The Federal Government says soil health is central to achieving food sovereignty and climate resilience in Nigeria. Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, made the statement on Thursday in Abuja during the 2025 World Soil Day celebration, themed “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities.” Abdullahi noted that soil forms the backbone of Nigeria’s agriculture, supplying 95 per cent of the nation’s food and providing most of the essential nutrients required for plant growth. He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to restoring soil health through sustainable agricultural practices and highlighted the recent launch of the Nigerian Farmers’ Soil…
Author: Newsdesk
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified Lassa fever as a priority pathogen in urgent need of research and development due to its epidemic potential. In a statement on Thursday, WHO announced that the Oxford Vaccine Group has vaccinated the first volunteer in a first-in-human trial of a Lassa fever vaccine. “The first volunteer has received a dose in a first-in-human trial of a Lassa vaccine, marking a major milestone in the fight against this deadly virus,” the organization said. The trial, conducted by the Oxford Vaccine Group and funded by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), will assess…
The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has urged contractors to adopt efficient practices to improve sanitation across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Mrs. Kate Ogbonna, Acting Director of AEPB, made the call during a meeting with the 54 newly inaugurated contractors in the FCT. She stressed that the contractors are responsible for the regular and thorough evacuation of refuse from bins, bus stops, and other public areas. “The aim of this meeting is to have a close discussion on how the work should be done between us, the directors, and the contractors,” Ogbonna said. “You should know your demarcation and…
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, says soil remains the backbone of Nigeria’s agricultural sector. The minister stated this on Thursday in Abuja during the 2025 World Soil Day celebration, themed “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities.” Abdullahi noted that soil supplies 95 per cent of the country’s food and provides 15 of the 18 essential elements required for plant growth. “Soil supports crop growth and livestock production, purifies water, regulates climate, sequesters carbon, mitigates greenhouse gas emissions and provides habitat for beneficial microorganisms, thereby supporting ecosystem services and biodiversity. “However, our soils are currently…
The Sustainable Gender Action Initiative (SGAI), in collaboration with UN Women and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has intensified grassroots mobilization against technology-facilitated gender-based violence across communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The Executive Director of SGAI, Dr. Mufuliat Fijabi, made this known on Thursday in Abuja during a community outreach held in the Kabusa community. She highlighted the urgent need to address online harassment, cyberstalking, non-consensual image sharing and other forms of technology-facilitated violence. Fijabi said the outreach was part of activities marking the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against GBV, themed…
The Civil Society for HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (CISHAN) has cautioned students and other adolescents against premarital risky behavior and urged them to promote awareness on HIV prevention. The CISHAN Sokoto State Coordinator, Mr. Muhammad Garba, gave the advice on Thursday in Sokoto during a sensitization programme to commemorate the 2025 World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day, marked annually on Dec. 1, is observed globally to raise awareness about the dangers of HIV and AIDS and to proffer ways to support people living with the virus.The theme for the 2025 observance is “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response,” which…
The Anambra State Government says all newly diagnosed HIV-positive residents will now be enrolled into the State Health Insurance Scheme to ensure easier access to free antiretroviral drugs and comprehensive care. The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, disclosed this on Thursday in Awka during the 2025 World AIDS Day commemoration organized by the Anambra State AIDS Control Agency. Obidike described HIV as a major public health concern and said the government was intensifying awareness efforts and strengthening interventions to curb its spread. ALSO READ: Psychiatrist calls for task shifting to close Nigeria’s mental health gap He advised residents to…
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Kwara Chapter, has urged Nigerians to report any form of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and technology-assisted violence to the nearest authorities. The Chairperson of NAWOJ, Mrs. Bashirat Ayantola, made the appeal on Thursday in Ilorin during a one-day sensitization programme held at St. Anthony Junior Secondary School to mark the 16 Days of Activism to End GBV. The theme of the 2025 campaign is “Unite to End Digital Violence Against Women and Girls.” Technology-facilitated violence against women and girls refers to acts committed, assisted, aggravated, or amplified through information and communication technologies or other…
The Edo Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it arrested 44 suspected traffickers and seized 2,059.83kg of illicit drugs in November. Dr Mitchell Ofoyeju, State Commander of the agency, disclosed this at a press briefing on Thursday in Benin. Ofoyeju said the command’s heightened, intelligence-driven operations were strategically executed to ensure a peaceful and secure yuletide season across the state. According to him, the arrests comprising 21 males and 23 females, reflect both the scale of the agency’s offensive and a worrying trend, particularly the rising involvement of women in drug trafficking. “This is a negative…
No fewer than 3.7 billion people across the world are suffering from oral health diseases. A Professor of Restorative Dentistry at the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo, Ondo State, Adolphous Loto, revealed this on Thursday while delivering the 11th inaugural lecture of the university. Prof. Loto, speaking on the lecture entitled “Restoring health to dentally afflicted patients: The roles of a Restorative Dentist as a jack of all trades and master of all”, described a restorative dentist as a “multidimensional professional who stands as a bio-engineer at the sacred intersection or convergence of biology, materials science, technology and compassion,…