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Oladayo Olabampe, the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) chairman at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, has appealed to the federal government to come to the institution’s aid. Mr Olabampe, while reacting to the power outage at UCH, told journalists on Monday in Ibadan that the hospital needed assistance to survive. There has not been light at UCH since October 26, when the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) disconnected the hospital due to accumulated debts. Mr Olabampe, who decried the bill from IBEDC as alarming and outrageous for a hospital such as UCH, said the government had to assist the health facility by stepping in. “The bill is killing. IBEDC put UCH on Band A, but we can’t afford the bill for Band A. This is why the hospital management told...

The Nigeria Customs Service, Area 2 Command Onne, Rivers, has confiscated 21 containers of contraband drugs, donkey skin, and other items valued at over N46 billion. The command’s Comptroller, Muhammad Babandede, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on Monday in Onne, Rivers. Mr Babandede listed the confiscated items to include; cough syrups, Tramadol, fake antibiotics, chilly cutter and sanitary fittings used for concealment of fake drugs. Others include donkeys’ skin, which he said are used for concealment of raw chemicals suspected to be for production of cough syrups. He said that the command has continued to strengthen collaboration with sister agencies especially the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, SSS, Quarantine, NAFDAC among others in the actualisation of...

By Jessica Dogo The Plateau State Governor, Caleb Muftuang, has endorsed the Luft Pay TV, saying it will boost local initiatives in the country. Muftuang said this at the grand opening and dinner of Luft Pay TV, a television service on Sunday in Abuja. He highlighted the importance of promoting local initiatives, variety and quality in the Nigerian entertainment industry. “We should be able to give people qualitative options. At very economic prices, we must be able to share profit with the people who make business profitable. “I salute this initiative and I want to encourage Nigerians to patronise Luft TV, It is a great initiative,” he said. The Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, drawing parallels with Nigeria’s telecommunications service providers, said that Luft...

By Victor Okoye In a pioneering initiative, Gideon Robert University of Lusaka, Zambia, has partnered with the Chartered Institute of Educational Practitioners United Kingdom (CIEPUK) to unveil “Operation Education at Your Doorstep" to Make Learning Affordable and Accessible Worldwide. A statement by Prof. Marcel Ezenwoye, the CEO and President of CIEPUK said the innovative program, accessible globally via the CIEPUK Academy platform at ciepukacademy.com, is dedicated to providing inclusive, affordable, and quality education for all, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). "This partnership offers a lifeline to students worldwide, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, by providing free access to Mandatory Continuing Professional Developme...

The Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA has neutralised scores of terrorists in a daring night operation within the strongholds of notorious bandits across Zamfara and Kebbi States. This is contained in a statement by the director, Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, NAF, Olusola Akinboyewa, on Sunday in Abuja. Mr Akinboyewa, an air commodore, said the air campaign, nicknamed ‘Operation FARAUTAR MUJIYA’, was initiated on Friday with a series of intense and independent Air Interdiction missions. According to him, this is to support the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s renewed drive to eliminate all forms of criminality in the Northwestern region. He said the first wave of strikes was launched following confirmed intelligence about increased terrorist activities i...

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has smashed two major cross-border drug trafficking syndicates with cocaine and opioids worth billions of naira recovered from them. A statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday in Abuja stated that six leaders of the cartels were arrested in different parts of the country. Mr Babafemi said that the arrest came after months of intelligence gathering and painstaking surveillance by operatives of the NDLEA. He said that the syndicates comprised Nigerians based in Mubi, Adamawa State; Onitsha, Anambra State, and Lagos State as well as Cameroonians. He also said that they all came under NDLEA radar after they were suspected of being major suppliers of drugs to terror groups operating in Nigeria and ...

Afenifere Leader, Sehinde Arogbofa and Olubaka of Okaland, Oba Yusuf Adeleye, on Saturday commended Ondo State, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s leadership style in Ondo State. Arogbofa, Olubaka declare support for Aiyedatiwa ahead of governorship pollMr Arogbofa said, “The Afenifere stands firmly behind your mandate.’’ Mr Aiyedatiwa is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the November 16 governorship election. The governor was in Akoko South-West Local Government Area to canvas votes as part of his tour of the 18 local council areas of the state. Speaking at the Palace of Olubaka, Mr Arogbofa urged the governor to emulate the values of the late first Executive Governor of Ondo State, Adekunle Ajasin and make the state great again. The Afenifere leader used the oppo...

Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police, says “comprehensive plans” have been made to ensure a peaceful governorship election in Ondo. He added that the police would not be needing the help of Amotekun, the south-west security outfit. The election will hold on November 16. In a statement issued on Sunday, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, force spokesperson, said the IGP has ordered the “strategic deployment of adequate personnel, resources, and state-of-the-art equipment” for the election. He said officers from various specialised units, including the special intervention squad, Police Mobile Force (PMF), counter-terrorism unit (CTU), special protection unit (SPU), explosive ordinance disposal unit, K-9 unit, Federal Investigation and Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT), and Federal ...

The 2023 Governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)in Gombe State, Ahmed Khamisu Mailantarki, has formerly pitched his party loyalty with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alongside his mammoth followers. Mailantarki had in July 2024, resigned from the NNPP but didn't immediately join another party amidst speculation of joining the PDP. During the reception to welcome Mailantarki and his supporters into the PDP at its secretariat, Mailantarki, a two term House of Representatives member said he joined PDP to help revitalise the party to unseat the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration in the State in 2027. He alleged that APC Government at the Federal and State levels has woefully failed Nigerians in delivering good governance. He opined that the P...

No fewer than 200 women in Ebonyi have been empowered by the United Nations agency, UN Women. UN women distributed fertilizers, improved rice seedlings to the rural women. Besides, it also launched a Low-cost Biogas Production Project. These initiatives support food security, boost productivity, and improve household incomes, aligning with Nigeria’s economic goals and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on food security (SDG 2), gender equality (SDG 5), and climate action (SDG 13). UN Women’s Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, highlighted the importance of these initiatives during her address. “UN Women is excited to continue to support women in the rice value chain as part of a larger programme on Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA),” she said....

Former President, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Felix Alaba Job, has said that the failure to reform the education system has created a generation who are unable to distinguish right from wrong. The cleric also blamed successive governments for ignoring genuine calls to review the nation's education curriculum. He disclose this in an interview with journalists on Saturday at the 13th convocation ceremony of Veritas University, Abuja where he was awarded Honorary Doctor of Letters (Hon.D.LITT) by management of the institution. The clergy who was the former Archbishop Emeritus of Ibadan, stressed that removing subjects like History from the curriculumundermines national identity. He said despite warnings to leaders since the 1980s to do the right thin...

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have smashed two major cross-border drug trafficking syndicates, arresting six leaders of the cartels in different parts of the country and seizing cocaine and opioids worth billions of naira. A statement by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said the syndicates, which comprise Nigerians based in Mubi, Adamawa state; Onitsha, Anambra state, and Lagos state as well as Cameroonians came under NDLEA radar after they were suspected of being major suppliers of drugs to terror groups operating in Nigeria and Cameroon. Babafemi disclosed that the leaders of the syndicates so far arrested include: Ibrahim Bawuro, Najib Ibrahim, Ibrahim Umar, Udechukwu Anayo, Ezeh Amaechi and Adejumo Ishola. He said inte...

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum has approved the rehabilitation of Uba General Hospital and the township road networks. The governor also approved the rehabilitation of eight primary schools in Uba town, including Uba Central Primary School, Mufa A Primary School, Kuma Primary School, Masil Primary School, Uba Marghi Primary School, Low-Cost Primary School, Kwarghi Primary School and Mufa B Primary School. Zulum announced the approval on Saturday at the Palace of the Emir of Uba, Alhaji Ali ibn Ismaila Mamza. In a similar vein, the governor announced the construction of a new palace complex that befit the status of the emir. The governor said: “You have to undertake a complete rehabilitation, provide furniture and also ensure adequate teachers are deployed.” Z...

