Category: Nigerian Tribune

Sweating is a normal function of the human body. It helps to regulate body temperature, particularly during exercise, physical activity and hot weather.

But when people sweat while exercising together, playing contact sports or living in crowded conditions, they may also have more frequent contact with other people’s skin, towels, clothing and shared surfaces. This can then create opportunities for certain infections to spread.

However, it is important to categorically say that sweat itself is not usually the main route through which these diseases are transmitted. The greater risk comes from close skin-to-skin contact, infected skin lesions or contaminated personal items and surfaces.

In this article, Tribune Online highlights five infections you can potentially contract through sweat-contaminated items.

Ringworm

Ringworm is a fungal infection that can affect the skin, scalp and nails. The fungus responsible can spread through direct contact with an infected person’s skin or by touching contaminated objects such as towels, clothing and bedding.

Warm, moist conditions created by sweating can also provide a favourable environment for the fungi to grow. This is one reason ringworm can spread easily in places such as gyms, changing rooms and contact-sport facilities.

It commonly appears as an itchy, scaly rash that may form a ring-like pattern on the skin.

Scabies

Scabies is caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin. It is primarily transmitted through prolonged, direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. Close physical contact therefore provides an opportunity for the mites to move from one person to another.

Scabies can also spread through clothing, towels and bedding used by someone with the infestation, although this is less common.

The condition typically causes intense itching, which often becomes worse at night. Small bumps or thin burrow-like marks may also appear on the skin.

Impetigo

Impetigo is a contagious bacterial infection of the skin. It is particularly common among children but can affect people of any age.

It often begins as small sores or blisters that rupture and develop yellowish or honey-coloured crusts.

The bacteria can spread through direct contact with infected skin . They can also be transferred through items that have come into contact with infected sores. People who have cuts, scratches or other breaks in their skin may have a greater opportunity for bacteria to enter.

Avoiding contact with infected sores and not sharing towels, clothing or other personal items can help reduce transmission.

MRSA skin infections

MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a type of bacteria that has developed resistance to several commonly used antibiotics. It can spread through direct skin-to-skin contact or by touching contaminated surfaces and personal items.

People involved in contact sports may face increased exposure because of frequent physical contact, shared equipment and the presence of minor cuts and abrasions. A MRSA skin infection may appear as a red, swollen, painful or warm area of skin and may contain pus.

Molluscum contagiosum

Molluscum contagiosum is a viral infection that produces small, raised bumps on the skin.

It spreads mainly through direct contact with an infected person’s lesions. The virus can also be transmitted through contaminated objects such as towels, clothing and some sports equipment.

Children are commonly affected, although adults can also contract the infection. The bumps are usually painless, but scratching or damaging them can spread the virus to other parts of the body and may introduce bacteria into the affected skin.

The Ebonyi State Government has urged residents to disregard what it described as ‘sponsored narratives, media attacks and poorly coordinated protests’ against the administration of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.

The government said the orchestrated distractions were aimed at misleading the public and diminishing the progress being recorded across the state.

The Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barr Chief Ikeuwa Omebeh, made this known in a statement issued in Abakaliki on Wednesday.

While acknowledging the constitutional right to peaceful protest, Omebeh said such rights should not be abused by individuals and groups seeking to create unnecessary tension.

‘Ebonyians should remain calm and discerning and disregard these pockets of negative narratives, particularly when they are not supported by facts, evidence or the realities on ground,’ he said.

The Commissioner said since assuming office, Governor Nwifuru has demonstrated commitment to the welfare of Ebonyians through deliberate investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, human capital development, workers’ welfare, rural development and empowerment programmes.

He noted that the administration’s ‘People’s Charter of Needs’ philosophy places the interests and welfare of the people at the centre of governance.

‘It is not surprising that an administration actively delivering projects may attract political opposition. What is unacceptable is the attempt to substitute facts with propaganda and development with misinformation,’ Omebeh stated.

He added that the government was concerned that some narratives were designed to distract people from ‘the roads being constructed, schools being rehabilitated, healthcare facilities receiving attention, workers receiving improved welfare, and rural communities being connected to development.’

