News Rider

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed illegal water factory in Imo State, Aranatha Table Water and arrested one person involved in the unlawful production.  NAFDAC’s Chief Laboratory Technologist, Mr. Usman Ameh, led a team of NAFDAC officials from the Agency’s Investigation and Enforcement department, Apapa, Lagos, to seal the factory, located in Owerri West Council Area of the state on Friday. BOblog gathered that the factory was packaging water directly from boreholes without any form of treatment for public consumption, hence constituting water poisoning and contravening various production laws. Ameh said that the agency carried out the operation after receiving credible intelligence that the factory was producing water that could constitute poison. “A team of NAFDAC officials from the state came here and instructed the authorities of this factory to put every production process on hold, but they still continued their i...

At least, 35 persons have died and more than a dozen others injured in central India after the covering of Beleshwar Mahadev Temple well collapsed. The incident occurred as devotees gathered in Indore city, Madhya Pradesh State to celebrate the Hindu festival of Ram Navami on Thursday.  Times of India newspaper reported that rescue work was expedited on Thursday night after underwater cameras showed bodies floating in the muddy waters of the well. Nearly 140 rescuers used ropes and ladders to pull the bodies from the well after pumping out the water but a narrow path and debris in the well made the task difficult. State Police Commissioner, Makrand Deoskar confirmed that dozens of people fell into the well in the temple complex and were covered by falling debris.  Indore’s district magistrate, Dr Ilayaraja T said on Friday that a total of 35 people were killed, one was missing, and 14 people were rescued. He noted that two persons returned home safely after receivi...

        Dr Dauda Lawal-Dare The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday issued Certificates of Return (CoR) to Zamfara Governor-elect, Dr Dauda Lawal-Dare and his deputy, Malam Mani Mumuni. INEC National Commissioner in charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara, Prof. Muhammad Kalla presented the certificates to Lawal-Dare and Mumuni at the INEC office in Gusau, the State capital. This was even as the CoR for the twenty-four elected members of the State House of Assembly were presented to them by the State Resident Commissioner of INEC, Prof Saidu Babura Ahmad. BOblog reports that 17 of the Assembly members were elected on the platform of the PDP while seven were members of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Lawal-Dare commended INEC and the electorate for a successful exercise. He stated that the efforts of the electorate would not be in vain as his administration would change the narrative against the banditry that had ravaged the state. ...

    Sanwo-Olu (2nd right) displaying his certificate of return.  In fulfillment of its mandate, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) continued the issuance of Certificates of Return (CoR) to Goverors-elect and deputy governors-elect on Thursday.  This was even as the electoral umpire also extended the issuance of the certificates to State House of Assembly members-elect.  Each of the candidates were declared winners by INEC during the March 18 Governorship and State House of Assembly elections in different states.  BOblog reports that the electoral body commenced the issuance of Certificates of Return on Wednesday, 29 March, which is expected to end on Friday, 31st March, 2023.  To this end, the governors-elect promised to embark on more poeple-oriented projects in line with their developmental agenda.  Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat, Lagos Lawmakers-elect Receive CoR Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, on...

Nollywood actor, Yul Edochie on Wednesday lost his first son, Kambilichukwu Edochie. BOblog learnt that the 16-year-old slumped while playing and was immediately rushed to Mother and Child hospital. A family source who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed that the boy died on Wednesday after falling unconscious. This is coming two months after the controversial actor alongside his first wife, Mary Edochie celebrated late Kambilichukwu's 16th birthday.  But May’s sister who was at the scene of the incident, noted  that the boy studied throughout the night ahead of his examination today.  "After his exam in school, he joined his mates to play football and that’s when he developed a seizure and was rushed to Mother and Child Hospital. All efforts by the doctors to resuscitate him proved abortive," she added. Reminiscing his son's birthday, Yul had written on Instagram that: “My first son just turned 16. Happy birthday to you Kambi Leo Yul-Edochie. Many ...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja  The Federal Government has restrategised to end flooding and coastal erosion, as well as restore livelihoods in Bayelsa State.  This feat was accomplished with the ongoing remediation works at the Shoreline Protection and Reclamation Project at Emadike, Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.  The project captures a 850m shoreline protection using the sheet pile method to tackle ocean surge and a 16 hectare land reclamation using sand filling to terminate flooding and erosion that devastated the community .  At the inspection of the project during the week, the Permanent Secretary of Ecological Project Office (EPO) Malam Shehu Ibrahim described it as historic and impactful.  He said that Emadike project is one of numerous interventions by the EPO meant to address coastal and flooding challenges in the community, just as he commended President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the project.  "This is the kind of intervention ...

