The Plateau State Government has affirmed the availability of free Echitab Polyvalent Anti-Snake Venom (ASV) in designated health facilities across the state. Mr Kim Bot, Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Drugs and Medical Commodities Management Agency (PS-DMCMA), disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Jos. Bot, a pharmacist, said snakebite was a medical emergency and assured that no life would be lost in Plateau due to lack of access, cost or delays in obtaining anti-snake venom. According to him, a deliberate and well-coordinated supply chain has been established to ensure that Echitab ASV is stocked in strategic hospitals,…
Author: Newsdesk
The first stand-alone trial from state prosecutors in a wave of lawsuits against Meta (META) in New Mexico, will start on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. The case stems from a state undercover investigation, where officials created proxy social media accounts posing as children to document sexual solicitations and track Meta’s responses, according to the Associated Press. Prosecutors argue that Meta, owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, created a “marketplace and breeding ground” for predators, while failing to disclose what it knew about harmful effects on minors. Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed suit in 2023, asserting that Meta prioritized profits over child safety. The trial, with…
Nigeria’s crude oil exports are set to decline by about 225,000 barrels per day in February following the shutdown of the Bonga Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel for scheduled turnaround maintenance. The development was confirmed by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd., operator of the Bonga field, in a statement issued on Sunday. The shutdown affects one of Nigeria’s largest deepwater production assets and comes at a time when the country is working to stabilise output and boost foreign exchange earnings from crude oil exports. The company said the maintenance exercise has already commenced on the Bonga FPSO and will temporarily halt…
The World Bank’s Mission 300 will provide household energy to 17.5 million Nigerians, as officials engage the Federal Government to boost jobs, private sector growth, and broader national development. This was disclosed in a statement sent to Ashenews on Sunday. The initiative forms part of the World Bank Group’s broader efforts to support Nigeria’s reform agenda and development priorities. World Bank Managing Director of Operations, Anna Bjerde, will begin a three-day official visit to Nigeria on February 1, 2026, aimed at deepening consultations on how the Bank can best support the country’s development strategy, the statement noted. The visit will…
The Scarlet Cord Initiative (SCI), a non-governmental organisation, has empowered 82 widows in Kachia Local Government Area (LGA) in Southern Kaduna with skills, grants and trauma counselling. SCI Patron, Prof. Sunday Agang, made the state disclosure in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Jos. Agang said that the gesture was to help the widows rebuild their lives after the demise of their husbands in violent attacks. The patron stated that healing was paramount for the widows, and that’s why the NGO deemed it fit to conduct a free trauma counselling session, as “trauma freezes and makes the…
The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is driving a rapid expansion of farmer-led pigeonpea seed enterprises in Mozambique, opening up new income opportunities for smallholders and accelerating the country’s integration into regional and international pulse markets. The initiative is reshaping how farmers access quality seed and markets, transforming pigeonpea from a largely subsistence crop into a profitable, market-oriented enterprise. Agriculture remains the backbone of Mozambique’s economy, with more than 70% of the population dependent on the sector. Yet only about 10% of the…
A former Chief Whip of the Anambra State House of Assembly and representative of the Dunukofia Constituency, Lawrence Ezeudu, has officially defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Ezeudu’s defection was formalised through a letter addressed to the ADC Chairman of Ifitedunu Ward 2, Lawrence Akoba, during a brief event held at the former lawmaker’s residence in Umanugwo village, Ifitedunu, on Sunday. Speaking to journalists shortly after the event, Ezeudu blamed his exit on the APC’s persistent internal crisis and what he described as “poor leadership” at both local and state levels. “After careful reflection…
Lagos State Government reveals readiness to partner with the World Bank Group in energy, agriculture, tourism and human capital development. He said the state was open to deeper collaboration and investment partnerships to improve infrastructure and raise living standards across Lagos. Sanwo-Olu spoke on Sunday at Lagos House, Marina, while receiving a World Bank delegation led by Managing Director (Operations), Ms Anna Bjerde. The delegation also included the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Regional Vice President for Africa, Mr Ethiopia Tafara. The governor said Lagos remained committed to reforms that attract global support and was ready to meet requirements for increased…
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) say they will stage a peaceful solidarity rally on Feb. 3 in support of the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC). The unions announced this in a joint statement signed by Mr Benson Upah, General Secretary of the NLC, and Mr Nuhu Toro, Secretary General of the TUC, in Abuja. The solidarity is in support of the strike by Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) workers, led by JUAC, over unpaid salaries. Workers under JUAC commenced an indefinite strike on Jan. 19, shutting down key administrative offices, including the FCTA Secretariat…
The 68th Annual Grammys Awards, held Sunday at Crypto.com Arena, showcased a diverse array of musical talent, with Bad Bunny and Kendrick Lamar emerging as major winners in a night filled with memorable performances and historic moments. Bad Bunny clinched Album of the Year for his Spanish-language masterpiece DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, marking the first time a non-English album has taken the top prize twice for the same artist. He also secured Best Música Urbana Album for the same project and Best Global Music Performance for “EoO”. Kendrick Lamar led the pack with five Grammys, including Record of the Year for…