Omebeh urged citizens to judge the administration by its record rather than political propaganda.

‘Let the people visit the communities, inspect the projects and speak directly with beneficiaries of government programmes. The evidence of governance is visible across the State,’ he said.

The Commissioner assured that Governor Nwifuru remains ‘focused, undistracted and committed to delivering on his mandate’ and would not be swayed by political theatrics.

‘At this point in our collective journey, Ebonyi needs unity, constructive engagement and development-focused criticism, not manufactured controversies capable of undermining public confidence,’ he added.

The government also called on youths to resist being used as instruments by individuals whose interests differ from the collective interest of the state.

‘Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru remains focused on governance. Ebonyi remains focused on development. And the people remain the ultimate beneficiaries,’ the statement concluded.

Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has disclosed that he approached his successor, Governor Hyacinth Alia, after the 2023 governorship election and offered to work with him for the development of the state.

Ortom said he took the step despite their political differences because Alia had won the election and, as a Christian, he believed that political power came from God.

The former governor disclosed this while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he responded to questions about his strained relationship with Alia and his criticism of the present administration in Benue State.

According to Ortom, he told Alia after the election: ‘Look, you have won. God has made it possible. I’m a Christian, and I believe that power belongs to God. They have given it to you. Let us work together.’

He said he also offered to provide any clarification the new administration might require on the handover notes he left behind after completing his eight-year tenure.

‘Any question you ask me, and the handing over notes I’ve given to you, if there is anything you want me to say, please ask me, I’m ready to present,’ Ortom said.

The former governor, however, said his subsequent criticism of Alia was not motivated by personal hatred, describing the incumbent governor as his younger brother.

‘Alia is my brother. Alia is my junior brother. I have no hatred about him, but I have hatred for what he is doing to Benue State. The deceit, the lies, the hypocrisy that he is doing in Benue State,’ he said.

Ortom accused the Alia administration of failing to fulfil some of its campaign promises, particularly those concerning internally displaced persons (IDPs) and security.

He challenged the governor to account for promises he allegedly made to return IDPs to their ancestral communities within 100 days of assuming office.

‘Check all his promises: ‘100 days, I will take IDPs to their ancestral homes. 100 days, I will do this. 100 days, I will do that.’ Go back and check, has he been able to fulfil one of those things that he told Benue people that he was going to do?’ Ortom asked.

He said insecurity had continued to affect the livelihoods of residents, including his own farming activities, while IDPs and families struggled with healthcare and education costs.

‘There is capital flight in Benue State today, there is several suffering, the IDPs are suffering; we can’t go to the farm. I am now a farmer, I can’t go to my farm,’ he said.

Ortom also rejected criticism that his administration failed to resolve insecurity during his eight years in office, insisting that significant progress had been made before he left office in 2023.

‘Efforts were made to resolve the issue of insecurity. By the time I left office, 90 per cent of the security challenges were resolved,’ he said.

He attributed part of the progress to collaboration with neighbouring states and the community-based security structures established during his administration.

Ortom also defended the state’s anti-open grazing law, saying his administration had adopted ranching as the preferred approach to resolving conflicts between farmers and herders.

‘We were able to find a lasting solution. The global best practice is to stop open grazing, which we made a law in collaboration with traditional rulers, leaders of the state, civil societies, and international organisations that came to support and assist us,’ he said.

He alleged that the decision of the present administration to suspend the implementation of the anti-open grazing law had contributed to renewed insecurity in the state.

‘And it was going on until this government came and suspended the prohibition of open grazing law, and have now allowed open grazing to all parts of Benue State. And that has increased the issue of insecurity,’ Ortom said.

The former governor also disputed claims that the scale of killings during his administration was comparable to the situation under the current government.

When challenged to provide data to support his assertion that killings had increased, Ortom acknowledged that he did not have the figures with him during the interview but maintained that the situation had deteriorated.

