Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

More than 20 medical and dental students, along with a house officer, have been kidnapped by gunmen in Benue State. The students were traveling to the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) annual convention in Enugu when they were ambushed around 5:30 p.m. in the Otukpo area. The victims are reported to be from the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos. Benue State Police Command spokesperson, SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the abduction and stated that an investigation is underway. “Yes, the report of the kidnapping is true. It was received between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.,…

The European Union health agency on Friday urged its members states to get ready for more cases of a deadly strain of mpox, a day after Sweden announced the first case outside Africa. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said it “recommends that public health authorities in the EU/EEA maintain high levels of preparedness planning and awareness-raising activities to enable rapid detection and response”. More more cases were “highly likely”, it said.

China announced Friday it will begin screening people and goods entering the country for mpox over the next six months, just two days after the World Health Organization declared the virus a global health emergency. People travelling from countries where virus outbreaks have occurred, who have been in contact with mpox cases or display symptoms should “take the initiative to declare to customs when entering the country”, China’s customs administration said in a statement. Vehicles, containers and items from areas with mpox cases should also be sanitised, the statement added. Sweden on Thursday announced the first case outside Africa of…

The Federal Government has appealed to aviation unions to shelve their plans for a strike over the deduction of 50 per cent of the internal revenue of aviation agencies. In a memo dated August 14, the unions comprising the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreation Services Employees (AUPCTRE) had threatened to strike. But the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus…

Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team D’ Tigers has dropped four places in the latest FIBA ranking released on Friday. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that D’Tigers slumped from 39th to 42nd position in the world ranking. The former African champions tallied 299.7 points during the month under review to occupy sixth position on the continent. South Sudan hopped from 34th to 23rd in the FIBA World Ranking to become the top-ranked African team, overtaking Cote d’Ivoire. Angola, Tunisia, and Egypt complete the top five teams in Africa. Olympic champions U.S. protected their lead at the top, while Serbia jumped…

Pakistan said Friday it had confirmed a case of mpox, a day after Sweden recorded the first infection outside of Africa involving a new, more dangerous strain of the virus that has killed hundreds in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The mpox surge in Africa — which has also affected Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda — prompted the World Health Organisation on Wednesday to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the highest alarm it can sound. Sweden’s Public Health Agency told AFP on Thursday that it had registered a case of the Clade 1b subclade — the same…

The Federal Government has launched $500 million domestic bond, about three weeks after hinting at the action. Unveiling the bond in Lagos on Monday, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, stated that the launch was a bold step towards economic transformation poised to attract both local and international investors. “This historic initiative is aimed at raising a minimum of $500 million from both local and international investors, marking a significant step in Nigeria’s ongoing economic reform and development efforts” he said. Edun stated further that the bond issuance, which is set to leverage the…

The Katsina Chief Judge, Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar, has told the state’s anti-corruption agency to be thorough in its work and assured of readiness to designate a special court to try corruption-related cases in the state. The court, according to him, will be fully equipped with an electronic evidence presentation system from arrest to interrogation and collection of evidence to achieve the desired objective. Abubakar disclosed this on Thursday when he received members of the newly established Katsina State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission on a familiarisation tour in his office at the Katsina High Court. “There’s corruption all over…

The senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, Shehu Buba, has faulted the emirate council’s withdrawal of his Mujaddadin Bauchi title. On Thursday, the council stripped Buba of his chieftaincy for allegedly insulting the state governor, Bala Mohammed. The lawmaker criticised the policies of Mohammed during the kick-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) LG electioneering campaign in the state. Buba said the governor has worsened the poverty index in Bauchi, adding that there is a need to ensure the accountability of resources allocated to states. In a letter addressed to the Emir of Bauchi, expressed shock at the decision of…

Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, has tasked the newly unveiled Local Government Service Commission with upholding their primary responsibility with unflinching dedication and working to advance the state. While speaking during the inauguration ceremony of the 7-member commission held in Calabar on Thursday, Governor Otu stressed on the critical role of local government in the broader agenda of his administration. He described the unveiling as not just a routine exercise, but an essential step in the strategic direction of his administration in line with the people’s First agenda. “This exercise is politically imperative, socio-economically expedient, and administratively wise,” he…