Category: Nigerian Tribune

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that cuts in international funding could reverse decades of progress in the fight against HIV across Africa, with Nigeria among countries most at risk due to its heavy reliance on donor support for prevention, testing and treatment programmes.

The warning is contained in WHO’s latest assessment of the Global Health Sector Strategies on HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), released on Monday during the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026).

The report said that although global HIV infections have dropped by 42 per cent and AIDS-related deaths by 57 per cent since 2010, about nine million people worldwide are still without life-saving treatment, while funding disruptions recorded in 2025 have already affected prevention services in several countries.

WHO noted that access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a key medicine used to prevent HIV infection, declined in some countries following reductions in donor funding, despite efforts by governments to sustain services.

For Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and one of the countries with the highest HIV burden globally, the development raises concerns over the sustainability of programmes that have depended largely on international partners.

WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said years of progress could be wiped out if governments and development partners fail to sustain investments in healthcare.

‘This report tells two stories. It demonstrates what is possible when countries invest in health, communities and science. But it also shows how quickly progress can be undone with funding disruptions, humanitarian emergencies and persistent inequalities,’ he said.

The report also identified viral hepatitis as an increasing public health threat, despite improvements in prevention and treatment.

According to WHO, hepatitis B infections have fallen by 32 per cent since 2015, while deaths linked to hepatitis C have declined by 12 per cent. However, viral hepatitis still claimed an estimated 1.3 million lives globally in 2024, with hepatitis B-related deaths rising by 17 per cent over the same period.

Nigeria is among countries with a high burden of hepatitis B, but experts say low testing rates and limited access to treatment continue to fuel preventable deaths from liver disease.

The global health agency further warned that sexually transmitted infections remain a growing concern, citing rising infection rates and increasing resistance to antibiotics used to treat gonorrhoea.

To prevent setbacks, WHO urged countries to strengthen domestic financing for HIV, hepatitis and STI programmes, integrate disease services into primary healthcare, improve surveillance systems and expand access to innovative prevention tools, including the newly recommended twice-yearly injectable lenacapavir for HIV prevention.

WHO’s Director of HIV, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis and STIs, Dr Tereza Kasaeva, described the report as a roadmap for countries to accelerate action towards ending the three epidemics by 2030.

The report comes as governments, including Nigeria, face increasing pressure to bridge funding gaps created by declining international health assistance while sustaining progress towards the global target of ending HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections as public health threats.

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has said the 2027 presidential election could be his final race at Nigeria’s highest office, citing age and his belief that younger Nigerians should be given the opportunity to lead.

Obi made the remark during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics on Sunday, where he reflected on his political future.

Asked whether the 2027 election would be his last presidential race, the former Anambra State governor said the decision would largely depend on the outcome of the poll but indicated he was nearing the end of his political journey.

‘It depends on who wins,’ Obi said.

‘But I can tell you, I’m coming to the end of it because I believe that the younger ones should be allowed.’

The former Labour Party presidential candidate explained that advancing age would make it increasingly difficult to cope with the demands of the presidency.

‘I’ll be 68 or 69. So, if you add that to another eight years, I will be 77 or 78. I don’t think I’ll have the energy I have today because that capacity is very important. It’s critical,’ he said.

Obi said while the outcome of the 2027 election would influence his next political move, he remained convinced that the country must begin creating more opportunities for younger leaders to take charge.

The former governor contested the 2019 election as the vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party alongside Atiku Abubakar before emerging as the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election.

Ahead of the 2027 general election, Obi became the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress after leaving the African Democratic Congress.

A Canada-based Nigerian woman, Mrs Ezinne Nwanorue, has drawn widespread attention online after announcing the death of her mother-in-law and describing the deceased as a ‘wicked witch’ in a Facebook post.

Ezinne shared the funeral poster of her late mother-in-law, Comfort Nwanorue, on Facebook on Monday alongside a strongly worded message directed at the deceased.

She wrote, ‘One wicked witch is down: my dead mother-in-law, Comfort Chika Nwanorue, rest in pieces in hell with other dead witches; your members will soon join you. I am the weapon fashioned against all the witches and wizards and all the evil people in the world; you all shall go down in my hands. Very wicked beings.

‘You people should repent now and accept Christ; if not, you won’t escape the judgment of de@th from my hands, in Jesus’ name. Amen. These people have dealt with me in this life; they found out about my destiny, and they did everything within their power to bring me down, but I thank God for helping me discover who I am and coming through for my destiny; I am now in my season of manifestation, and no one can stop it.

