One Nigerian Dies Of TB Every Seven Minutes -Oluremi Tinubu

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  Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu on Monday said one person dies of Tuberculosis every seven minutes despite it being a preventable and curable disease. Tinubu stated this at a community outreach in Sauka, Abuja to commemorate the 2025 World TB Day themed, ” Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver,” with the slogan, “We fit do am.” World TB Day is commemorated on March 24 annually to raise TB awareness and mobilise efforts, including political commitment to resources and healthcare financing for TB towards elimination. She said, “Beyond being a disease; TB is a national emergency that needs to be addressed urgently because it is preventable and curable. The statistics from the World Health Organisation’s 2024 Global TB Report are alarming. In Nigeria, one person dies of TB every seven minutes. This means that in the short time we will spend at this event, many more lives will be lost, if we do not act swiftly and decisively. “Despite TB being preventable and curable, Nigeria remains one of the top eight countries with the highest burden of TB worldwide. “It is unacceptable that so many of our brothers and sisters still suffer from this disease in silence due to stigma, lack of awareness, and ignorance of not visiting a healthcare facility on time.” She stated that the Federal Government is committed to eradicating TB, through strategic investments in diagnostics, treatment, and prevention. She urged traditional and religious leaders, legislators, the youth, healthcare workers, private sector organisations, non-governmental organisations, community-based organizations, and international partners to join forces in the fight against TB. As the Global and National Stop TB Champion, she reaffirmed her commitment to tackling TB by advocating for more funding, policy reforms, and resource mobilisation to support TB awareness and treatment. She also pledged to amplify the voices of TB survivors, combat stigma and discrimination, and ensure equal access to TB care for women, children, and marginalised groups. “I encourage every Nigerian to join in this fight. TB is curable, and early detection saves lives. Let us work together to remove the stigma surrounding TB, encourage testing, and support those affected. “TB is airborne and since it is contagious, I urge every one of us to get tested, know your TB status, and encourage your loved ones to do the same. If you have a persistent cough for more than two weeks, do not ignore it but rather seek medical help immediately,” she added. In her remarks, the Acting Board Chair, Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, Dr Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo noted that TB is a serious health issue in Nigeria, especially in remote communities, where many people may not have access to TB diagnosis and treatment. Ogbuji-Ladipo said TB is preventable and curable, and treatment is free in government facilities. “Today’s community outreach aims to bring TB information and services closer to the residents of Sauka community so that no one is left behind in the fight against TB. It will also provide platforms for them to learn about TB, ask questions, get tested, and help spread the message that TB can be defeated,” she noted. She highlighted that the Stop TB partnership has made significant progress through strong advocacy and collaboration with various stakeholders. She also advocated increased resource mobilisation and increased funding. “It is more critical than ever to strengthen our advocacy efforts for resource mobilisation to combat TB. Increased funding will ensure better access to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, ultimately saving lives and improving the well-being of communities,” she added. The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako emphasised that TB remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria, which ranks first in Africa and sixth globally among high-burden TB countries. “In 2023, an estimated 499,000 Nigerians developed TB, primarily affecting the productive age group (25–44 years), leading to economic hardships. The situation is worsened by stigma, poverty, malnutrition, overcrowded living conditions, and limited access to quality healthcare,” he said. He noted that despite challenges, Nigeria has made significant progress in TB eradication through WHO-recommended strategies. The Country Representative of the World Health Organisation Nigeria, Dr Walter Molumbo pledged the organisation’s commitment to accelerating the TB response guided by its latest guidelines. “We will continue to work with our partners and step up action towards mobilising the needed domestic and international resources required for ending TB in Nigeria. “TB is curable and treatable; I implore anyone coughing for two weeks or more to go for a TB test in the nearest health facility. I call on all stakeholders, yes everyone- the donors, private sector, civil society, Molumbo said. The Sa’Peyi of Garki, Usman Nga Kupi emphasised the need for efforts to eliminate TB globally. “Awareness programmes such as this are a critical need for increased and sustained investment in TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care. “This emphasis is important for translating commitment and investment into tangible results that directly benefit people yet to be infected and already affected,” he noted. Punch

