The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory (ARD-FCTA), has commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, for approving the payment of 13 months’ outstanding hazard allowance owed to its members. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by Mr Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media. Olayinka said the association, in a letter of appreciation dated Jan. 15, also praised the minister for the payment of a one-month wage award to resident doctors in the territory. The letter, signed by the ARD-FCTA…
Author: Newsdesk
Gov. Alex Otti of Abia has said that his administration is committed to reclaiming abandoned farm settlements and transforming the state into an agricultural powerhouse. Otti disclosed this on Tuesday when the management team of the Anambra–Imo River Basin Development Authority (AIRBDA) paid him a courtesy visit in Nvosi, Isialangwa South Local Government Area. The governor said the Abia State Government was focused on transitioning from subsistence farming to a full agricultural value-chain model, where crops would be processed into finished products. “We are moving away from what we call subsistence farming to a value-chain approach — from primary production…
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, has commended the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (O-ORBDA) for its efforts in advancing food security in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Utsev gave the commendation at the opening of a two-day management retreat organized by O-ORBDA on Tuesday in Abuja. He was represented at the event by the Director of Irrigation and Drainage in the ministry, Mrs Esther Oluniyi. The minister highlighted some of O-ORBDA’s achievements, including the construction of over 70 greenhouses out of a target of 300, the drilling of about 2,000 boreholes to…
A new report by Google and Ipsos has revealed that Nigeria is leading global adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly in learning, work, and entrepreneurship. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by Mr. Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s Communications and Public Affairs Manager for West Africa. Kola-Ogunlade said the report, titled “Our Life with AI: Helpfulness in the Hands of More People,” shows that Nigerians are embracing AI tools at an exceptional rate and remain highly optimistic about the technology’s future. According to the report, 88 per cent of Nigerian adults have used an AI chatbot, representing an 18-point…
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has emphasized that persons with disabilities (PwDs) are contributors to national development, not merely beneficiaries of charity. The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, made the statement on Tuesday in Abuja during the closing ceremony of a two-day PwD digital skills training. The training was organised in collaboration with the Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) and SIMBED under NITDA’s Digital Literacy For All (DL4ALL) initiative, which aims to achieve 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027 and 95 per cent by 2030, with a focus on inclusive digital capacity nationwide. Represented at the event by…
The Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) has begun creating a comprehensive national database of traditional medicine practitioners as part of efforts to standardize and strengthen the sector. The Director-General of NNMDA, Prof. Martins Emeje, disclosed this on Tuesday in an interview with reporters in Abuja. Emeje made the announcement following his appointment in December 2025 as Co-Chair of the World Health Organization’s Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (STAG-TM). Speaking on how he plans to leverage the position to advance traditional medicine in Nigeria and Africa, Emeje said the agency recognized the urgent need…
A Consultant Family and Lifestyle Medicine Physician, Dr. Moyosore Makinde, has warned that sleep deprivation increases the risk of developing certain non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Makinde, who is also the President of the Society of Lifestyle Medicine of Nigeria (SOLONg), made the statement during an interview with reporters in Lagos on Tuesday. According to her, studies indicate that people who do not get enough quality sleep are more likely to fall ill when exposed to viruses, such as the common cold. “Lack of sleep can weaken the immune system and affects how quickly an individual recovers from sickness,” she said. Makinde…
The Federal Government on Tuesday validated an updated National Policy to tackle desertification, land degradation, and drought in Nigeria. Balarabe Lawal, the Minister of Environment, made this known at a workshop on the “Review of the National Policy on Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought.” He was represented at the event by Mr. Mahmud Kambari, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary. Lawal said the validated policy would effectively address desertification, land degradation, and drought while enhancing environmental sustainability across the country. “This occasion represents a vital milestone in our efforts to tackle desertification, land degradation, and drought in Nigeria. These are not abstract…
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that opening additional 6GHz and 60GHz spectrum bands will boost high-speed connectivity for homes, schools, and hospitals across the country. The Head of the Spectrum Services Department at NCC, Atiku Lawal, made this statement at the conclusion of a two-day National Spectrum Roadmap Stakeholders Consultation Forum held on Tuesday in Abuja. Lawal explained that the commission’s plan to open new spectrum bands is not only aimed at improving quality of service but also at extending connectivity to underserved areas. “The commission is opening two spectrum bands, 6GHz and 60GHz, not just to enhance…
The Nigerian Natural Medicines Development Agency (NNMDA) has said that research on the production of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical-grade starch is 85 per cent complete. The Director-General of NNMDA, Prof. Martins Emeje, disclosed this on Tuesday in an interview with reporters in Abuja while providing an update on some of the agency’s ongoing projects. Emeje recalled that in 2024, the agency held a consultative stakeholders’ engagement to promote indigenous production of pharmaceutical-grade starch. The meeting focused on the theme: “Unlocking Nigeria’s Potential: Natural Medicine, Cassava Cultivation and Pharmaceutical-Grade Starch Production for Health, Wealth Creation, Student, Youth and Women Empowerment — The NNMDA…