‘They will all go down in my hands as God empowers and permits me, in the name of Jesus. Amen. I am talking from the place of my office as a prophetess of God Almighty. Prophetess Ezinne Maryjane Nwanorue.’

Tribune Online recalls that Ezinne and her husband, Franklin Chimaobim Nwanorue, previously attracted public attention after she required him to take a public oath against infidelity before supporting his relocation to Canada.

A Canada-based Nigerian woman, Mrs Ezinne Nwanorue, has drawn widespread attention online after announcing the death of her mother-in-law and describing the deceased as a ‘wicked witch’ in a Facebook post.

Ezinne shared the funeral poster of her late mother-in-law, Comfort Nwanorue, on Facebook on Monday alongside a strongly worded message directed at the deceased.

She wrote, ‘One wicked witch is down: my dead mother-in-law, Comfort Chika Nwanorue, rest in pieces in hell with other dead witches; your members will soon join you. I am the weapon fashioned against all the witches and wizards and all the evil people in the world; you all shall go down in my hands. Very wicked beings.

‘You people should repent now and accept Christ; if not, you won’t escape the judgment of de@th from my hands, in Jesus’ name. Amen. These people have dealt with me in this life; they found out about my destiny, and they did everything within their power to bring me down, but I thank God for helping me discover who I am and coming through for my destiny; I am now in my season of manifestation, and no one can stop it.

‘They will all go down in my hands as God empowers and permits me, in the name of Jesus. Amen. I am talking from the place of my office as a prophetess of God Almighty. Prophetess Ezinne Maryjane Nwanorue.’

Tribune Online recalls that Ezinne and her husband, Franklin Chimaobim Nwanorue, previously attracted public attention after she required him to take a public oath against infidelity before supporting his relocation to Canada.

A simple upcycled items like toilet paper rolls work better than store-bought ties to prevent wire damage.

In this article, Tribune Online examines seven smart ways you can turn everyday household trash into free cable holders.

Empty toilet paper rolls

Empty cardboard rolls from your tissue paper make perfect holders for thick phone cables and laptop extensions.

Fold your cord into a neat loop and slide it directly into the roll. The hard shell holds the wire together so it never entangles with other cords in your drawer.

Plastic bread tags

Those small square plastic tags used to seal bread bags make excellent labels for your extension boxes.

Clip the tag onto the wire end and write the device name on it using a permanent marker. You will never unplug the wrong TV or decoder cord by mistake again.

Used shoe boxes

An old shoe box easily turns into a hidden charging station for your parlor.

Cut small circular holes along the front side, place an extension socket inside, and pull the charger tips through.

This hides ugly multi-plugs and keeps dust away from your sockets.

Heavy-duty binder clips

Old office binder clips can hold loose phone cords along your wooden desk.

Clamp the clip to the edge of your table and pass the charger wire through the silver metal loops.

The thick head stops the cord from slipping to the floor when unplugged.

Twist ties from food packaging

The tiny wire ties that seal bread bags, biscuit wrappers, and electronics packaging are very useful.

Wrap your long cords together and twist the wire around them to secure the bundle. They work just like expensive velcro straps and cost absolutely nothing.

Empty plastic water bottles

Cut the top and bottom off a small plastic bottle to create a clear sleeve. Slide your rolled-up television extension wires straight into the middle section.

The stiff plastic keeps heavy cables bound tightly together during transport or storage.

Cardboard egg cartons

Cut out individual cups from a paper egg carton to separate tiny items like earphone wires or flash drives.

Place the cups side by side in your table drawer to form neat compartments that keep small gadgets organized.

A fugitive drug kingpin, Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu, and an ex-international football player, Hunkarin Segun George, have been convicted and sentenced to a combined total of 24 years’ imprisonment by Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos, for unlawful importation of 7.050 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria.

Chinedu was first arraigned in September 2015 on a one-count charge marked FHC/L/227c/2015 for unlawfully importing 6.250 kilograms of cocaine. He pleaded not guilty and was admitted to bail, but jumped bail midway into trial and remained at large for nearly 10 years.

An NDLEA statement signed by its Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, on Monday said the convict was eventually re-arrested by operatives of the Agency on 24th June 2025, at the Lagos International Airport, while attempting to smuggle 800 grams of cocaine on an inbound Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa.

Investigation showed that the convict was coming from Turkey on Ethiopian Airlines flight but transited through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he collected the luggage from another person before heading to Nigeria.

Further checks revealed that an accomplice who turned out to be a former professional footballer, Segun George Hunkarin, was waiting for Chinedu at the airport carpark to collect the consignment from him. Hunkarin, who had stayed years in Brazil playing for football clubs, was promptly tracked and arrested at the carpark.