I Won’t Be Forced Into Submission, Natasha Denies Apology Claims

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  Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has denied reports that she apologised to the Senate over the issue that led to her suspension. Akpoti-Uduaghan in a statement on Monday, described the claims as “false and misleading,” insisting that she still stands by her position. “The reports suggesting that I have apologized to the Senate and retracted my position are completely untrue. I stand firmly by my words and actions and have not issued any apology to the Senate or anyone regarding this matter,” she said. She criticised those spreading the false reports, accusing them of trying to twist the truth and mislead the public. The senator, who was suspended after a disagreement with Senate leadership, said she remains committed to defending the rights of her people. She also claimed that some individuals were trying to manipulate public opinion with fake statements. “I urge the public to disregard these rumours and publications as they do not represent my position. My commitment remains to truth, justice, and the people I represent.” She also expressed concern over what she called a planned effort to silence her voice in the National Assembly. She stated, “This is not just about me; it is about the integrity of our democracy. I will not be intimidated or forced into submission through false narratives.” She urged Nigerians to be careful of misinformation, adding that any official statement from her would come only from her verified channels. “I appreciate the support and solidarity of my people. Rest assured, I will continue to fight for what is right and just.” There have been calls for Akpoti-Uduaghan to be recalled following her suspension from the senate. The push to recall her followed her suspension from the Senate, after a heated dispute with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, over seating arrangements. She also accused Akpabio of sexual harassment and has since taken her case before local and foreign media and the United Nations Inter-Parliamentary Union. Earlier, the Independent National Electoral Commission disclosed that it had received the petition seeking the recall process of Akpoti-Uduaghan as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Secretary to the commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, received the petition on Monday. Punch

Chris Wood Injured As New Zealand Qualify For World Cup

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  New Zealand reached the World Cup for only the third time with a 3-0 win over New Caledonia on Monday but lost in-form Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood to injury. The All Whites join already qualified Japan and co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico at next year’s finals thanks to three second-half goals. But the victory in Auckland in the final of Oceania qualifying came at a cost, with skipper Wood suffering what appeared to be a hip injury. Soon after half time at Eden Park, Wood hurt himself swivelling for a shot and required treatment before hobbling off in the 54th minute. “It’s not great for us losing our captain and our goalscorer. It was a difficult thing for the team but they came through so well,” said New Zealand’s English coach Darren Bazeley. The hosts looked out of ideas after dominating the first half, but then up popped veteran defender Michael Boxall on 61 minutes to head home from a corner with his first goal for his country. Five minutes later Wood’s replacement Kosta Barbarouses chipped the ball over advancing New Caledonia goalkeeper Rocky Nyikeine. Substitute Eli Just put gloss on the scoreline from close range with 10 minutes left. New Caledonia’s unlikely World Cup hopes are not over and they will go into an intercontinental playoff. Next year’s World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams, meaning direct entry for the first time for the team that won the qualifying competition in Oceania. The region’s top side previously had to go through an intercontinental playoff, with New Zealand falling at the final hurdle to Mexico, Costa Rica and Peru in recent editions. New Zealand have been to the World Cup twice before, in 1982 and 2010, but are yet to win at the competition in six matches. “Once the World Cup expanded we expected this of ourselves,” said Boxall. “It’s not about getting there, it’s about what we do when we get there.” Facing a side ranked 152 in the world, 63 places below them, hosts New Zealand immediately went on the front foot. New Caledonia, a French Pacific territory of about 300,000 people which has never been to the World Cup, twice cleared off the line in quick succession after 20 minutes. Wood, who is in the form of his life at Forest with 18 goals in the Premier League this season, had a chance in the 32nd minute but Nyikeine saved comfortably. The 33-year-old Wood then headed over the bar from a corner and at the half-time whistle, with the game unexpectedly level, the New Caledonia players mobbed Nyikeine. Bazeley had seen enough and made two changes at the break, bringing on winger Just and defender Francis de Vries. Despite losing talisman Wood, New Zealand’s pressure eventually paid off against a rapidly tiring New Caledonia to put the All Whites into the World Cup. AFP

Coalition Urges Wike, Fubara To Sign Peace Pact Within 90 Days

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  The Coalition for Democracy and Development has called on the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and the suspended Governor, Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara to put aside their differences and sign a new peace pact within the next 90 days. The CDD condemned both Wike and Fubara urging them to prioritise the welfare of the people in the midst of the political crisis. In a statement signed by the Public Secretary, CDD, Dr. George Ifure, he lamented the political crisis in Rivers State, adding that the ongoing crisis is a clear indication of the failure of leadership. To resolve the crisis, the CDD also called on President Tinubu and the National Assembly to establish a committee comprising eminent Nigerians who can mediate and find a lasting solution. The group said, “We call on Wike and Governor Fubara to put aside their differences and work towards signing a new peace pact within the next 90 days. We urge them to prioritize the interests of the people and find a lasting solution to the crisis. “We warn Wike and Fubara that Nigerians are ready to hold them responsible if they fail to sign a peace pact within the stipulated timeframe. The CDD calls on President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to name a committee for the resolution of the Rivers State political crisis. “We urge President Bola Tinubu to make history with the way he handles the Rivers State crisis. This is a pivotal moment that requires bold and visionary leadership. We implore him to focus on the welfare and interests of the Nigerian people, to listen to their voices, and to work towards a peaceful and democratic resolution that will restore democratic governance in Rivers State. “We urge the two parties to embrace peace and ensure there is an immediate resolution to the crisis. The CDD believes that a peaceful resolution to the crisis is necessary to restore democratic governance in Rivers State. We urge all stakeholders to work towards finding a peaceful and democratic solution to the crisis in Rivers State.” Punch