The Senate has marshaled out plans to recover N6 trillion unpaid ground rate from property owners across the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory,  To this end, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan set up a 7-man committee comprising members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to achieve the target and were given four weeks to report back to plenary. They are  Sen. Adamu Aliero (PDP-Kebbi ) Sen Sani Musa (APC-Niger) and Sen. Sam Egwu (PDP-Ebonyi). Others are Sen. Smart Adeyemi (APC- Kogi), Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele (APC- Ekiti), Sen. Betty Apiafi (PDP-Rivers) Sen. Yusuf Yusuf. The move followed the adoption of a motion by Sen. Yusuf Yusuf (APC-Taraba ) during plenary on Wednesday. Moving the motion, Yusuf said that the land use act vested ownership rights on the Federal Government over its land in the states and FCT. He noted that the rights included the power to control and regulate town planning and p...

          Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia (2nd right) displaying his Certificate of Return on Wednesday              in  Makurdi.  Benue Governor-elect, Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia on Wednesday received his Certificate of Return (CoR ) from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Makurdi, the State capital.  This is even as he pledged that his administration would restore the lost glory of the civil service as the engine room of the government. He assured that his government would not take the trust reposed on him for granted, saying that he remained indebted to every person that made his dream a reality.  “We will remain loyal and patriotic to the tenets of our nation. We will remain faithful and great citizens of the state and nation. “We look forward to work with different groups and all parties in the state. We are looking forward to taking our state to higher heights,” he added.  Alia p...

The Senate has approved the establishment of 10 additional National Parks in the country. This followed the adoption of a motion on National Park declaration Order 22, sponsored by Sen.Gobir Abdullahi (APC-Sokoto) at the plenary on Tuesday.  The parks are Alawa National Park, Niger state; Apoi National Park, Bayelsa state; Edumenun National Park, Bayelsa state; Galgore National Park, Kano state and Hadejia Wetland National Park, Jigawa state. Others are Kempe National Park, Kwara state; Kogo National Park, Kastina state; Marhi National Park, Nasarawa state; Oba Hill National Park, Osun state and Pandam National Park, Plateau state. Presenting the motion, Abdullahi said that President Muhammadu Buhari wrote to the Senate on November 16, 2022, requesting the concurrence of the Senate to the National Park declaration Order, 2022 in consonance with section 18 of the National Park Service Act 2004. He noted that the national park declaration order highlighted the need for ad...

President Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated the first oil exploration carried out by Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) in Nasarawa State.  The Ebenyi-A Exploration Well is located in the Middle Benue Trough, Obi Local Government Area of the state.  In his virtual spud-in ceremony of the Well on Tuesday, Buhari enjoined NNPCL and its partners to consider the environmental consequences of the oil exploration activities and mitigate any negative effect. BOblog reports that Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State and Group CEO of NNPCL, Malam Mele Kyari performed the spud-in ceremony on behalf of Buhari. Other dignitaries in attendance were the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) Mr Gbenga Komolafe; Emir of Lafia, retired Justice Bage Muhammad and other traditional rulers.  Buhari stated that the new oil discovery is in line with the ongoing campaigns for the exploration of crude oil and gas in t...

    Late Hon Arthur Egwim  The lawmaker representing Ideato North Constituency at the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon Arthur Egwim is dead.  He died following complications from surgery-related issues.  Speaker of the house, Mr Emeka Nduka (APC Ehime Mbano) confirmed the incident through a statement on Tuesday.  BOblog reports that Egwim was first elected into the eighth house in 2015 and had served as a chief whip of the house. Nduka described the lawmaker as 'a ranking parliamentarian of note and a strong voice at the assembly'. The speaker noted that his death will create a vacuum in the house as he was one of the finest and best brains in the assembly.   He prayed for the peaceful repose of his soul. Egwim had contested for the House of Representatives seat in the just concluded National Assembly elections under the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) but lost. 