In his statement, Hunkarin claimed that while playing professional football in the South American country, he had only trafficked drugs twice from Brazil to Ethiopia.

Both Chinedu and Hunkarin were subsequently arraigned on a three-count charge marked FHC/L/669C/2025 for unlawful importation of 800grams of cocaine.

Delivering judgment on Friday, 24th July 2026, Justice Kakaki sentenced Chinedu to 20 years’ imprisonment without an option of fine for the unlawful importation of 6.250 kilograms of cocaine, and a further two years, also without an option of fine, for conspiring with Hunkarin to unlawfully import 800 grams of cocaine, bringing his total sentence to 22 years.

Hunkarin was sentenced to two years imprisonment on the conspiracy charge, bringing the combined jail terms to 24 years imprisonment.

Reviewing the facts of the case, prosecuting counsel, Barrister Adekunle Adebajo, reminded the court that Chinedu had earlier been arraigned before Justice Salihu Saudi (now retired) in 2015 on the same importation charge but vanished after being granted bail.

Citing a plethora of legal authorities, the NDLEA prosecutor urged the court to sentence the convicts in line with the relevant provisions of the NDLEA Act.

Defence counsel, Chief Benson Ndakara for Chinedu and Chief Emefo Etudo for Hunkarin, had pleaded with the court for leniency and urged that fine options be considered in lieu of custodial sentences.

The court, however, after a careful review of the submissions, cited authorities and tendered exhibits, sentenced both convicts to prison terms without any option of fine.

Reacting to the conviction, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the judiciary for the judgment, describing it as a reaffirmation of the courts’ commitment to ridding the country of drug trafficking and those who perpetrate it, no matter how long they evade justice.

Marwa also commended the officers, men and women of the Agency involved in the arrest, investigation and prosecution of the case, noting that the eventual re-arrest of Chinedu after nearly ten years on the run demonstrated the doggedness, patience and thoroughness of NDLEA operatives in tracking down fugitives and ensuring that no drug trafficker escapes the long arm of the law.

The Benue State Government has officially stated that there are no cases of Mpox in the state.

Dr. Paul Ogwuche, the State Commissioner for Health and Human Resources, made this announcement in a statement released on Monday and shared with news reporters in Makurdi.

Last Friday, Dr. Ogwuche mentioned that the ministry was investigating a suspected case of Mpox reported in the Korinya community of Konshisha LGA.

However, in his Monday statement, the Commissioner indicated that the case had been thoroughly investigated by the Ministry’s Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, the State Epidemiology Unit, and the Disease Surveillance and Notification System.

According to him, ‘the Benue State Ministry of Health and Human Services wishes to state that, based on the findings available at this time, there is no evidence of an Mpox outbreak in Korinya

Community, Konshisha LGA.

The Commissioner explained that investigators identified two adults in Korinya community who had previously experienced fever followed by widespread skin rashes with blister-like lesions involving the face, chest, back and other parts of the body.

The statement read partly, ‘Both individuals had sought treatment at a private health facility in Korinya and had shown marked clinical improvement before the investigation team arrived.

‘Following a detailed clinical assessment, the presentation was found to be more consistent with Chickenpox (Varicella) than Mpox.’

Dr Ogwuche stated that the clinical assessment was based on several important findings, and stressed that the illness followed the typical clinical course of Chickenpox, with both patients already recovering and their skin lesions having

dried and crusted, which indicated a self- limiting viral illness.

While submitting that the investigation found no involvement of the palms of the hands, soles of the feet or the mucous membranes of the mouth, which he said were important clinical features commonly associated with Mpox, the commissioner noted that the investigation established no known contact or link with any confirmed or suspected Mpox case, which makes the likelihood of Mpox considerably lower.

There are indications that President Bola Tinubu may schedule further meetings with some stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in respect of the crisis rocking the Oyo State chapter of the party over the emergence of the governorship candidate.

The primaries had produced the Senator representing Oyo South, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, but other contestants have kicked against the outcome.

Last week, President Tinubu met with the Renewed Hope Ambassador in the state, Senator Teslim Folarin, who was asked to rally the support of the stakeholders in Oyo to guarantee a united front.

Feelers from Abuja, however, indicate that the president may schedule another meeting with an enlarged team of stakeholders ahead of the flag-off of campaigns.

A source said that as the consideration is ongoing, the governorship candidate, Senator Alli, has also intensified peace moves within the party, as a backup to the efforts of the peace committee already inaugurated by the state chapter of the APC.

‘We are hopeful of a final resolution in a short while, a source close to the party said, adding that some of the aggrieved aspirants are already embracing peace.