‘I don’t have the data here with me, but I want to let you know that what is going on today, the media in Benue State have been suppressed from telling Nigeria what the killing figures are,’ he said.

Ortom further accused Alia of being inaccessible and alleged that members of the state House of Assembly could face suspension for challenging the governor.

‘The man is not accessible. Let me tell you, the governor of Benue State is not accessible. Ask his own appointees, they will tell you that he is not accessible,’ he said.

‘The man is a dictator. He does what he wants. In the House of Assembly, you dare not question what Alia is doing. Once you do that, you are suspended.’

Asked whether he had resolved to work against Alia’s re-election in 2027, Ortom said he had not taken such a position as the outcome of elections ultimately depended on God.

‘I’ve not sworn, I am not God. It is God. John 3:27, the Bible says that power belongs to God,’ he said.

Ortom’s comments come amid growing political tension in Benue State ahead of the 2027 elections, with the former governor maintaining his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while supporting President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the presidency.

The President of the Niger Delta Integrated Farmers Association of Nigeria, Julius Openha-Wodah, has raised an alarm over the influx and widespread use of banned, toxic agro-chemicals in the country, warning that Nigeria has effectively been turned into a dumping ground by foreign pesticide manufacturers.

Openha-Wodah disclosed this on Wednesday while reacting to a recent public concern raised by former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who revealed that packaged orange juice purchased by his wife was tested and found to be cancerous.

Validating the former Vice President’s stance, the association leader stressed that the development highlights a major, unresolved public health crisis currently threatening millions of consumers across the nation.

‘The former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, is absolutely correct. There is a food safety and public health issue; there is a serious concern on pesticide residue,’ Openha-Wodah stated.

He expressed deep regret that despite global bans on several dangerous inputs, weak border control and regulatory laxity have allowed banned substances to flood Nigerian agricultural markets.

According to him, ‘There are lots of chemicals that have been banned worldwide, but unfortunately, these agro-input producers see Nigeria as a dumping ground where nobody bothers to check anything. Most of our farmers might not know that there are a lot of chemicals that are banned, but they still find their ways into the country.’

Elaborating on the specific hazardous substances still circulating freely in local markets, Openha-Wodah cited highly toxic herbicides that pose severe lethal risks to human health.

‘Chemicals like paraquat, which is completely banned because of its chemical composition, and glyphosate, which is also banned in some countries, are highly toxic to human lives, but they are still being sold in the Nigerian market,’ he decried.

The agricultural chief further revealed an alarming practice within the food distribution chain, where traders apply lethal crop chemicals directly onto raw food products to artificially extend their shelf life.

‘We also realised that most of the farmers and those in the distribution chain are using pesticides to preserve foods. In other words, we are taking in raw chemicals,’ he warned.

Turning his attention to animal husbandry, Openha-Wodah noted that the meat and dairy sectors are equally exposed to unsafe chemical contamination due to unchecked administration of veterinary inputs.

‘Let’s even talk about livestock; there, we have a lot of chemicals and antibiotics in this sector, and poor usage of these chemicals poses a risk to the consumers,’ he concluded, calling on federal food safety agencies and agricultural regulators to immediately enforce strict market inspections and curb the importation of banned agro-chemicals.

Officials of the Kwara State Signage and Advertisement Agency (KWASAA) on Wednesday removed campaign billboards belonging to Engr Kale Kawu, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for violation of advertising campaign rules, environmental protection standards, and destruction of public infrastructure.

Of the two political billboards affected, one is located at Adabata Junction, while the other is hung on the public water facility (motorised borehole) at Bata Shop, Agaka – both of which the agency considered an abuse of public facilities.

The General Manager of the Agency, who led the taskforce, Toba Adeyeye, said they carried out the enforcement exercise following receipt of several complaints from the public.

Adeyeye described it as the height of irresponsibility for any individual to dig a portion of the road for the erection of a political billboard.

He said the Agency was only discharging its statutory duties of regulating the placement of outdoor advertising billboards across the state.

