Lawmaker challenges Atiku over renewed Tinubu certificate dispute

House of Representatives member Dr Wale Ahmed (Agege Constituency) has condemned the renewed controversy over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) credentials, describing them as a tiresome political distraction ahead of the 2027 general election.

He said in a statement that the continued focus on allegations surrounding the President’s certificate reflected the opposition’s failure to offer Nigerians compelling alternatives on governance.

His reaction followed a fresh legal challenge reportedly instituted by former vice-president and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking Tinubu’s disqualification from the 2027 presidential election over allegations concerning his NYSC certificate.

‘The case remains pending, and the allegations have not been established by a court,’ he said.

Ahmed said political actors were entitled to subject public officials to legitimate scrutiny, but insisted that elections should ultimately be about competing visions and solutions for the country.

‘Nigerians deserve a campaign of ideas, not an endless recycling of allegations. If anybody believes President Tinubu has failed, let that person tell Nigerians what he will do differently and how he will do it,’ he said.

He questioned the value of repeatedly revisiting the certificate controversy, instead of debating the economy, security, infrastructure, employment and other issues affecting Nigerians.

Ahmed cautioned against conflating the Nigerian certificate controversy with a separate legal dispute in the United States involving records connected to a historical investigation and civil forfeiture proceedings concerning funds associated with Tinubu.

‘There is a difference between legitimate scrutiny and political obsession. If there is a case before a court, let the court determine it. But an election campaign cannot be reduced to litigating the same allegations repeatedly,’ he said.

On Atiku’s renewed presidential ambition, Ahmed said he respected the former vice-president’s aspiration, but argued that political realities should also be considered.

‘I respect the life ambition of Atiku to be President, but for now he should know that the Presidency remains in the South. A southerner must have his eight-year tenure, just as the North did between 2015 and 2023,’ he said.

Ahmed added that Atiku should recognise that Tinubu intends to serve two terms and support his administration to succeed.

‘Atiku should know that longevity belongs to God. He can still be President in 2031, only if he retraces his steps to the All Progressives Congress (APC),’ he said.

The lawmaker maintained that Tinubu should ultimately be judged by his record in office and the direction of his administration, rather than allegations still subject to legal and political contestation.

‘2027 cannot be reduced to who can shout loudest about a certificate. Nigerians are asking a bigger question: who has the ideas and capacity to move Nigeria forward?’ Ahmed said.

He reaffirmed his support for Tinubu, saying Nigeria needed continuity, consolidation and the completion of reforms already underway.

Corps members abducted in Kogi

Some members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have been abducted in Kogi State.

The corps members who were returning to the nation’s capital after three-week orientation exercise in Bayelsa State, were abducted along Aloma-Egane Expressway in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi, on Wednesday.

Confirming the incident on Friday, spokesperson of the Kogi State Police Command, Saliu Afusat, said the attackers hid in a bush from where they intercepted two buses travelling in opposite directions near Ogene Zaria, around the Ogene Zaria/Onicha-Igo Junction, at about 4:40pm.

According to the police image maker, the gunmen abducted some passengers, while others managed to escape into the surrounding bush.

Following a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer in Ofu led a joint team of security personnel to the scene, where two abandoned buses-a Peace Mass Transit Hummer bus and a yellow 18-seater bus-were recovered.

However, the command said security operatives subsequently launched a bush-combing operation that led to the rescue of 11 abducted persons, including the drivers of the two vehicles.

‘Preliminary debriefing indicates that most of the rescued victims are NYSC members travelling from Bayelsa State to Abuja,’ she said.

She added that the rescued victims were debriefed and, after the necessary procedures, allowed to continue their journeys.

The police did not disclose the exact number of people abducted during the attack but said efforts were ongoing to locate and rescue those still in captivity.

The command said all available operational and intelligence resources had been deployed to secure the release of the remaining victims.

Families Seek Govt Intervention

In a viral video, a woman identified as Chidimma appealed to the government, the NYSC and Nigerians to help rescue her sister, whom she said was among those abducted.

She said her sister had completed her NYSC orientation in Bayelsa and was posted to Niger State for her primary place of assignment.

According to her, the corps member planned to spend the night in Abuja before proceeding to Niger State when the attackers struck.

