At least 25 people have died, while 14 others remain missing, after a boat capsized along the Yobe River in Garbi town, Nguru Local Government Area of Yobe State. Dr Mohammad Goje, Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (YOSEMA), disclosed this in a statement in Damaturu on Sunday. He said the incident occurred at about 7:48 p.m. on January 3, after the victims, mostly farmers and traders, boarded the boat in Adiyani town in neighboring Jigawa State. “The victims were reportedly returning from Adiyani town, where they were engaged in fishing, farming and other local business activities,…
Author: Newsdesk
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) says it has recorded significant progress in expanding health insurance coverage and protecting Nigerians from catastrophic healthcare costs through strengthened nationwide implementation of mandatory health insurance. This is contained in the Authority’s year-end review, made available to reporters on Sunday in Abuja. The review highlighted key milestones achieved under ongoing reforms aimed at improving enrollment, service delivery and financial protection in the health sector. According to the report, the enforcement of mandatory health insurance has shifted more Nigerians away from out-of-pocket payments for healthcare to organized prepayment through insurance schemes. “By the third quarter…
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, says the Federal Government has administered more than 25 million doses of measles vaccine and 22 million yellow fever vaccinations nationwide. Pate disclosed this on Sunday in a broadcast via his official X handle, @muhammadpate, highlighting significant gains in immunization coverage and preventive healthcare delivery under the current administration. “Under this administration, over 25 million measles doses and 22 million yellow fever vaccinations have been administered, alongside Africa’s first Mpox vaccine rollout,” he said. Beyond measles and yellow fever, Pate said five million children had received the pentavalent vaccine,…
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced plans to resume its previously suspended total, indefinite and comprehensive strike from January 12, following the Federal Government’s failure to fully implement agreed resolutions. The decision was taken at an emergency virtual meeting of the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) held on Friday and was conveyed in a statement issued by NARD via its official X handle, @nard_nigeria. According to the statement, the National Officers’ Committee (NOC) said the resumption of the strike, tagged “TICS 2.0: No Implementation, No Going Back,” would commence at 12:00 a.m. on January 12. The NEC…
Health analysts have said that the reform agenda unveiled by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, signals an important shift in how African countries prepare for disease outbreaks. According to them, the reforms will also help strengthen routine health services, particularly in Nigeria. The analysts made the remarks in separate interviews with reporters on Saturday in Abuja. Janabi, who spoke in an interview with Nature Africa, said Africa must prioritize early detection of disease outbreaks, stronger primary healthcare (PHC) systems, and regional manufacturing of vaccines and medical commodities to reduce dependence on emergency responses.…
The Wife of the Anambra State Governor, Dr Nonye Soludo, has said that a positive and sound mind empowers the body with extraordinary energy and nourishment for optimal health. Soludo, who is the founder of the Healthy Living Initiative, made the assertion in a message to mark the International Mind-Body Wellness Day, observed annually on January 3. The International Mind-Body Wellness Day is celebrated to create awareness about the strong connection between mental wellbeing and physical health. She said true self-development could not be achieved when the mind and body were not in harmony. “Mind and body wellness largely determines…
Airtel Africa said it has repurchased 40.93 million shares in aggregate at a cumulative average price of 152.24 pence per share since the launch of the first tranche of its $100 million share buyback programme in December 2024. The telecoms group revealed in a corporate disclosure filed with the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) on Friday, January 2, 2026, that it repurchased 40,000 ordinary shares on December 31 in continuation of its share buyback programme. According to the company, the shares were bought at prices ranging between 354.00 pence and 357.00 pence, with a volume-weighted average price of 355.95 pence. The transaction was executed by Barclays Capital Securities Limited under the authority granted…
A new study has reported a rise in drug-resistant infections across several African countries, including Nigeria, raising concern about the ability of health systems to treat common illnesses effectively. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), made the report available to the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), on Saturday in Abuja. The Africa CDC said that the report was produced under the Mapping Antimicrobial Resistance and Antimicrobial Use Partnership (MAAP), the largest study of antimicrobial resistance carried out in Africa. It was led by the organisation, the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM), the One Health Trust, and…
The Edo State Police Command on Saturday confirmed the abduction of two brothers, Ibrahim and Tahir Abu on January 2 in Auchi, Edo North. Ibrahim, who is currently on his housemanship at Edo State Teaching Hospital, Auchi, was said to have been abducted with his brother while trying to access his residence after work on Friday, January 2, 2026. They are both members of the Abu family of the Iyetse Clan, Utsogun Heritage Zone, his kidnap has thrown his community into panic. A family source said, “The abduction occurred in front of his residence, off City Pride Road, Ibira Camp,…
The Imole Progressive Network (IPN) has described 2025 as a year of significant service delivery and measurable community impact across Ondo North Senatorial District, citing wide-ranging interventions in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and agriculture. The assessment was contained in the organisation’s annual activity review covering January to December 2025, released on Saturday by Adeshina Ajibade on behalf of the IPN Media Team and dated Saturday, January 3, 2026. According to the report, IPN operated across all 72 wards in the senatorial district under the leadership of its Director General, Engr. Mike Adeyanju. The network attributed its reach and effectiveness to what…