Kwara stakeholders await Abuja’s final verdict on guber candidate

In Kwara State, stakeholders and party leaders have continued to insist that the issue of the governorship candidate remained unresolved in the state. Sources said that the stakeholders are, however, awaiting the final verdict on the list of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates for the 2027 general elections in Kwara State from the national leadership of the ruling party.

Speaking on the development, the state APC chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, said that he could not confirm the authenticity of any of the candidates for the general elections, adding that the national leadership conducted primaries that produced the candidates.

Fagbemi also said that it is the national leadership that would announce the candidates. This is just as groups in the ruling party in the state continued to post names of their favourite as candidates on social media, claiming that their favourite is the winner of the primary.

It was also gathered that the name of Senator Saliu Mustapha, representing Kwara Central District propped up as the winner of the APC governorship primary, against Speaker, Kwara House of Assembly, Salihu Yakubu Danladi, who was announced as the winner by the Musliu Obanikoro-led team that conducted the primary.

Meanwhile, party leaders and stakeholders continue to wait for the national leadership of the party to announce the list before the time allowed by INEC to submit names of candidates.

In Benue, Alia, loyalists battle for APC tickets

There are strong indications that the internal crisis rocking the ruling All Progressive Congress in Benue State is not yet over.

This is coming as some candidates whose nominations have been upturned by the national working committee of the APC have challenged the decision in court.

Our correspondent reliably gathered that one of the House of Assembly aspirants, Sesugh Kaaba, had instituted a case before the Federal High Court in Abuja restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the APC from recognizing those whose names were not successful in the last primary elections of the party supervised by INEC but uploaded on the portal.

He is further seeking an order directing and compelling the APC to forward only the aforementioned candidates to INEC for the Governorship, Senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly elections in Benue State.

In suit number marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026, Kaaba is seeking an order directing INEC to recognise Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia(governorship candidate), Sen Gabriel Suswam, Benjamin Aber and Francis Ottah Agbo(Senatorial candidates) and other successful candidates during the primary election.

The case, which is before Justice Inyang Ekwo.has been adjourned to August 27, 2026, for definite hearing.

Our correspondent learnt that the pending case might have delayed the party from uploading the name of the Benue APC governorship candidate on the INEC portal.

When contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Kula Tersoo, told our correspondent that his principal had received his nomination forms, filled and submitted.

Our correspondent on Sunday sighted a purported congratulatory message of the party Elders Advisory Council, Benue State Chapter, under the leadership of its Chairman, Senator Barnabas Gemade.

Gemade, in the letter, congratulated the governor and his deputy, Hyacinth Iormem Alia and Sam Ode, respectively, on the successful validation of their party nomination by INEC.

The council appealed to the people of the State to continue supporting Governor Alia and his administration as it strives to deepen the dividends of democracy across the state.

When contacted, the party state publicity secretary of the Agada-led exco and loyal to SGF, Daniel Ihomun, described the purported submission of the governor’s name to INEC by the APC as laughable.

Ihomun asked how tenable it was for the National Working Committee of the party to submit Governor Alia’s name to INEC, and for INEC to upload it to its portal, when the governor had been joined in a suit instituted at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Ihomun, who quoted Article 21.5, Paragraph V of the APC Constitution 2022 as Amended, said that all the people who had filed a case against the national working committee of the party without exhausting the conflict resolution mechanism of the party risk expulsion from the APC.

Anxiety has mounted in Anambra State following the collapse of a private three-storey building housing students of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area of the state.

Several people, mainly students, were feared dead in the incident, which occurred in the student-populated area of Amaokpala community.

Findings revealed that the private three-storey building, popularly known as Elite Five Star Lodge, collapsed in the late hours of Sunday night.

Already, some injured students living in the area have been rescued from the debris and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The actual number of people who died in the collapse was yet to be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident on Monday.

He said rescue operations were ongoing by a joint security team, including the State Fire Service and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

He said: ‘Anambra State Police-led joint security team assures ongoing rescue operations following the late-night incident on Sunday, July 26, 2026, involving the collapse of a three-storey building known as Elite Five Star Lodge, located beside Tonimas Filling Station, Amaokpala, Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area of the state.

‘The incident resulted in some occupants being trapped beneath the rubble.

‘On receipt of the distress report, the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, immediately mobilised to the scene, secured the area to prevent further danger and coordinated rescue efforts.

‘The Anambra State Fire Service and the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) also responded promptly and joined the rescue operation.

‘The Command notes that rescue operations are ongoing to reach other persons who may still be trapped, as the number of casualties or affected persons cannot yet be confirmed.

