The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) has inaugurated a specialised cochlear implant and hearing-rehabilitation programme in Abuja. The intervention is expected to target about 30 cochler implant surgeries, primarily for children with the goal of restoring their hearing and to enable their full integration into the society. The initiative marked Saudi’s government major humanitarian intervention aimed at treating severe hearing loss among Nigerian children. It is implemented in collaboration with Nigerian health authorities for beneficiaries and their families, and the surgeries are performed in the National Hospital Abuja. The programme offers a complete…
Author: Newsdesk
The MATAN Food Bank Professionals Association of Nigeria (MATAN) has unveiled the Automated MATAN Food Security Initiative to tackle hunger and improve food security nationwide. The national flag-off ceremony brought together agricultural and community stakeholders to unveil the initiative’s framework aimed at transforming food access and distribution across Nigeria. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the held at the National Institute of Sport, National Stadium Lagos, on Wednesday, drew farmers from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Speaking at the event, MATAN Group National President and Board of Trustees Chairman, Mr Olakunle Johnson, described the initiative…
Stakeholders in the health sector have called for collective action to address recurring issues of hospital bed scarcity and the complex referral system in Lagos and other Nigerian hospitals. The call was made on Wednesday during a scientific conference organized by the Medical Guild in Lagos, themed: “The No Bed Conundrum and Safe Referral: Exploring an Integrated & Effective Referral System in Lagos.” Speaking at the event, the Chairman, Dr. Ibrahim Mustafa, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board, said the shortage of hospital beds and the fragmented referral system reflect systemic gaps in coordination. Mustafa urged the…
The Kwara State Government says it is targeting 800,000 children under five and 200,000 pregnant women for its upcoming National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) and related healthcare interventions. The NIPDs is a nationwide campaign coordinated by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to vaccinate children against vaccine-preventable diseases, with a special focus on polio. Prof. Nusirat Elelu, Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, stated this on Wednesday in Ilorin during a meeting of the Kwara State Task Force on Immunization and Primary Healthcare. She was represented by Dr. Michael Oguntoye, Director of the Primary…
Health experts have emphasized the critical role of technological advancement, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), in accelerating Nigeria’s progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The remarks were made on Wednesday in Abuja during a panel session titled “Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Primary Healthcare in Nigeria” at the ongoing Afrihealth Conferences and Exhibitions, organized by the Afrihealth Development Foundation and Africa Hub for Innovation and Development. Dr. Kunle Kakanfo, Founder of Artificial Intelligence for Social Impact Development (AI4SID), said Nigeria must harness AI to strengthen its fragile health system. “AI is already improving clinical decision-making globally, and Nigeria can benefit from similar…
President Bola Tinubu has unveiled the Electric Tricycle Empowerment Initiative aimed at supporting youth self-employment and advancing national development. Represented by the Minister of Labour, Dr. Muhammad Dingyadi, the President formally inaugurated the programme at an event on Wednesday in Abuja. Tinubu said the initiative underscored the government’s commitment to reducing transportation costs, lowering pollution and expanding youth employment opportunities. He noted that the project aligns with the National Energy Transition Plan, which promotes cleaner mobility and supports Nigeria’s long-term environmental sustainability goals. According to the President, the electric tricycles are projected to reduce transport costs by 40 per cent,…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a nationwide security emergency, directing the police and armed forces to recruit additional personnel to tackle rising insecurity across Nigeria. The police will recruit 20,000 new officers, bringing total intake to 50,000, with NYSC camps to serve as temporary training facilities. Officers withdrawn from VIP duties will undergo crash training for redeployment to high-risk areas. ALSO READ: Katsina governor signs N897.8bn 2026 appropriation bill into law The Department of State Services is authorized to deploy forest guards against terrorists and bandits. Tinubu commended security forces for recent rescues, including 24 schoolgirls in Kebbi and…
South Africa’s banana supply is dominated by Mozambican imports, which cost far less to produce than local bananas because of lower wages. In Mozambique, the minimum wage for farmworkers is R1 792/month, compared with R4 836,72 for South African farmworkers, based on 21 eight-hour days per month. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Blaine Peckham, chairperson of the Southern KwaZulu-Natal Banana Association, said a banana farmer’s biggest expense is the wage bill. “This gives Mozambican farmers an advantage over South African farmers,” he added. Several role players in the industry put the percentage of Mozambican bananas sold on South African markets at around…
The NNPC/Heirs Energies Joint Venture has delivered an industry-first, rigless recompletion of a major non-associated gas well in OML 17. Chidimma Ugbojiaku of Heirs Energies said in a statement on Wednesday that the intervention doubled gas output to 135 million standard cubic feet per day. She said the increased supply is already strengthening domestic gas availability and supporting the nation’s energy security ambitions. Ugbojiaku noted that the enhanced output has significantly improved power generation across the eastern electricity network. She said TransAfam Power has quadrupled its generation, rising from about 50 megawatts to more than 180MW, with peaks of 200MW.…
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting human dignity and eliminating human trafficking, with the Attorney General of the Federation emphasizing President Bola Tinubu’s priority of strengthening the justice system and safeguarding Nigerians. Speaking in Abuja at the second policy meeting on human trafficking, the Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, represented by Victoria Ojogbane, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, outlined ongoing efforts to boost victim protection and close critical gaps in Nigeria’s response to trafficking. He stressed the need for enhanced cooperation among agencies combating trafficking, highlighting improved coordination, data-driven strategies and sustained collaboration as essential to…