Category: News

FG Launches Diaspora Health Programme to Tackle Brain Drain, Boost Healthcare Delivery

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Federal Government has launched the Nigerians in Diaspora Advanced Health Programme (NiDAH-P) and its digital portal to harness the expertise of Nigerian health professionals abroad and strengthen healthcare delivery across the country. The programme, unveiled in Abuja by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and other stakeholders, is designed to enable Nigerian doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals in the diaspora to contribute to healthcare delivery, medical education, research and specialist services through both physical and virtual…

Shettima Reaffirms Nigeria’s Commitment to ECOWAS Integration, Condemns Afrophobic Attacks

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to regional integration, democratic governance, peace, security and sustainable development across West Africa, while calling for stronger cooperation among member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Lungi, Sierra Leone, said Nigeria remained committed to implementing the ECOWAS Compact for the Future of Regional Integration, describing it as a strategic roadmap for building a resilient,…

NUJ FCT Demands Compensation for Xenophobia, Kidnap Victims, Condemns Alleged Task Force Harassment

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, has called on the Federal Government to provide adequate compensation for Nigerians affected by xenophobic attacks in South Africa as well as victims of kidnapping across the country. The demand formed part of resolutions contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Council’s monthly Congress held at the NUJ FCT Council Secretariat, Utako, Abuja, on Saturday. The communiqué was signed by members of the Drafting Committee Olakunle Awoniyi, Princess Halima Jubril and Naomi Sharang as well as the Secretary of…

Nigerian Navy Recovers 126,000 Litres of Stolen Petroleum Products, Destroys Reactivated Illegal Refineries in Rivers

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian Navy has sustained its offensive against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, recovering more than 126,000 litres of stolen petroleum products and dismantling two reactivated illegal refining sites in Rivers State under Operation DELTA SENTINEL. According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the operation was carried out by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER in the Egbema axis of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. The Navy recalled that on July 10, 2026, its personnel…

80-Year-Old Grandpa, Businesswoman, Chadian National, Couple Nabbed as NDLEA Seizes 1.63 Million Tramadol Pills

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking, arresting an 80-year-old grandfather, a businesswoman, a Chadian national and a couple in a series of coordinated operations that also led to the seizure of 1.63 million pills of tramadol destined for Kano. The agency said the massive haul was recorded as operatives sustained efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking syndicate smuggling tramadol from Togo through the Benin Republic into Nigeria. According to the NDLEA, intelligence-led operations led to the interception of two long trailers…

Police Crack Terrorist Cell in Imo, Arrest Murder, Cultism, Infanticide Suspects Nationwide

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigeria Police Force has recorded major operational successes across the country in the last 24 hours, dismantling a suspected terrorist network in Imo State and arresting suspects linked to murder, cultism, infanticide, armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms, railway vandalism and other crimes. The Force said its operatives attached to the Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU) raided a suspected terrorist hideout at Eziudo in Ezinihite Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, where four armed suspects were arrested. According to the police, exhibits recovered during the operation included three…

Badejo-Okusanya Breaks Barrier, Becomes NBA’s Second Female President

Emporium Reporters

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, has been elected President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), making history as only the second woman to lead the country’s foremost association of legal practitioners. Badejo-Okusanya emerged victorious in the 2026 NBA presidential election after polling 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 per cent of the 26,106 valid ballots cast in the electronic election conducted over a 24-hour period from Saturday to Sunday. She defeated two other candidates to secure the association’s highest office, with the results announced shortly after the close of voting…

Nigerian Navy Hands Over 756kg of Suspected Cannabis to NDLEA in Lagos

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT has handed over 18 bags of suspected cannabis sativa weighing about 756 kilograms to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution. The handover, which took place on Friday, July 17, 2026, was conducted by the Commander of NNS BEECROFT, Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, as part of ongoing efforts to curb illicit drug trafficking through enhanced inter-agency collaboration. According to the Navy, the seizure underscores its commitment to supporting national efforts aimed at dismantling drug trafficking networks and preventing Nigeria’s maritime…

Information Minister Congratulates Ibietan on Re-election as APRA Secretary General

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has congratulated Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan on his re-election as Secretary General of the African Public Relations Association (APRA), describing the achievement as a testament to his professionalism, dedication and outstanding contributions to the public relations profession across Africa. In a statement issued on Sunday by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Rabiu Ibrahim, the minister said Dr. Ibietan’s re-election at the APRA General Assembly in Swakopmund, Namibia, reflected the confidence reposed in him by public relations professionals across the continent. At…

Tinubu’s LG Autonomy, PPPs Will Transform Grassroots Governance – Sunday Dare

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Hon. Sunday Dare, has said the financial autonomy granted to Nigeria’s 774 local government councils, coupled with effective Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), will transform grassroots governance and accelerate sustainable development across the country. Dare stated this while delivering the keynote address at the Gazelle News Annual Lecture and Awards held on July 15, 2026. His lecture, titled “Driving Grassroots Governance with Public-Private Partnership: The Gains, the Pains, the Prospects,” focused on strengthening local governance through collaboration between government,…