‘We are out because we have received numerous complaints by the public. We just left Adabata Junction, where we discovered that the road was actually dug. A newly constructed road was dug for the placement of a billboard. It is totally unhealthy and unbelievable,’ he told reporters on the sideline of the enforcement campaign.

‘When we even got the report, we could not even believe that anybody could actually do such a thing. The safety part of it is that we need to pull it down and then examine such persons that decided to dig a road where you know is majorly for motorists and pedestrians.

‘The road that was destroyed belongs to the people of Kwara. It’s a road that they use the taxpayers’ money to fix. How can you possibly just dig the road and say you want to use it for a political campaign? We can’t use taxpayers’ money to fix a road. Then, suddenly, some people are digging or destroying it to erect billboards.

‘The second one that we also have issue with is that it’s a government property. It’s public infrastructure. If you need to do any form of advertisement or campaign or any sort, like you need a government infrastructure to do that purpose, you need to first of all seek an approval from the relevant agencies. We work closely with the Ministry of Water Resources, which happens to be the owner of the water tanks, and anybody that seeks approval, there are procedures that are required.

‘So, it just comes to us as a shock that anybody could even just do that. How did they even gain access into these premises? How can you just go into a government infrastructure and say you want to hang something there without anybody’s approval?’

The General Manager, while refuting claims that they are targeting opposition parties in the state, said the Agency is not partisan and has been applying the same rules across the board.

‘We are not really partisan, but we will do our job, no matter the party involved, no matter the candidate involved. The most important thing for us at KWASAA is Kwara. Kwara comes first, no matter the party, no matter the candidate,’ he clarified.

‘We just need to make sure that we put things in order. For us, we understand that some people might perceive it as an attack on a particular candidate. They (PDP) also have other billboards in town, which we did not even touch. But now, if you look around town, they are the only feasible party or candidate that is currently having billboards around town.

‘Previously, during the primary elections, we had the same enforcement that affected even the ruling party greatly. If any ruling party candidate commits any of these offences, we are also going to pull it down, which we had done, majorly during their own primary elections, when we had so many of such campaigns.’

Speaking on awareness creation for the general public, Adeyeye said: ‘We have done a lot of awareness before now. We have been on almost all the radio stations in the state, saying the same thing. But some people do not comply. And that’s also what even necessitated us having stakeholders’ engagement, concerning political campaigns just about two weeks ago.’

He said the exercise is continuous, urging members of the public, most especially politicians, to conduct themselves properly.

‘This exercise is a continuous thing. People violate almost every day, especially this season. But we are just using this medium to also tell the people that we are not against any political party or any candidate. What we just want is that, let’s do things in order,’ he said.

‘Anyone campaigning is campaigning to come and represent the people of Kwara State’, he added.

Governorship candidates of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the seven Northwest states have pledged to restore fuel subsidy, implement an N110,000 minimum wage, and establish a regional security architecture if elected in 2027.

The commitment was contained in the ‘Northwest ADC Governorship Candidates’ Compact 2027-2031′, signed in Abuja on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at the commencement of governorship campaigns.

The declaration was read on behalf of the candidates by the Kebbi State governorship candidate, Abubakar Malami, SAN.

The seven candidates are Sabo Mohammed Nakudu of Jigawa, Isa Mohammed Ashiru of Kaduna, Ibrahim Ali Amin of Kano, Ahmad Babba Kaita of Katsina, Abubakar Malami of Kebbi, Manir Muhammad Dan’iya of Sokoto, and Bilyaminu Shinkafi of Zamfara.

The Katsina, Kaduna, and Kano governorship candidates were represented by their deputies, Aminu Yar’adua Ahmed, Kantiok Irmiya Ishaku, and Sabo Mohammed Nakudu, respectively.

In the declaration titled ‘Regional Covenant for Security, Development and Shared Prosperity’, the candidates said the Northwest is facing a crisis of insecurity, poverty, and poor service delivery.

They cited over 16,000 lives lost to insecurity between June 2023 and August 2026, as well as more than 1,583 kidnapping incidents since January 2023, affecting over 10,000 people.