JUST IN: 24-hour Curfew Imposed As Osun Communal Clashes Escalate

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  The communal clashes involving Ifon and Ilobu communities escalated on Saturday, spreading to the Erin Osun community. The governor, Ademola Adeleke, has subsequently imposed a 24-hour curfew on the affected communities. Adeleke had initially imposed a 12-hour curfew in the wake of the communal clashes that had displaced many residents of Ifon, Ilobu and Erin Osun. Many of those displaced were observed on the streets of Okinni on Saturday, with some, especially northerners, coming out of the area in buses. A statement by the spokesperson to Osun Governor Olawale Rasheed, intimating measures to prevent further escalation, reads, “Governor Ademola Adeleke has stepped up conflict de-escalation moves on the Ifon-Ilobu conflict, imposing a 24-hour curfew, mobilising a joint security task force and hosting a peace deal between the two warring communities. “We assure the people of Ilobu and Ifon that I am committed to securing their lives and properties. I have updated the state’s presidency of development. We are on top of the situation. “Meanwhile, we seek to bring to the attention of the public that opposition elements are circulating old videos of communal conflicts in some parts of Osun state to spread false pictures of insecurity in Osun state. “While the ongoing conflict is regrettable and while all hands are on deck to stop the violence, we inform the public to take note of the activities of fake news merchants who are digging up old videos to discredit the state government. The videos being circulated of violence in other towns and villages in Osun are fake news and should be disregarded by the members of the public.”

Katsina CJ Grants Bail To 91 Inmates, Frees Four

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  As part of efforts to decongest correctional centres in Katsina State, the Chief Judge, Justice Musa Danladi, on Thursday granted bail to 91 inmates and discharged four others during a jail delivery exercise. The exercise, held at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Katsina, was the first quarter jail delivery session for 2025. Speaking at the event, Justice Danladi revealed that the released inmates were recommended by the Sub-Committee on Decongestion of Correctional Centres based on various considerations, including age, length of time in custody, and health conditions. The PUNCH gathered that some of the freed inmates had spent years in detention without trial, while others were granted bail on compassionate grounds. Justice Danladi further announced that going forward, details of released inmates, including their photographs, would be documented for future reference. He urged the freed inmates to turn a new leaf, warning that any of them caught committing another offence may not be lucky enough to benefit from such an intervention again. On his part, the Katsina State Controller of Corrections, Umar Baba, commended the Chief Judge for the initiative, noting that it had helped in managing overcrowding and reducing tension in correctional facilities. “The jail delivery exercise has significantly contributed to easing congestion in our facilities, reducing tensions among inmates, and enhancing the process of rehabilitation,” Baba said. He also appealed to judges and magistrates to adopt non-custodial sentencing measures to further reduce the pressure on correctional centres and enable them to effectively reform and reintegrate inmates into society. Punch

Part-time HND Ineligible For NYSC Mobilisation, Minister Clarifies

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  The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, on Thursday, announced the resolution of the long-standing issue regarding the mobilisation of Higher National Diploma graduates for the National Youth Service Corps. A statement by the ministry said the decision followed a dialogue with the Director-General of NYSC. Similarly, the minister confirmed that only full-time HND graduates are eligible and can now proceed with their mobilisation. “This development marks a significant breakthrough for full-time HND graduates who were previously excluded from the NYSC program. It underscores the Federal Ministry of Education’s commitment to equity, fairness, and inclusivity in the nation’s education system. However, those who did HND part-time are not eligible for mobilization at all. “To facilitate a seamless mobilisation process, the National Board for Technical Education has been directed to expedite the collation of data for eligible HND graduates. In line with this, a circular has been sent to all Rectors of Polytechnics, instructing them to upload the necessary graduate data onto the newly created HND admission portal.” Alausa emphasised that NYSC mobilisation is strictly for those who completed a full-time HND program, stressing that only full-time HND graduates will be mobilised, while those who did HND part-time remain ineligible. He further disclosed that the newly created portal will ensure proper documentation of full-time HND graduates and serve as the official database for NYSC mobilisation, addressing past challenges related to admission records. The minister urged all eligible full-time HND graduates to take full advantage of this opportunity and proceed with their mobilisation without delay. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering equal opportunities for all qualified Nigerian graduates and ensuring their contributions to national development through the NYSC scheme.  