        Amb Umar Damagum  The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has named Amb Umar Damagum as the new acting National Chairman.  This followed the suspension of the immediate past National Chairman of the party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, who had been in a long battle over the soul of PDP.  Damagum, who was the Deputy National Chairman (North) will pilot the affairs of the party pending the determination of the substantive suit restraining Ayu from parading himself as National Chairman.         Dr Iyorchia Ayu A Benue High Court sitting in Makurdi had on Monday ordered Ayu to step aside following a suit filed by his Igyorov Council Ward in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State. The Ward Executive Committee suspended Ayu for failing to pay his membership dues and alleged anti-party activities.  However, the spokesperson for PDP Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) Mr Charles Aniagwu, has described the purported su...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja  The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has disclosed that implementing the Great Green Wall (GGW) projects in the Sahel, considered as one of the harshest regions on earth is cumbersome. This was even as the UN organ lamented that despite the $19 billion budgeted for countries in the Sahel that are inflicted with interconnected political, social, and environmental challenges, complicated its operations and made intervention more critical.  These were part of the findings by GGW Accelerator initiative and funded by the UNCCD ahead of the countries and partners’ high level talks expected to take place in Nigeria on March 30, 2023. The GGW accelerator was launched during the One Planet Summit hosted by French President, Emmanuel Macron in Paris in January 2021, meant to raise funds for the implementation of GGW programmes. Two years down the line, 80 percent of the $19 billion pledged towards the GGW accelerator has been...

Nasarawa Police Command has vowed to outlaw all forms of protest in the state.  This is coming on the heels of protest by women, who dressed topless and marched the streets of Nasarawa to register their grievances with the election results. State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Ramhan Nansel said on Sunday in Lafia, that the ban was based on security report. “The general public should be aware that all forms of protest have been banned throughout the state," he added.  Nansel hinted that protests under any guise are currently prohibited in order to prevent the breakdown of law and order. He stated that based on intelligent and security reports, the police would no longer allow any form of protest in order to sustain the existing peace in the state. Nansel enjoined parents and guardians to ensure that their children and wards do not violate the order as anyone caught would be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.

The Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 164,750 tablets of tramadol and other illicit drugs in Taraba State.  This was even as the agency seized the drugs from  two suspects known as Henry Abuchi and Daniel Ugwoke. Spokesperson of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi said on Sunday in Abuja, that 96 compressed blocks of Indian hemp weighing 82kg and concealed inside jumbo bags of cassava flour were also recovered at Basket Market, Asaba, Delta State.  He pointed out that operatives also recovered 45 blocks of compressed Indian hemp weighing 23kg on the Okene-Abuja Highway in Kogi on March 21 from one Abubakar Muhammad. Muhammad was travelling in a bus that took off from Lagos enroute Maiduguri when he was arrested. In addition, a female drug dealer, Mrs Kudirat Bello was arrested at Igbesa in Ogun on March 20 with different quantities of methamphetamine, Indian hemp, rophynol and N119, 600 monetary exhibits. Babafemi disclosed that more than 1,000kg of...

The Federal Government has concluded arrangement to commence the 2023 National Population and Housing Census on May 3.  Member of the Publicity and Advocacy Committee on 2023 National Population and Housing Census, Dr Garba Abari stated this on Sunday in Abuja at a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum. Abari noted that the three-day exercise would begin on  May 3 and end on May 5 nationwide.  He stated that every person, household and structure for national planning and project execution purposes would be captured during the exercise.  Abari hinted that the change in the date was due to the postponement of the 2023 gubernatorial and state house of assembly elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This, he said compelled the National Population Commission (NPC) to adjust the date for the conduct of the exercise.  Abari, who is the Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA) said: “Just like election, the census is also ...