‘Also, some injured victims have been rescued from the debris and evacuated to a hospital in Oko, where they are currently receiving medical attention.

‘To this end, members of the public, especially residents in the area, are urged to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information and stay away from the scene to allow emergency responders unrestricted access.

‘Further updates will be communicated as more verified information becomes available.’

Nigerians and Ghanaians are among 175 foreign visitors who travelled to Canada for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and later applied for asylum, according to official figures released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The data, published by the Canadian immigration department, showed that the asylum claims were filed by people who identified themselves as World Cup visitors in their temporary residence applications.

Canada co-hosted the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup with the United States and Mexico, hosting 13 matches in Toronto and Vancouver. More than 26,000 temporary visas linked to the tournament were issued by Canadian authorities.

Spain won the tournament after defeating defending champions Argentina in the final.

Nigeria among countries with asylum claims

According to IRCC, Nigeria recorded 10 asylum claims, placing it among the countries with the highest number of applications from World Cup visitors who remained in Canada after the tournament.

The Federal Government has called for sustained investment in agricultural science, research and innovation as the foundation for achieving food security, economic prosperity and climate resilience across Africa.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, made the call while declaring open the 9th Africa Agriculture Science Week (AASW) and the 10th General Assembly of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) in Abuja.

Addressing ministers, scientists, policymakers, development partners, researchers and farmers from across the continent, Kyari said Africa’s transformation would depend not on its abundant natural resources alone but on its ability to generate knowledge, embrace innovation and strengthen partnerships.

He stressed that every successful agricultural revolution in the world was built on deliberate investment in science, strong institutions and visionary leadership, noting that Africa must follow the same path to secure its future.

‘Before countries became prosperous, they first learned how to feed their people, and before they transformed agriculture, they invested in science,’ the minister said.

Kyari said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had placed agriculture at the centre of the Renewed Hope Agenda because food security remains inseparable from national security, economic growth and social stability.

According to him, Nigeria is implementing sweeping reforms across the agricultural value chain, including expansion of irrigation and all-season farming, mechanisation, improved access to quality seeds and fertilizers, agricultural financing, digital agriculture and agro-industrial development, while creating a more enabling environment for private sector investment.

He added that the government was equally strengthening National Agricultural Research Institutes, universities and extension systems, insisting that sustainable agricultural transformation must be driven by sound scientific evidence.

The minister identified emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, satellite technology and data science as critical tools capable of revolutionising agriculture by improving decision-making, crop monitoring, climate-smart farming and market access.

He urged African governments to invest more heavily in research institutions, innovation hubs, digital infrastructure and scientific talent to enable the continent become a global leader in agricultural technology rather than merely adopting innovations developed elsewhere.

Kyari also challenged researchers to ensure that scientific discoveries move beyond academic publications to practical solutions that increase productivity, create jobs, restore degraded lands, improve nutrition and strengthen climate resilience.

He described FARA as an indispensable continental institution that continues to unite governments, research organisations, universities, development partners and the private sector in addressing common agricultural challenges.

Earlier, Chairperson of the FARA Board of Directors, Ms Bongiwe Njobe, warned that escalating climate change had become a structural threat to Africa’s food systems, with rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, floods, droughts and land degradation undermining decades of development gains.

She said the continent’s research and innovation agenda must become more responsive and impactful to tackle worsening food insecurity and vulnerability, particularly among women, youths and marginalised communities.

Njobe noted that the conference coincides with the first anniversary of the CAADP Kampala Declaration, which seeks to shift Africa’s agricultural development from a narrow commodity focus to a broader agrifood systems approach centred on agro-industrialisation, nutrition, resilience and inclusion.

According to her, science, technology and innovation remain the engines for translating political commitments into measurable improvements in farmers’ livelihoods and household food security.

In his welcome address, Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Dr Abubakar Adamu Dabban, described the conference as a significant platform for advancing research, innovation and strategic partnerships across the continent.

Dabban said the gathering aligns with Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises agriculture, food security and economic development through sustained investment in research and technology.

Speaking on the conference theme, ‘Innovations and Partnerships for Resilient and Sustainable Agrifood Systems in Africa’, he said Africa could only overcome climate change, food insecurity and low agricultural productivity through stronger collaboration and science-driven solutions.

The four-day conference, which runs from July 27 to 30 in Abuja, has attracted agricultural experts, policymakers, universities, development partners, private sector leaders, farmers and innovators from across Africa to deliberate on strategies for building resilient and sustainable agrifood systems capable of feeding the continent while driving inclusive economic growth.