bold and professional,” noting that it prioritizes public health and environmental protection over narrow economic interests. He recalled that earlier efforts to restrict sachet alcohol had stalled due to industry resistance, adding that the…
The Federal Government, in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), on Friday inaugurated a comprehensive agricultural support package in Kogi State, aimed at boosting productivity, enhancing food security, and promoting youth empowerment. The initiative, under the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), includes dry-season inputs, a seed testing laboratory, and training of youths in equipment fabrication. Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, who inaugurated the programme in Lokoja, emphasized its importance in stimulating rural economic growth and improving food security. According to Ogunbiyi, the VCDP has supported over 5,832 farmers…
Governor Alex Otti has expressed satisfaction with the rehabilitation of the NYSC permanent orientation camp in Umunna, Bende Local Government Area. He made the remark on Friday during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream 1 orientation for corps members deployed to Abia State. Otti assured that the second phase of rehabilitation would be completed, covering internal roads, fencing, pavilion works, and the parade ground. He said retrofitting and provision of basic infrastructure at the camp were among his administration’s earliest commitments upon assuming office. “I am impressed with the work done to make this place befitting for…
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reiterated its commitment to enforcing the ban on sachet and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic drinks. NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made the statement on Friday while speaking to journalists after manufacturers and union members protested at the agency’s Lagos office. The protesters carried placards urging the Federal Government to halt NAFDAC’s ongoing enforcement of the ban on small-sized alcoholic beverages. Adeyeye, however, said the enforcement is backed by law, stressing that only a change in legislation could compel the agency to stop its actions. “We told them clearly…