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Wednesday, March 29 to Friday March 31, to commence the issuance of Certificates of Return to governors, deputy governors-elect and state House of Assembly members-elect. The Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus Okoye disclosed this on Saturday in Abuja.  He said: "By the provisions of Section 72 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022, the Commission is mandated to issue a certificate of return within 14 days to every candidate who has been returned elected under the law. “Pursuant to the provision, the Commission has fixed Wednesday March 29, Thursday, March 30 and Friday, March 31, for the issuance of Certificates of Return to those elected on March 18." Okoye stated that the presentation would take place in  INEC offices nationwide.  He hinted that specific dates for the issuance of the certificates would be communicated to those elected by the Resident Electoral Commissioners and...

        Late Oladipo Diya The former Chief of Staff to late General Sani Abacha, retired Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya is dead. He died in the early hours of Sunday, March 26, 2023 at the age of 79.  The death of Diya, who was the former military governor of Ogun State was announced via a statement on Sunday by his son, Oyesinmilola Diya. It reads: “On behalf of the entire Diya family, home and abroad; we announce the passing on to Glory of our dear husband, father, grandfather and brother, Lt- Gen. Donaldson Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya (Rtd). “Our dear Daddy passed onto glory in the early hours of March 26, 2023. Please keep us in your prayers as we mourn his demise in this period. "Further announcements will be made public in due course."

              retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa  The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) are reeling in excitement as lawmakers discarded a bill seeking to decriminalise cannabis cultivation, sale and use in Nigeria. NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa said on Friday in Abuja that the decision of the lawmakers to reject the bill would further strengthen the gains recorded in the renewed war against drug abuse and trafficking in the country. BOblog reports that members of the House of Representatives had on Thursday stepped down the bill. Marwa noted that the 2018 drug survey figure of 10.6million Nigerians abusing cannabis alone was enough for the lawmakers to act swiftly. He stated that the linkage between drug abuse and security challenges across the country is incontrovertible, adding that insecurity, which manifested in banditry, insurgency and kidnapping is already a full-blown malady. A statement  issued by th...

      Senator Ademola Adeleke The Governor of Osun, Senator Ademola Adeleke has described the judgement of the State Election Petition Tribunal as miscarriage of justice.  This is coming on the heels of his victory on Friday, as the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja restored him as the winner of the July 16, 2022 governorship election in the state.  The Osun Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had in January 2023, insisted that Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was able to prove that there was over-voting in some of the polling units. But in a statement made available to journalists on Friday in Osogbo, Adeleke dedicated his victory to God and the people of Osun state.  He noted that with the appeal court judgement, the judiciary had right the wrongs of the tribunal, adding that it rekindled  his confidence in the integrity of the judiciary as last hope of the common man. “I am particularly glad that the Court of Appeal has ...

       Governor Ademola Adeleke  Senator Ademola Adeleke is coasting to victory as the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, has restored his pyrrhic victory as the duly elected governor of Osun State.  Adeleke was declared winner of the Osun Governorship election on July 16, 2022 under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).  The appelate court set aside the verdict of the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which sacked Adeleke from office. But a three-member panel of Justices led by Justice Mohammed Shuaibu on Friday, held that the Tribunal erred when it ruled that the 1st and 2nd respondents (Gboyega Oyetola and the All Progressives Congress) proved their allegation of over-voting in the July 2022 election. The Osun Governorship Election PetitionTribunal had in January 2023, insisted that Oyetola was able to prove that there was over-voting in some of the polling units. To this end, the Tribunal ordered the Inde...

          President Muhammadu Buhari  The Federal Government has approved the sum of $984. 7 million for the procurement of equipment for the Kano-Maradi standard gauge rail line. Kano-Maradi rail project connects Kano (Nigeria) and neighbouring Maradi (Niger Republic).  Sambo stated this while briefing journalists at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday in Abuja.  The project was earlier endorsed by the Federal Government in January, 2033, when Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation, Muazu Jaji Sambo, and Alma Oumarou of Niger Republic signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Abuja.  The minister noted that an MoU was presented to the  Ministry was on behalf of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).  ”The memorandum sought council’s consideration and approval for the award of contract for the procurement of rolling stock operation and maintenance equipment for Kano-Maradi standa...

