Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mariya Mahmoud has praised First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, for her steadfast support of the annual First Baby of the Year initiative, calling it a beacon of hope for maternal and child health. Mahmoud, who joined the First Lady at the Federal Medical Centre in Jabi, Abuja, to celebrate the birth of the territory’s first baby of 2026, also extended congratulations to the newborn’s parents and family, describing the arrival as “a profound symbol of hope, renewal and fresh beginnings for the FCT and the nation.” The minister commended healthcare…
Author: Newsdesk
The Federal Government says it has achieved notable progress in implementing the African Continental Free Trade Areas (AfCFTA) in 2025, boosting trade integration and private sector participation across Africa. Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, disclosed this in a statement on Nigeria’s AfCFTA implementation progress. Oduwole said that the AfCFTA remained central to Africa’s ambition to create a unified continental market through tariff liberalisation, reduced non-tariff barriers and enhanced regulatory cooperation. According to her, Nigeria has historically championed Africa’s integration efforts, hosting landmark initiatives such as the Lagos Plan of Action and the Abuja Treaty. “In 2025,…
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has reaffirmed its commitment to enact a law that will sustain the gains of the Federal Government/International Fund for Agricultural Development–Value Chain Development Programme (FG/IFAD-VCDP) for smallholder farmers in the state. Dr Peter Akwe, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, gave the assurance on Thursday during a field visit by the VCDP team to Barkin Abdullahi (B.A.D) Community in Lafia North Administrative Area. The team was led by Mr Umar Tanko-Tunga, Commissioner for Agriculture and Chairman of the VCDP Steering Committee in the state. Akwe said the proposed legislation would institutionalize the programme’s…
Four electronics shops in a building at Ikotun, Lagos State, were razed by fire in the early hours of New Year’s Day, destroying all items in the affected shops. The shops are located in a building beside the GUO Transport Company in Ikotun. Items destroyed in the fire included washing machines, television sets, and power generators. A resident living near the building told reporters that neighbors were able to prevent the fire from spreading to other parts of the structure before the arrival of emergency responders. He said residents initially used large quantities of water to contain the fire before…
The wife of the Zamfara State Governor, Mrs Huriyya Lawal, has defrayed the medical bills of patients receiving treatment at the Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, Gusau, as part of her end-of-year humanitarian outreach. The Press Secretary to the governor’s wife, Mrs Rabi Yusuf, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Gusau. According to the statement, the support was provided during a visit to patients admitted at the hospital. ALSO READ: Researcher warns of hypertension crisis in Nigeria Yusuf said that each patient on admission received ₦150,000 to settle medical bills and ease other financial challenges. Mrs Lawal, who…
The Kano State Fire Service says it saved 91 persons and property worth about ₦15 billion from 665 incidents recorded across the state in 2025. The Director of the service, Mr Sani Anas, disclosed this in a statement signed by the service’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Saminu Abdullahi, on Thursday in Kano. Anas said that 120 persons lost their lives to fire outbreaks, road accidents, and incidents involving ponds and wells during the period, while property valued at about ₦6 billion was destroyed by fire. He added that the service responded to 130 emergency calls and 43 false alarms from…
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano Strategic Command, says it arrested 1,389 suspects and seized 7,773.06 kilogrammes of illicit drugs between January and December 2025. The State Commander, Mr Dahiru Yahaya-Lawal, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Kano by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Sadiq Muhammad-Maigatari. Yahaya-Lawal said the arrests were part of the agency’s sustained efforts to combat drug trafficking and abuse across the state. According to him, the suspects comprised 1,346 males and 43 females, apprehended during various operations for drug-related offenses. He said the drugs seized during the period included cannabis…
A cardiovascular disease researcher, Ms Aminat Dosunmu, has called for immediate national action to address Nigeria’s growing burden of hypertension. In a report released on Wednesday titled “Hypertension: Nigeria’s Silent Epidemic – An Urgent Call for National Action,” Dosunmu warned that the condition has become one of the deadliest health threats facing the country. She said an estimated 27 million to 39 million Nigerian adults are living with high blood pressure, with prevalence rates ranging from 22 to 44 per cent across different regions. Describing hypertension as a “silent killer,” Dosunmu explained that the condition often presents no symptoms until…
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano Strategic Command, says it arrested 1,389 suspects and seized 7,773.06 kilogrammes of illicit drugs between January and December 2025. The State Commander, Mr Dahiru Yahaya-Lawal, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Kano by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Sadiq Muhammad-Maigatari. He said the arrest was part of the agency’s sustained efforts to combat drug trafficking and abuse across state. According to him, the suspects comprised 1,346 males and 43 females, apprehended during various operations for drug-related offences. Yahaya-Lawal said the drugs seized within the period under review included cannabis…
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has urged Nigerians to shun all forms of illicit trade as the year 2026 begins. The Comptroller-General of Customs (C-G), Bashir Adeniyi, made the call in his New Year message to Nigerians on Thursday, posted on the Service’s verified social media platforms. Adeniyi, while wishing Nigerians a happy New Year, urged them to remain law-abiding in all their dealings in 2026. “As we celebrate, let us be law-abiding citizens and avoid all acts that undermine our shared values, including smuggling and other forms of illicit trade,” he said.