Nigerian Army Sets Records Straight, Denies Invasion Of EKEDC Substation In Badagry

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  The Nigerian Army has denied the alleged invasion of the EKO Electricity Distribution Company’s (EKEDC) substation in Badagry by its officers. The Nigerian Army, in a statement issued on Thursday to set the record about the allegations, said the report failed to present the true picture of what transpired and a calculated attempt to mislead the public. According to the statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, who is the acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 81 Division, disclosed that the Nigerian Army is committed to protecting, it is imperative to clarify some issues and put the records straight. The statement reads: “The attention of the Nigerian Army (NA) has been drawn to the alleged invasion of the EKO Electricity Distribution Company’s (EKEDC) substation in Badagry by soldiers of the Nigerian Army.” “The allegation was made during an interview conducted by Arise Television with the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Nigeria Electricity Distributors on 18 March 2025. The report failed to present the true picture of what transpired and therefore portends an attempt to mislead the public.” “In the interest of Nigerian citizens that the NA is committed to protecting, it is imperative to clarify some issues and put the records straight.” “The Badagry community where Topo Barracks is located has been grappling with power outage for over one month, despite this challenge, the community in Badagry, including the barrack community, have been managing with the situation in the face of repeated reassurances by the EKEDC.” “Eventually, the power supply was restored in the early hours of 14 March 2025, at about 12:30 AM. However, following the restoration, a power surge occurred, triggering a fire incident in the barracks at a facility managed by EKEDC. This caused serious panic in the barracks, and in response, the soldiers on duty immediately coordinated efforts with EKEDC personnel to contain the situation. The company’s technical staff were granted access to the barracks at about 1:00 AM to rectify the fault, and they departed around 2:30 AM after successfully addressing the issue.” “It is crucial to emphasize that while a misunderstanding occurred between a soldier and an EKEDC staff member during the process, it was swiftly and amicably resolved on the spot. This incident occurred in the Barracks and not in EKEDC premises. At no time was EKEDC substation company in Badagry invaded by any soldier, and neither was any staff of the company abducted or detained in the barracks.” “Furthermore, the Commanding Officer of the unit has maintained a longstanding relationship with EKEDC’s leadership in Badagry, which remains unchanged. To ensure transparency and ascertain the precise cause of the fire outbreak, the Commanding Officer immediately constituted a Board of Inquiry to investigate the incident.” “It was also observed that during the interview with Arise TV, the footage repeatedly aired by the station was entirely of a different incident, and the troops in the visual footage were not personnel of the NA. This has created a misleading narrative that suggests a hostile standoff between the NA and EKEDC.” “As a responsible and reputable national institution, guided by extant statutory provisions of the constitution, the Nigerian Army takes human rights violations seriously and will not condone any form of misconduct against law abiding citizens going about their legitimate duties. The Nigerian Army also makes it a point of duty to ensure cordial relationships with its host communities and stakeholders.”

Reps Urge INEC To Restore Suppressed Constituencies In Kogi, Delta

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  The House of Representatives has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to restore what it called the 12 suppressed constituencies in Kogi State. This decision of the House was a sequel to the consideration and adoption on Wednesday of a motion brought to the attention of the lawmakers in plenary by the Kogi House caucus. Rallying support for the motion, the member representing Ijumu/Kabba-Bunnu Federal Constituency, Kogi State, Mr Idris Salman, said the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides that a House of Assembly of a state shall consist of three or four times the number of seats that state has in the House of Representatives divided in a way to reflect, as far as possible, nearly equal population. He also noted that Section 114(1) provides for periodic review of state constituencies not less than 10 years and may alter such constituencies to such an extent as it may be considered durable in the light of the review. He added, “In the gubernatorial and state Assembly elections that were held on December 14, 1991, Kogi State had 32 state constituencies in which elections were duly conducted and winners declared. “Kogi State, which has nine seats in the House of Representatives, is supposed to have at least 27 or 36 House of Assembly seats as provided for in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended.” He lamented that in the last review of state constituencies, the North Central state was shortchanged. He continued, “The last review of state constituencies in Nigeria by INEC was in 1998, which resulted in the suppression of some constituencies in the Kogi State House of Assembly seats. “From 1998 to date, INEC has continued to suppress the Kogi State House of Assembly seats in constituencies such as Kabba-Bunu II, Ijumu II, Koton Karfe I, Yagba West II, Adavi II, Iffe/Ogodu, Igala Ogba, Okura, Enjema, Dekina Town, Olamaboro II, and Bassa-Nge/Gbirra.” He argued that “The restoration of the suppressed constituencies in Kogi State will further deepen our democracy in terms of quality representation and grassroots development and promote equality.” With the adoption of the motion, the House urged INEC to restore the constituencies and charged its Committee on Electoral Matters to interface with the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, and report back within four weeks. In a related development, the House also charged INEC to urgently restore the Sapele II State Assembly Constituency of Delta State to comply with the judgment of the Federal High Court and the provisions of the Constitution. This followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by the member representing Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency, Delta State, Mr Benedict Etanabene. Punch  

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