      Senator Ike Ekweremadu and wife, Beatrice  The Central Criminal Court also known as Old Bailey has convicted a former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, 60, and his wife, Beatrice, 56, of organ trafficking offences.  Others found guilty in the scam are Ekweremadu's daughter, Sonia, 25, and a Nigerian doctor Obinna Obeta, 50, who had pleaded not guilty to the charges of organ harvesting on Friday, January 13, 2023.  The accused were found guilty of facilitating the travel of a young man to Britain with a view to his exploitation after a six-week trial at the Old Bailey. UK Guardian reports that the accused conspired to bring the 21-year-old Lagos street trader, David Ukpo to London for kidney transplant. Ukpo was offered an illegal reward to become a donor for Sonia Ekweremadu, who was diagnosed with a kidney disease that compelled her to drop out of a master’s degree programme in film at Newcastle University. “In February 2022, the m...

National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) has called on the Federal and state governments to intervene and restore the center's capacity and functionality in Zamfara State.  The appeal became necessary as hoodlums destroyed NBTI's centre while celebrating the victory of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the March 18 Governorship and State House of Assembly elections in the state. NBTI member in charge of North West, Alhaji Muhammad Jazuli, disclosed this to journalists on Wednesday in Gusau, shortly after inspecting the level of damage at the center.  He said: “The center was established in 1999 by the Federal Government and all the government's investment in the past 23 years worth over N1 billion were vandalised by hoodlums. “This is very unfortunate, this is something very terrible because both government property and others belonging to private investors in the centre were destroyed." Jazuli lamented that most of the entrepreneurs and investo...

        Dr Alex Otti The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) finally bowed to pressure and declared Dr Alex Otti of the Labour Party (LP) as duly elected Governor of Abia State.  BOblog reports that the collation of results for the  March 18 Governorship election in the state was suspended due to glitches from Obingwa Local Government Area (LGA) an action that attracted massive protest from Abia people.  But the controversies surrounding the LGA was sorted out before the resumption of collation of result on Wednesday.  INEC Returning Officer, who is the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Owerri, Prof. Nnenna Oti, declared the result on Wednesday at the State Collation Centre in Umuahia. She said that Otti polled 175,467 votes to defeat his closest rival, Chief Okey Ahiwe of the Peoples Democratic Party, who polled 88,529 votes. Chief Enyinnaya Nwafor of Young Progressives Party had 28, 972 votes, while Chief Ikechi...

BY EMMA PETER, Gusau           Dauda Lawal The newly elected Governor of Zamfara, Dauda Lawal, has vowed to address the mounting security challenges and rescue the state from backward position.  In his acceptance speech on Tuesday in Gusau, Lawal assured better deal for the aboriginals and non-indigenes residing in the State.  He appreciated the electorate for their resilience, understanding and support to accomplish the rescue mission embarked by his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).  Lawal promised to effectively implement the rescue agenda so as to alleviate the socio-economic hardship facing the people of the state. “Let me emphasize that the whole essence of the contest for me is to rescue Zamfara State. As you are all aware, Zamfara is facing serious security challenges which are really disturbing and nothing is happening in the state,” he added.  He hinted that salvaging the state to attain a higher level of secur...

                    Tukur Mamu The Federal Government has profiled four witnesses that would testify against the Publisher of Desert Herald Newspaper, Alhaji Tukur Mamu in court.  Manu is standing trial on a 10-count charge of terrorism- related offences including receiving ransoms from families of victims of the Abuja-Kaduna bound train attack.   Other charges include managing terrorists funds, obstructing the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) committee from negotiating with terrorists that kidnapped victims of the train attack and exchanging voice notes with Boko Haram spokesperson.  Terrorists had on March 28, 2022, bombed the Abuja-Kaduna train, killed nine passengers and abducted about 70 others during the attack. But Mamu swiftly negotiated the release of the train passengers on the pretext that he wanted to guarantee their safety.  At the resumed hearing of the case before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the...