Chidimma alleged that the driver of the vehicle was killed during the attack, while her sister and other corps members were taken into the bush.

She said the family had yet to receive positive information about her sister’s whereabouts and appealed for urgent action to secure the victims’ release.

Another man, identified as Chisom Ede, also claimed that his sister was among the abducted corps members.

He called on the NYSC, Federal Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue those still being held.

Another social media user, @ddevilsworkshop, reportedly shared a list said to contain the names of passengers travelling in the Peace Mass Transit vehicle and alleged that the abductors were demanding N20 million as ransom.

Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has gifted N7 million, three laptops and postgraduate scholarships to three outstanding medical students of Bayero University Kano (BUK) in recognition of their academic excellence.

Radda presented the rewards to the beneficiaries during a meeting with them at the Government House.

The beneficiaries are Dr Ismail Abubakar Muhammad, Dr Abba Bashir and Dr Fatima Tukur Sada, who distinguished themselves through exceptional performances at the university’s College of Health Sciences.

Muhammad emerged as the Best Student in Biochemistry, Best Student in Medicine and Surgery and Overall Best Student. He received N3 million, a new Lenovo laptop and sponsorship for postgraduate training in Nuclear Medicine.

FTSE Russell: Oyedele welcomes Nigeria’s reclassification to Frontier market status

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has welcomed Nigeria’s reclassification to Frontier Market status by FTSE Russell.

Oyedele commended the confirmation by global index provider FTSE Russell that Nigeria’s capital market will be reclassified from ‘Unclassified’ to ‘Frontier Market’ status, effective from the opening of trading on Monday, 21 September 2026.

According to a statement signed by the minister, the decision marks Nigeria’s return to the global Frontier Market universe, nearly three years after its exclusion in September 2023, when persistent difficulties with capital repatriation and foreign exchange execution made the market inaccessible to international investors.

‘The reclassification follows sustained improvements in foreign exchange liquidity, capital repatriation and market accessibility, and reflects the cumulative impact of the Federal Government’s macroeconomic and structural reform programme.

‘The reclassification is an important validation of Nigeria’s reform trajectory and a foundation for the next phase of the country’s capital market development. It is a meaningful signal to global capital that our market is open, orderly and improving.

‘It reflects years of disciplined work across government and the private sector to restore confidence in our economy. We see this as a milestone, not a destination. Our ambition remains to build a capital market that is deep, liquid and competitive enough to earn Emerging Market status in the near term.’

The statement commended the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigerian Exchange Group, the Central Securities Clearing System, and all capital market operators and stakeholders for their sustained collaboration in achieving the outcome.

‘Their coordinated efforts spanning regulatory reform, market infrastructure modernisation and investor engagement have been central to restoring Nigeria’s standing among global index providers.

‘Looking ahead, the Federal Government reaffirms its commitment to working with market regulators and institutions to deepen liquidity, broaden participation and strengthen investor protection, with the medium-term goal of positioning Nigeria for progression to Emerging Market status.

‘The Ministry will continue to support policies that enhance the depth, transparency and global competitiveness of Nigeria’s capital market as a key pillar of the nation’s economic transformation agenda,’ the statement stated.

Arsenal Premier League title matters more to me than Grammy – Odumodublvck

Rapper Tochukwu Gbubemi Ojogwu, popularly known as Odumodublvck, has revealed he would forgo a Grammy Award for Arsenal to win the Premier League title.

The artist made the statement in a Capital Xtra interview that has since gone viral.

Odumodublvck, a vocal Arsenal supporter, said a league title for the north London club would mean more to him than the music industry’s top individual honour.

He recounted a conversation with Super Eagles midfielder Eberechi Eze after Arsenal’s defeat to Manchester City.

According to the rapper, he met Eze the next day while filming a New Balance commercial, and Eze assured him Arsenal would still win the league.

‘When we lost to Manchester City, I saw Eze the next day when we were doing a New Balance commercial, and he told me we’re gonna win the league and I said yes, I believe,’ he said.

Asked to choose between winning a Grammy and seeing Arsenal win the Premier League, Odumodublvck said he would pick the latter.