The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, led African Union delegation to this year’s G20 Ministers of Culture meeting, saying it marks a significant milestone in Africa's cultural diplomacy. Musawa was at the Salvador Convention Centre in Brazil, at the weekend, Dr. Nneka Ikem Anibeze, Media aide to the minister disclosed this in a statement on Sunday. The Minister, who doubles as the 1st Vice-Chairperson of the Bureau of the Specialized Technical Committee on Youth, Culture, and Sports in the African Union membership of fifty-five states, said “Africa's cultural diversity is our greatest strength, and we must leverage it to drive development, unity, and shared growth. “Africa’s inclusion brings our unique perspectives and priorities to thes...

Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo, says the All Progressives Congress (APC) is planning the inauguration of Monday Okpebholo without input from the state government. Speaking on Friday while swearing in the caretaker committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Obaseki said the APC has not invited him to the inauguration. Obaseki described the APC’s action as lawless, adding that the state government is supposed to be in charge of the programme. Somebody has to be sworn in. Sworn into a government that exists. You just don’t come from nowhere and start a government. There is already a government. There is a way things are done,” he said. The government of Edo state is inaugurating a new governor on Tuesday. But what you are seeing now… all the posters. The gover...

The air component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) has reportedly killed at least 70 ISWAP fighters in air strikes across the southern Lake Chad region. According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, the missiles were shot on November 5, targeting camps led by Usman Russia, a “notorious ISWAP commander”. Makama reported that the strikes hit camps in Kwallaram and Arainna Ciki, located near Jibilarram in Marte LGA of Borno state. The report added that 79 casualties were recorded at the Kwallaram camp. While the exact number of fatalities at Arainna Ciki remains unknown, the report noted that several militants were killed there as well. “Meanwhile, following the strike, on November 7, reports emerged that ISWAP had mobilised addit...

A two-day Social Norms Conference brought together leading experts, policymakers, and development professionals from across West Africa to discuss how sociobehavioral approaches can accelerate human capital development in the region. The conference held between from Nov. 5 to 6, with the themed “From Research to Reality: Sociobehavioral Solutions for Accelerated Human Capital Development,” was a platform for tackling societal norms that affect human capital growth and for translating research insights into actionable strategies. It was organised by the Anglophone West Africa Learning Collaborative,and hosted over 200 participants, including representatives from government, donor organisations, NGOs, academia, and research institutions. In attendance were influential leaders from ...

By NAN A Federal High Court in Yola, on Thursday remanded a businessman, Jabir Mohammed in a correctional facility for alleged unlawful dealing in petroleum products and illegal possession of ammunition. Mohammed who resides in Mubi, Adamawa is charged with unlawful dealing in petroleum products, attempt to export 2,000 jerrycans of petroleum products and illegal possession of ammunition. Justice Bala Usman, however, adjourned the case until Nov.11 to enable the prosecutor respond to the bail application served on her by the defence counsel. Usman said that the prosecutor was entitled to 48 hours to enable her respond to the application served by the defence counsel. He further remanded the defendantat at the correctional centre. Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Adewumi...

By Victor Okoye Efe Okwagbe, the new chairman of the Nigeria Tennis Umpires Association (NTUA), has promised to push for improved welfare for its members. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okwagbe made the remarks on the sidelines of the Association's Annual General Meeting on Saturday held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Package B, Abuja. Okwagbe told reporters after his victory at the polls that his main agenda as chairman would be to seek improved welfare packages for all NTUA members. "Over the years, we have had challenges with the welfare of our officials. So, part of what we will be doing is to partner with the public and private sector for the funding and promotion of tennis officiating. "The truth is, without a proper tennis officiating, the gam...

By Constance Athekame The Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu has attributed the incessant grid collapses to vandalism and lack of maintenance in past. Adelabu said this in Abuja on Wednesday while receiving the report of the committee set up to look into the frequent grid collapses. It will be recalled that the minister had constituted a six-member Committee to advise the Federal Government on necessary solutions to make the national grid robust and reliable. The minister said that most of the incidents of grid collapses in 2024 was as a result of vandalism of power installations and theft of power equipment.c According to him, lack of good maintenance of the grid in the past and a number of other external factors was also adding to the collapses. He said that the Fed...