Transport stakeholders say the Federal Government’s reduction in vehicle import duties has provided modest relief but is yet to transform the transport sector. The stakeholders expressed their views in separate interviews with reporters on Tuesday in Abuja. They reacted to the Federal Government’s recent reduction in vehicle import duties and levies, aimed at making vehicles more affordable. They noted that exchange rate volatility, high freight costs, and multiple levies continue to undermine the expected benefits of the policy. The Chief Executive of Ojigwe Automobiles Ltd., Mr. Nwachukwu Kenneth, said the policy offered some relief but had not yet brought significant…
Author: Newsdesk
The Enugu State Agency for Universal Health Coverage (ESA-UHC) has extended its health insurance scheme to traders in the state to enable them to access affordable and quality healthcare services. ESA-UHC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Union of Market Traders Employers of Nigeria (NUMTEN) for the take-off of the scheme. Speaking at the signing event in Enugu on Monday, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of ESA-UHC, Dr. Edith Okolo, described the agreement as a landmark step towards extending healthcare services to an underserved segment of the population. Okolo said that under the agreement, every…
The Niger State Contributory Health Agency (NiCare) has enrolled more than 121,000 residents under its various health insurance programmes as part of efforts to expand access to affordable and quality healthcare. Mr Sulayman Abu-Bakr, Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NiCare, disclosed this on Monday in Minna during an advocacy visit to the wife of the Niger Governor, Hajiya Fatima Mohammed Bago. Abu-Bakr said the beneficiaries included 80,230 vulnerable persons enrolled under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) Vulnerable Group Programme. He explained that the visit was aimed at securing the support of the governor’s wife to further…
The sensitisation campaign, which began on Monday, is targeting livestock farmers in Lokoja and will run until Friday. Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr Olufemi Bolarin, said the initiative demonstrated the administration’s commitment to modernising livestock production. He said the programme, supported by Gov. Ahmed Ododo, would strengthen food security and improve livelihoods across the livestock value chain. According to Bolarin, artificial insemination offers several advantages over natural mating, including access to superior genetics and higher milk yields. He added that the technology could also support faster animal growth, reduce disease transmission, and lower production costs…
Mr. Rotimi Olatunji, President of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria, has urged media organisations to rigorously verify Artificial Intelligence-generated content to safeguard the integrity of the 2027 General Elections. Olatunji gave the advice on Monday while delivering the keynote address at the Safe Democracy Summit organised by the Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU) in Lagos. He spoke on the theme, “Electoral Integrity in an AI Era: Role of Responsible Media and Culture in Safeguarding Democracy”. Olatunji said Artificial Intelligence (AI) presented enormous opportunities for strengthening democracy but could also undermine electoral credibility if…
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Monday arrested two suspected fake alcohol merchants in Mushin, Lagos State. The agency’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Mushin. He said the team, during separate operations, uncovered counterfeit alcoholic beverage production in the area. According to him, the two suspects were arrested after raids on shops, storage facilities, and an illegal production centre in Mushin. Iluyomade said large quantities of suspected counterfeit alcoholic beverages — including several premium local and international brands — were recovered during the enforcement exercise.…
A retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Hussaini Gumel, has called on Nigerians to take greater responsibility for addressing insecurity, insisting that protecting lives and property is a collective responsibility that should not be politicised. Gumel, who also serves as Secretary of the Project 774 Network for Asiwaju, made the call during an interview with Radio Nigeria, monitored by ASHENEWS, where he stressed that community participation remains critical to tackling terrorism, banditry and kidnapping across the country. He observed that many security challenges occur at the grassroots, particularly in local government areas, and urged residents to work closely with security…
The Managing Director of Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), Yushau A. Shuaib, has announced plans to release a memoir detailing his controversial experience at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, while unveiling the organisation’s strong mid-year performance across journalism and strategic communication. Speaking during IMPR’s mid-year press briefing, Shuaib said the 205-page memoir, Mni vs. Mnipr in NIPSS: Tackling Institutional Bullying, recounts the circumstances surrounding his withdrawal from the National Institute’s Senior Executive Course (SEC 47). According to him, the book addresses allegations of unlawful access to his private email, claims that he authored a publication…
The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has begun nationwide training for at least 1,884 agricultural extension workers and food security specialists from the North Central states and FCT. During the training held in Nasarawa, Lafia, on Monday, the fund announced that the program would be replicated across the country. The training is part of the “Grassroots Digital Extension Corps (GDEC) Initiative.” Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim, the Executive Secretary of NADF, explained that the initiative aims to strengthen the capacity of extension workers across all geopolitical zones. Represented by Mrs. Yejide Olarinde, Head of Policy and Advocacy, Ibrahim stated that this was…
Nigeria’s Mrs. Stella Erebor has been elected Chairperson of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Conference Preparatory Committee. Erebor told reporters in Abuja on Monday that the committee is responsible for preparing Africa’s documents for consideration at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference. The conference is scheduled to take place from November 9 to November 27 in Doha, Qatar. Erebor’s election occurred during the ongoing ATU preparatory conference in Abuja. The conference has been harmonizing Africa’s position on key telecommunications and ICT issues ahead of the ITU. Erebor, who is also the Director of Internal Audit at the Nigerian Communications…