Author: News Room

A candidate vaccine for Lassa fever has entered its first human trials in the United Kingdom, raising hopes for improved prevention of a disease that continues to cause recurrent outbreaks annually in Nigeria and across West Africa. The development was disclosed during an interview with PREMIUM TIMES involving global health officials and researchers leading Lassa fever vaccine development. The experimental vaccine is being developed by researchers at the University of Oxford, a UK-based research institution, with support from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), a global health organisation that funds vaccine development for epidemic-prone diseases. The ongoing trial is…

The federal government says it will move to support farmers after food prices fell below production cost in some cases, raising concerns about the sustainability of food production and future supply. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, disclosed this on Thursday while delivering a keynote address at the launch of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) 2026 Macroeconomic Outlook Report in Lagos. According to him, the 2026 priorities include boosting competitiveness, ensuring good governance, increasing agricultural productivity and food security, and urgently supporting farmers whose costs exceed some food prices, while also accelerating infrastructure,…

“Nigeria awoke on Saturday (15 January) morning in total confusion,” de St. Jorre wrote. “In three major cities (Lagos, Ibadan and Kaduna), there had been the most violent and bloody coup d’etat Africa had ever seen; but only in the Northern capital had it been fully successful, leaving its leaders in control…the political leadership and government of the day had been swept away. The old order, for better or for worse, had gone.” Frederick Forsyth’s account of the Nigerian Civil War, mainly from the Biafran lens, is perhaps one of the most riveting you would find. Yet, it is remarkably…

Multipolitan, a Singapore-based borderless living platform, has examined how emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, the metaverse, and even orbital infrastructure, are beginning to redefine traditional ideas of citizenship, sovereignty, and governance. This was made known during the unveiling of The Digital State Project on Tuesday during a media briefing with African journalists attended by PREMIUM TIMES. The project features contributions from global technology and governance leaders, including James Ellsmoor of Island Innovation and William Wang, chief executive of RNS.ID and architect of Palau’s Digital Residency Programme. Others are Metaverse entrepreneur Briar Prestidge; Ukraine’s deputy minister for digital transformation, Oleksandr Bornyakov;…

Co-convener of BringBackOurGirls Movement, Aisha Yesufu, has reacted to the withdrawal of two cases by the Federal Government against Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. In a post on her verified X handle on Thursday, the human rights activist said the injustice was not sustained. DAILY POST reports that an Abuja High Court on Thursday dismissed the criminal charges filed by the Federal Government against the lawmaker. “One of the most fulfilling actions I took in 2025 was coming out to stand firmly with Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. I promised she will not walk alone and I stood by those words. “It…

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Segun Sowunmi, has warned that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, should not underestimate former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Sowunmi said Amaechi possesses strong political structures and alliances capable of making him a formidable contender if he decides to contest. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday, the PDP stalwart said his assessment was based on his experience in managing high-level presidential campaigns within the party. He noted that any emerging political coalition ahead of 2027…

Bandits loyal to notorious kingpin, Bello Turji, on Wednesday attacked Lugu village in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State. The terrorists reportedly killed and injured several residents and abducted at least 15 people, including men and women. The incident was disclosed in a post on X on Thursday by Bakatsine, a conflict and crisis journalist who reports on insecurity in Nigeria’s northwest. The development comes a day after Turji’s bandits raided Gajit village, where they injured people and kidnapped at least 20 residents. He wrote: “ALERT: Last night, bandits loyal to the notorious leader Bello Turji attacked Lugu village…

Manchester United have brought back two of their players from loan spells. The Red Devils announced this in a post on their website on Wednesday. The two players are Joe Hugill and Habeeb Ogunneye. Hugill, 22, joined Barnet last July, the fifth loan stint of his Man United career. The centre-forward played for the Bees in League Two and the Carabao Cup. Hugill made his most recent appearance for Barnet in the New Year’s Day win over Crawley Town. He signed for United from Sunderland in 2020 Ogunneye, on the other hand, returned to Man United from Newport County. The…

Chieftains of the Social Democratic Party, serving and former lawmakers, traditional rulers and political stakeholders on Thursday converged on Lafia, Nasarawa State, to bid farewell to the late Senator Godiya Akwashiki, who was buried amid tributes. Akwashiki, who died two weeks ago at the age of 52 in an Indian hospital after a prolonged illness, represented Nasarawa North Senatorial District in the 10th Senate on the platform of the SDP until his death. The tributes were paid during an evening programme organised by the National Working Committee of the SDP, where party leaders described the late senator as a rare…

The Anambra Police Command says it has neutralised two armed robbery suspects, and recovered firearms, a vehicle and other items, at Enugwu Agidi Junction, in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra. The command disclosed this in a statement released in Awka on Thursday by its Spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who said that the incident occurred on Wednesday. “The Anambra Police Command in the early hours of Jan. 14, recorded another major operational breakthrough in its sustained efforts to rid the state of criminal elements and ensure the safety of lives and property. “The police operatives attached to Rapid Response Squad…