They also noted that tens of thousands of households have been displaced and that more than 533,000 hectares of farmland in Zamfara and Katsina alone have been abandoned.

The region, they said, accounts for 45 per cent of Nigeria’s out-of-school children.

The candidates said that despite over ?8.33 trillion in federal allocations to Northwest states and local government areas between June 2023 and August 2026, citizens have not seen improvements in transport, food, healthcare, schools, and living conditions.

They promised to ensure that public resources deliver measurable results.

On the economy, the ADC candidates backed the promise by the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to restore the fuel subsidy. They said the removal of the subsidy by the APC-led Federal Government has pushed households in the zone into deeper poverty and has not translated into any positive impact.

‘We, the ADC Governorship Candidates of the seven Northwest States, hereby declare our total support for the promise made by the ADC Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to restore the subsidy as one of the immediate steps to halt the further slide of our people into abject poverty,’ the declaration stated.

On workers’ welfare, the candidates committed to implementing a minimum wage of ?110,000 across all seven states if elected.

They said the move is part of measures aimed at providing relief while ensuring accountability.

For security, the compact provides for a technology-enabled surveillance and rapid-response network in each of the 21 senatorial districts across the region.

It also includes the deployment of drones and the establishment of a Northwest Regional Security Coordination Centre to integrate aerial surveillance, community intelligence, and emergency reporting.

In education, the candidates said they would declare a state of emergency, ensure full access to UBEC funds, integrate Almajiri and Tsangaya children into formal schools, support girls’ education, and recruit and train teachers to reduce the number of out-of-school children.

The compact also outlines plans for agriculture, health, infrastructure, and youth development.

These include protected agricultural corridors, regional grain reserves, irrigation rehabilitation, the revitalisation of primary healthcare centres, one specialist hospital per senatorial district, regional roads and rail, independent power generation, and a Regional Youth Fund with TVET and digital hubs.

The candidates said they would not dissolve the constitutional authority of individual states but would coordinate where problems cross borders.

They listed four principles to guide cooperation: security first, people-centred governance, reform with responsibility for the vulnerable, and quarterly performance publications.

To drive the implementation of the compact, the candidates announced the establishment of three committees: a Central Coordination Committee chaired by Rt. Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki; a Technical Committee chaired by Maj. Gen. Aminu Bande (rtd.) and co-chaired by Prof. Sadiq Abubakar; and a Media and Strategic Communications Committee co-chaired by Salihu Tanko Yakasai.

‘We will cooperate where cooperation works better. We will plan before we promise. We will publish what we deliver. We will protect our citizens through reform. We will manage public resources responsibly,’ the declaration read.

In his acceptance speech on behalf of the committees constituted, Maj. Gen. Aminu Bande (rtd.) pledged their commitment to carrying out the assignments with sincerity of purpose.

Also speaking on behalf of the other candidates, the governorship candidate of Jigawa State, Senator Nakudu, called on the authorities to ensure that the former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, was released on bail.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State has called on the state governor, Hyacinth Alia, to apologise to the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, President Bola Tinubu, the people of Benue State and the party in general over the attack and blockade of Obi’s movement to Makurdi on Tuesday.

The party, which condemned the attack on Obi, said the incident was capable of bringing the party into disrepute.

Obi was in the state to sympathise with families and communities devastated by the Yelwata massacre before he was blocked by some youths.

However, the state government, through the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Solomon Iorpev, accused Obi of not notifying the state government of his visit.

Also, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Kula Tersoo, in a statement issued on Monday, had expressed doubts over Obi’s planned visit to the state and stated that Governor Hyacinth Alia does not patronise thugs.

Daniel Ihomun, the state publicity secretary of the Agada-led faction loyal to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, made the call in a statement issued on Wednesday and made available to newsmen in Makurdi.

The party said the ugly incident was not part of the culture of the people of the state, stating that Benue people are hospitable, peaceful and respectful.

‘We welcome visitors and accord them dignity, regardless of their political affiliation. The Alia administration, which authorised or sponsored this disgraceful conduct, does not speak for the people of Benue.