An early morning inferno on Tuesday razed some shops in the biggest market in West Africa, Onitsha main market.  The fire which broke out at a two-storey building housing the main market Police Station and fabric shops, destroyed goods worth millions of naira.  Located at the extreme end of the market, the fabric section  known as “Gbongboro”, is also used as a warehouse for fabrics dealers.  BOblog learnt that the traders were seen trying to salvage the remnant of their goods, even as the cause of the fire remains unknown. It was also gathered that firefighters battled for hours to contain the inferno while some traders watched in tears as it consumed their shops and goods.  But an eyewitness revealed that the fire started at the White House where they sell lace fabrics. He added: "The section was supposed to be a motor park and an emergency exit but people blocked it with illegal structures through the approval of some government agencies. The sour...

     L-R Governor Bello Matawalle and Dr Dauda Lawal  The Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has failed to garner more votes to secure his second term bid for the top job.  He polled 311,976 votes to lose the exalted seat to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dr Dauda Lawal during the March 18 Governorship and State House of Assembly elections in the state.  Lawal scored 377,726 votes to win the gubernatorial election to the chagrin of the APC stalwarts, residents and election observers.   The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer, Prof. Kassimu Shehu, who is also the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Birnin Kebbi in Kebbi State, announced the result on Tuesday in Gusau. He said that Lawal  polled 377,726 valid votes from the 14 Local Government Areas. Shehu noted that Lawal defeated Gov. Bello Matawalle of the APC and the incumbent...

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the March 18 Gubernatorial election in Adamawa State inconclusive due to the margin of votes. The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Senator Aishatu Dahiru popularly called Binani polled 390, 275 votes while the incumbent Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 421,524. INEC Returning Officer, Prof Muhammed Mele of the University of Maiduguri, Borno State, had earlier rejected the manual result sheet from the Fufore Local Government Area (LGA) of the state. While the APC polled 26,329 votes and PDP garnered 21,721 votes in the result sheet, the INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV) revealed that the APC got 24,777 votes and the PDP 20, 777. But Prof Mele, stated on Monday in Yola while addressing journalists that the election was cancelled in 47 registration areas and 69 polling units with 41,796 registered voters.  He said that the number of Permanent V...

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has disclosed that 78 million Nigerian children are at the highest risk of contracting water-related diseases given the water crisis in the country.  The water-related threats range from inadequate water and  sanitation, hygiene related diseases and climate hazards.  To this end, the UN body pleaded with the Nigerian Government to increase investments in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector to curtail preventable diseases.  The UNICEF Nigeria Chief of WASH, Dr Jane Bevan, said on Monday that one-third of the children lacked access to at least basic water at home, while two-thirds do not have basic sanitation services. He frowned that hand hygiene is limited, as three-quarters of children are unable to wash their hands due to lack of water and soap at home. Bevan lamented that Nigeria is one of the 10 countries with the heaviest burden of child deaths from diseases caused by inadequate WASH suc...

                Alhaji Nasiru Magarya The Speaker of Zamfara State House of Assembly, Alhaji Nasiru Magarya, has lost his re-election bid to the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mr Isma’ila Bilyaminu, With the loss, Bilyaminu nullified Magarya's attempt to clinch the Zurmi West State Constituency seat during the March 18 Governorship and State House of Assembly elections in the state. Bilyaminu polled 11,231 votes to defeat Speaker Magarya of All Progressives Congress (APC) who scored  9,531.  Also, Bala Nasiru of ADC scored 03 votes while Muhammad Sanusi of APGA polled 10 votes. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  Returning Officer, Mr Mudassir Isma’ila announced the result on Monday in Gusua, the state capital.  He said: “Isma’il Bilyaminu of the PDP having satisfied the requirements of the law is declared elected."

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended the collation of governorship election results in Abia and Enugu States. National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Festus Okoye, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja  He noted that INEC held talks on Monday and reviewed the conduct of the March 18 Governorship and State House of Assembly elections. Okoye revealed that following deliberations at the meeting; the commission decided to suspend collation of the governorship results in some parts of Abia and Enugu States. He recalled that INEC office in Obingwa Local Government Area (LGA) was invaded by thugs on Sunday, March 19, 2023 and officials were held hostage in relation to the collation of results from the LGA.  The commissioner hinted that based on reports from Enugu state, there is a need to review the results for the governorship election from the two outstanding local government areas of Nsukka and Nk...