Korede Abdullah in Lagos The Vatican had announced that Pope Francis’s funeral will be held Saturday at 10:00 am in St. Peter’s Square on Saturday, drawing world leaders including Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron, and Volodymyr Zelensky. His body will lie in state beginning Wednesday before being interred at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore —…
As Nigeria intensifies its national immunisation campaign, the federal government is shifting focus to underserved and high-risk communities, reaching over 61.5 million people including millions of children with life-saving vaccines since October 2023. Speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja to mark the 2025 African Vaccination Week, Executive Director of the National Primary…
In this Special Report Juliet Jacob delves into the nation’s public health underbelly to unearth some scandals around the spread of a silent killer called Diphtheria. A Public Health Scandal in Plain Sight Despite surging diphtheria infections and fatalities, the Nigerian government’s response has been sluggish at best. Poor vaccine logistics, underfunded health centres,…
Korede Abdullah in Lagos As Nigeria strives to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC), a critical challenge lies in reaching the “zero-dose” children—those who have not received any routine vaccinations. In a unified national effort, the World Health Organisation (WHO), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and UNICEF marked African Vaccination Week in Abuja, emphasizing…
In a renewed push to enhance Nigeria’s primary healthcare delivery system, the federal government has announced ambitious targets and significant achievements in revitalising Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the country, as part of a broader effort to ensure equitable access to quality care at the grassroots. Speaking at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency’s…
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have reaffirmed their commitment to improving disaster response through enhanced emergency communication systems. According to a statement released on Tuesday on NEMA’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, the agency’s Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Vice Chairman…
A new report by SBM Intelligence has revealed that the rising cost of preparing a basic pot of jollof rice is highlighting the intensifying food insecurity crisis gripping West and Central Africa, with Nigeria emerging as a key flashpoint. According to the report, over 40 million people across the region struggled to access food during…
Hussaini Kafi in Kano The election of a new Pope is one of the most sacred and meticulously followed traditions of the Roman Catholic Church, combining centuries-old rituals with deep spiritual significance. Held in the Vatican City, the process — known as a papal conclave — begins when a sitting Pope dies or resigns, and…
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has collected over ₦1.75 trillion in revenue in the first quarter of 2025—exceeding its quarterly target by more than ₦106 billion and marking a nearly 30% year-on-year increase. This was disclosed on Monday by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, during a press briefing at the Service’s…