‘This is not Benue. This is not our culture. And this is not the APC. Mr Peter Obi came to Benue in a moment of grief to identify with victims of one of the most painful tragedies suffered by our people at the hands of armed Fulani herdsmen.

‘His visit should have been received with civility and respect. Instead, the reported deployment of thugs to disrupt his movement is a shameful display of intolerance that has no place in a democratic society.’

The party appealed to the Igbo community living in the state not to use the incident against it in the forthcoming election, stating that the ugly development was alien to Benue.

The statement read in parts: ‘The Igbo community who live peacefully and happily among us in Benue State should understand that this emerging culture of political violence allegedly associated with the Alia administration is a strange phenomenon, unknown to our political history, and must not be allowed to be used against the APC in the 2027 elections in Benue State.

‘Benue people are hospitable, peaceful and respectful. We welcome visitors and accord them dignity, regardless of their political affiliation. The Alia administration, which authorised or sponsored this disgraceful conduct, does not speak for the people of Benue.

‘The APC will not be lectured on thuggery. When our party assumed office in 2015 through the mandate of Benue people, we worked to restore peace and dismantle the culture of political thuggery that had taken root in the state. The disturbing resurgence of thuggery under the Alia administration is unacceptable and must be rejected by all lovers of peace and democracy.’

The party said that since it started winning elections in the state, it had not used thugs and promised not to use thugs to win the 2027 elections.

‘We will win through the people, through our structures, through persuasion and through the ballot box. Whoever believes that intimidation and violence can secure political power in 2027 is living in the past,’ the statement read further.

The party, however, called on the governor to apologise to Peter Obi, the President, the people of the state and the APC.

‘Governor Hyacinth Alia must therefore apologise to Mr Peter Obi, apologise to our peace-loving President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, the good people of Benue State and apologise to the APC for conduct that has the potential to bring the party into disrepute.

‘Political differences are legitimate, political violence is not. Benue deserves better,’ the statement read in part.

Nigeria could attract between $30 billion and $50 billion in investment across 22 major offshore oil and gas projects over the next five years, according to CSL Research analysis tied to the country’s new associate membership of the International Energy Agency.

The International Energy expects the country’s energy sector investments to double within five years following its admission as an associate member of the Paris-based organisation. IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol, speaking during a visit to Abuja, said the move would help draw capital, deepen technical cooperation and increase Nigeria’s influence in global energy policy discussions.

The development comes as the government seeks to reverse years of underinvestment, operational challenges, security problems and regulatory uncertainty that have kept crude oil production below official targets. Output has risen over the past two years amid efforts to curb pipeline vandalism and oil theft, yet it remains short of desired levels.

Analysts say greater engagement with the IEA, combined with regulatory reforms introduced in the past 24 months, should strengthen Nigeria’s credibility with international investors and support the development of new fields.

Authorities anticipate the bulk of the projected $30 billion to $50 billion will flow into offshore projects. Security risks onshore, including recent reports of casualties linked to attempts to tap pipelines in the south, continue to make land-based assets less attractive.

Beyond higher oil and gas production, the expected capital inflows are seen as delivering wider economic benefits: stronger growth, increased fiscal revenues and improved foreign-exchange earnings. Most of the investment is expected to target offshore developments rather than onshore operations because of persistent pipeline sabotage.

Optimism is tempered by practical realities. Capital will only materialise if individual projects prove commercially viable and if investors retain confidence in a stable operating environment. With elections approaching, political risk remains a consideration, though analysts view it as manageable given current expectations around political continuity.

For investors, the pathway into Nigeria’s oil and gas sector is clearer than in recent years, but progress will depend on the speed of project deployment, the security situation, the consistency of the regulatory framework and the actual trajectory of crude production.

The IEA membership marks a notable shift in Nigeria’s engagement with global energy institutions. Officials and market observers hope the combination of international partnership and domestic reforms will help unlock the long-discussed potential of the country’s substantial offshore resources and translate it into measurable investment and production gains over the coming half-decade.

