Author: Press Room

By Solomon Odeniyi Patients, healthcare experts and civil society advocates have decried what they described as the Federal Government’s inadequate attention to hypertension and other non-communicable diseases. They also called for increased funding, stronger public awareness and improved access to screening and treatment. The call was made on Thursday during the Executive Media, Patient and Civil Society Dialogue on Hypertension Financing, convened under the Advocacy Partnership for Hypertension Financing and Patient Voice Project. Speaking at the event, the Country Lead for Health System Strengthening at the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, Prof Emmanuel Alhassan, said hypertension was affecting millions of Nigerians…

The Bank of Industry has said its investments in power and rural infrastructure electrified more than 100 communities and connected 11,777 new customers to electricity in 2025, highlighting the growing role of development finance in addressing Nigeria’s energy access challenges. The development finance institution disclosed this in its 2025 Development Impact Report obtained by Sunday PUNCH on Friday. The report also showed that the bank’s interventions created and retained 1.68 million jobs, linked 47,508 smallholder farmers to processing facilities and supported thousands of businesses across key sectors of the economy. According to the report, the power and utilities sector emerged…

More than 3.5 million people have been forcibly displaced across the Lake Chad Basin as insecurity continues to fuel a humanitarian crisis affecting Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has said. The UN agency warned on Friday that the region was approaching a dangerous tipping point, with violence escalating and humanitarian needs rising despite years of efforts to restore stability. Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva, the UNHCR Deputy Director for the West and Central Africa Bureau, Andrew Wyllie, said 8.2 million people now require humanitarian assistance across the Basin. According to the…

By Faith Alofe Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has raised the alarm over what he described as an avoidable food crisis ravaging northern Nigeria, following a fresh United Nations report showing that over 17 million people across nine states in the region are facing crisis-level hunger. Obi, in a post on his X handle on Saturday, said the crisis, described by the World Food Programme as the worst in nearly a decade, was a consequence of what he called incompetent and irresponsible leadership, given that the North remains the country’s food basket. He said more than…

Since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was elected President, the nation’s youth development sector has largely operated below its potential. For many years, the ministry responsible for youth affairs was merged with sports, and successive ministers often focused more on sports administration than on policies directly affecting young people. As a result, youth development received limited attention despite the enormous role young Nigerians play in nation-building. The National Youth Service Corps was established on May 22, 1973, under the administration of General Yakubu Gowon, who was only 38 years old at the time. As…

The Federation of Algerian Football (FAF) is reportedly interested in hiring the current Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle to lead the Desert Foxes after Algeria’s disappointing campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Soccernet.ng understands. However, that ambition now faces a major obstacle after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) agreed a new long-term contract that keeps the coach in charge until 2030. Algeria crashed out of the World Cup in the Round of 32 after losing 2-0 to Switzerland. The defeat left many supporters frustrated and increased pressure on head coach Vladimir Petkovic. Reports…

Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations at the Holy See, Cardinal Carlo Maria Gallagher, on Saturday hinted that Pope Leo XIV may visit Nigeria in the coming years. The Vatican’s foreign minister revealed this to journalists after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, “We have had a constant presence of the Nuncio over the years and visits from several of the Holy Fathers, and who knows, maybe in a few years’ time Pope Leo will come to visit Nigeria as well. But that’s all for the future,” Gallagher said after the…

Super Eagles star Christantus Uche could be heading for a fresh start in Spain after his difficult loan spell at Crystal Palace came to an end, Soccernet.ng reports. The 23-year-old Nigerian international has become one of Real Sociedad’s top transfer targets, with the Basque club preparing a new offer for the versatile Getafe star, according to Fichajes. As per the reports, Real Sociedad have made enquiries about Uche and are considering a loan deal with an option to make the move permanent at the end of the campaign. Having made previous attempts at signing the former Ceuta star, the club…

By Patrick Odey The Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Akwa Ibom State, Hon. Blessing Umo, has lauded Governor Umo Eno for the delivery of the CNG buses and the recent unveiling of the 350-bed hospital, describing the projects as enduring legacies for future generations. Umo spoke with journalists on Friday in Uyo after the July edition of the State Projects Delivery Meeting held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, where the governor highlighted key achievements and ongoing initiatives across strategic sectors, including the unveiling of the 350-bed Ibom International Hospital and the delivery of 20 CNG buses, among…

The Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, following the release of the Eda Oniyo kidnap victims, has directed the management of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, to provide comprehensive medical screening and treatment for the victims. The governor, according to a statement in Ado Ekiti by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Yinka Oyebode, on Saturday, also instructed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to take full responsibility for overseeing the welfare and wellbeing of the victims, with the State Government covering all medical expenses incurred during their treatment. The victims, who regained freedom…