Author: News Room

Council moves to strengthen healthcare services

The Chairman of the Ojodu Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, Mr. Segun Odunmbaku, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery through collaboration with the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board. According to a statement issued on Tuesday, Odunmbaku made the pledge on Monday while participating in a high-level Primary Health Care Policy Dialogue organised by the state board at the Sheraton Hotels, Lagos. The event, themed “Strengthening Primary Health Care System: A Joint Leadership Dialogue,” brought together key stakeholders in the health sector to deliberate on improving service delivery at the grassroots. Odunmbaku said his administration…

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Gunmen Kill Policeman in Otukpo, Benue State

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have shot dead a police officer identified as ASP Godwin Otse along Otobi Road in the Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State. PUNCH Metro learnt on Tuesday that the incident occurred on Sunday while the deceased officer was travelling with his brother. The brother was said to have disclosed that the gunmen attacked their vehicle at about 5:45 p.m. and opened fire, during which the officer sustained gunshot wounds. A counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, who shared details of the incident on X, disclosed that the suspected bandits were dressed in army camouflage when they…

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The crisis of avoidable deaths in Nigerian hospitals

A colleague recently called my attention to what he described as the increasing rate of death in the country. He spoke about how posts of people mourning their loved ones on social media platforms, especially Facebook, are increasing daily. My initial response was that there is no time when people do not die. But lately, I am beginning to have a rethink on my position. It appears that anywhere one turns these days, there must be one or two cases of death staring one in the face. The more concerning aspect of this trend is the role our hospitals are…

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Federal roads spending soars 489% to N3.23tn

The Federal Government has proposed spending N3.23tn on the construction and rehabilitation of federal roads in the 2026 budget, marking a sharp increase in capital allocation to the transport sector as it intensifies efforts to complete long-delayed highways and repair critical corridors nationwide. The proposed spending represents an increase of about 489 per cent in two years compared to N548.56bn allocated to road projects in the 2024 budget, highlighting a significant shift in fiscal priority towards road infrastructure. Budgetary documents further show that the Ministry of Works received N1.013tn for the construction and rehabilitation of 468 federal roads in the…

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A Rivalry for AFCON Glory

While Arne Slot seems to think that Liverpool’s starting line-up is stronger without Mohamed Salah, the winger has been conspicuous by his absence in recent weeks, with the Reds struggling to score goals without their talisman. It’s clear that they need their Egyptian King back at Anfield as quickly as possible. Salah, though, is desperate to extend his stay at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Indeed, he’s not even attempting to hide just how much the tournament means to him. “I have won almost every honour in the game,” Salah said on Saturday, “but this is the one…

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Nissan is among the first to offer magnetic phone chargers in the US

The Wireless Power Consortium’s Qi2 standard, which was finalized in late 2023, includes specifications on the use of magnets to help properly align the wireless coils in chargers and mobile devices. It was an idea first introduced by Apple with its MagSafe feature on the iPhone 12 lineup, but companies like Google have since adopted it. You now have to search hard to find a wireless charger that doesn’t use magnets, although you can always visit your nearest car dealership as the auto industry has yet to embrace the useful feature.In the US, the 2026 Nissan Murano, and later the…

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Ethereum Adoption Grows as New Wallets Surge

A combination of protocol-level upgrades, stablecoin activity, and a shift in crypto sentiment has helped push Ether wallet creation to its highest levels in history. Over the last week, an average of 327,000 new wallets have been created per day, with Sunday recording the highest number ever for a single day at over 393,000, Santiment analysts said in an X post on Tuesday.New wallets can signal that fresh users, developers, or institutions are entering the ecosystem. Data also shows that non-empty Ether wallets are now at 172.9 million, which is also at an all-time high. Ether (ETH) is currently $3,330, up…

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Stephen A. Smith Mistakes Texans Star Christian Kirk for Charlie Kirk

Stephen A. Smith was forced to make a quick recovery on the air after mistaking NFL star Christian Kirk for late political commentator Charlie Kirk. Smith, 58, was recapping the Houston Texans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers playoff game during the Tuesday, January 13, episode of ESPN’s First Take when the awkward mixup occurred. “We saw Charlie Kirk catch eight receptions for 144 yards,” Smith declared before being corrected by host Shae Peppler Cornette. Smith then continued, saying, “I’m sorry, I apologize. Oh, my God, I meant Christian Kirk.” Related: Sports World Reacts to Charlie Kirk’s Death: Pat McAfee, Kelly Stafford, More…

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Play along, Kwankwaso tells supporters under pressure to defect

(Editor’s Note: We wrongly interpreted Mr Kwankwaso’s statement in Hausa to mean he was endorsing his supporters’ defection to the APC. That error, which is regretted, has been corrected in this copy.) The former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has advised his supporters, who are being pressured to join a political movement in the All Progressives Congress (APC), to sign any document indicating their agreement to do so. Mr Kwankwaso, leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), spoke in Hausa on Tuesday in Kano while addressing some of his supporters. He described the movement his supporters are being pressured…

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I have cried like you before (1), By Ayo Akerele

One day, out of frustration, I decided to take the bull by the horns by writing directly to Tony Elumelu, UBA’s chairman. Don’t ask me how I got his personal email address. I hunted for it. I explained that I wanted to work for him in Nigeria and promised to help transform his business. Within a week, I received a call from Tony Elumelu’s office. His Personal Assistant informed me that Tony had asked me to meet him at The Dorchester in London, one of the most iconic and prestigious hotels in the UK. Out of desperation, I wrote to…

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