While challenges around security and project execution persist, the dual signals of IEA association and projected multi-billion-dollar offshore opportunities have raised expectations that Nigeria’s energy sector could see a meaningful increase in capital flows if conditions continue to improve.

In a dramatic financial turnaround following recent economic challenges, Nigerian Breweries Plc has wiped out its entire loan portfolio to emerge completely debt-free, backed by over N1 trillion in net revenue for the first half of 2026.

The nation’s pioneer brewing giant reported a return to positive retained earnings on the back of a remarkable 264 percent surge in cash performance. By generating N73 billion in net free operating cash flow over the six-month period, a steep rise compared to the corresponding period in 2025, the company successfully executed a complete payoff of its outstanding borrowings, closing the half-year with a zero-debt balance sheet.

Finance Director, Maria Karaseva, disclosed these figures during an investor call on Friday, declaring the performance a decisive milestone in the firm’s journey toward total financial recovery and resilience. Throughout the last six months, the company maintained an overall asset base of approximately N1 trillion, pointing to sustained structural recovery.

The turnaround was heavily anchored on an aggressive internal productivity programme that generated N76 billion in operational gains. These cost-efficiency measures expanded the company’s gross profit margin by two percentage points and supported an 18 percent year-on-year increase in profit before tax.

Importantly, the cost savings gave Nigerian Breweries the financial cushion required to absorb severe macroeconomic headwinds, including soaring domestic inflation and economic uncertainties linked to the crisis in the Middle East.

According to Karaseva, the half-year results demonstrate the direct impact of deliberate financial discipline, tighter working capital controls, and sustained productivity initiatives across every level of the business.

‘Our focus throughout the period was to strengthen cash generation and build a more resilient financial position,’ Karaseva noted during the investor presentation.

‘By improving our cash conversion, managing working capital more efficiently, and translating productivity gains into cash, we generated N73 billion in net free operating cash flow, fully repaid our loans, and returned retained earnings to positive territory. This represents a significant milestone in our recovery journey,’ she said.

She further emphasized that converting operational efficiency directly into available cash flow provided the board and management with the capacity to eliminate borrowings entirely, restoring long-term balance sheet health.

Looking ahead to the remainder of the financial year, Nigerian Breweries plans to maintain strict cash and cost management while expanding volume and revenue growth across its extensive beverage portfolio. The firm indicated that its future strategy will center heavily on reducing foreign-exchange exposure, fostering product innovation, and continuously mitigating inflationary pressure through heightened operational performance.

Two people have been killed after Russian drones struck a border crossing between Ukraine and Moldova, as Russia and Ukraine continue to exchange long-range attacks despite renewed efforts to end the war.

The Starokozache crossing, about 500km (310 miles) south of Kyiv, was closed following the overnight attack. Images from the scene showed several cars burned out, with debris and wreckage scattered across the border post.

Three other people were injured in the attack, including a Moldovan driver, according to Ukrainian and Moldovan officials. Odesa regional governor Oleg Kiper said the border connection had been shut because of the damage.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for greater international support, saying the aggression needed to be stopped before it spread further. He also blamed Russia for starting the war and said Moscow bore responsibility for the conflict.

The attack has also highlighted growing concerns in neighbouring Moldova, which has increasingly been affected by the war. Moldovan Prime Minister Vasile Tofan said 17 drones had struck Moldovan territory in August alone, more than during the whole of the previous year.

Meanwhile, Ukraine carried out a drone attack on the southern Russian city of Novorossiysk, where four people were killed, including a child, according to regional governor Veniamin Kondratiev.

Russian authorities said 29 people were injured in what Mr Kondratiev described as a massive overnight attack. Residential buildings, a church and a preschool were among the places reported to have been damaged.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces had shot down 596 Ukrainian drones overnight.

The strikes came a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone with US President Donald Trump about efforts to end the war. The Trump administration has been pushing for direct talks between Russia and Ukraine, with Kyiv saying they could take place this month.

However, the Kremlin has said it is too early to discuss a date or location for such talks.