‘So stuff like that for me, winning the league was everything. If you gave me the opportunity to win a Grammy Award or let Arsenal win that Premier League, I would have chosen that Premier League. Take it to the bank,’ he said.

Odumodublvck, who has consistently voiced support for Arsenal across his music and public engagements, reiterated the point by referencing Arsenal’s controversial 2024/25 loss to West Ham.

‘If I had the chance to win a Grammy Award, yeah, say this is a Grammy Award, and they say, let that West Ham goal count or whatever, let them cancel that West Ham goal for Arsenal to win the league, which one will you pick? I would pick that league ahead of the Grammy Award,’ he said.

’Islamic values must guide children’s use of technology’

Parents have been urged to take greater responsibility for their children’s exposure to digital technology, particularly social media, to protect them from moral corruption, addiction and other dangers.

The call was made by Imam Taiye Hassan Mustapha Agaka at a public lecture organised by The Muslim Congress (TMC) in Ajase Ipo, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Speaking on ‘Raising Children in the Digital Age,’ Agaka said technology had created learning opportunities but also exposed children to harmful influences.

He cited internet fraud, popularly known as Yahoo Yahoo, inappropriate skits and other immoral social media content as some of the dangers confronting children.

Agaka said phones, computers, TikTok and other platforms could be used positively or negatively, depending on how children were guided.

‘Technology can be used positively or otherwise. The fact that some people are using it for evil does not mean Muslims should abandon it,’ he said.

He also raised concern over the use of artificial intelligence to produce materials capable of defaming Muslims and Islam.

He urged the government to address negative stereotyping of Muslims through digital content.

Rather than abandoning technology, Agaka urged Muslims to acquire the necessary knowledge and use it positively.

He cited Iran’s technological development as an example of the importance of mastering modern technology.

The cleric warned against social media addiction, saying it had affected the studies of many children and turned some brilliant pupils into dropouts.

He also cited reduced physical activity, cyberbullying and cult recruitment as other dangers.

He urged parents to carefully consider when to give their children phones and ensure proper supervision.

He also encouraged them to use technology to teach their children the Qur’an and Islamic values.

Agaka stressed the importance of sound aqeedah, saying children grounded in the belief that Allah is the ultimate authority would be better equipped to withstand negative influences.

He cautioned parents against allowing love for their children to make them compromise religious duties such as fasting and Salah. He also urged them to follow Islamic guidelines on the interaction between boys and girls, including separation from around age 10.

The imam advised parents to combine discipline with love, saying children should not be disowned because of their shortcomings. He urged them to correct their children while maintaining strong bonds with them.

Tinubu commends 90 percent completion of NLNG’s Train 7 Project

With Nigeria LNG Limited’s Train 7 Project now beyond the 90 per cent completion mark, President Bola Tinubu, has said its successful delivery will be critical to the country’s ambition to build a stronger gas economy, expand exports, create jobs, deepen local capacity and reinforce investor confidence.

President Tinubu spoke at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday, when he received the NLNG delegation, led by Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Adeleye Falade, who briefed him on the progress of Train 7 and the company’s broader role in the gas development agenda.

The briefing, General Manager External Relations and Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall, said covered the status of Train 7 and prospects for future expansion, alongside key issues affecting NLNG’s operations and wider contribution to Nigeria.

These, she added included liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) pricing and accessibility, LPG trucking through the Bonny-Bodo Road corridor, the company’s contribution to public revenue, its investment in the Bonny-Bodo Road and national social-impact projects, and the need for a more enabling business environment.

President Tinubu congratulated Falade on his appointment, saying he was taking charge of NLNG at a defining moment for the company and for Nigeria’s gas ambitions.

With Train 7 nearing completion, the president said NLNG should help convert the country’s gas reserves into jobs, exports, industrial growth and long-term economic value.

‘I congratulate you, Leye, on your appointment. Train 7 is at the centre of our national gas agenda. Its success matters not only to NLNG, but to Nigeria’s economic future,’ the president said.

The president commended the progress recorded on Train 7, describing the project as a benchmark for delivery, partnership, Nigerian Content and investor confidence.

He assured the NLNG management that the Federal Government would continue to improve the business climate, provide greater regulatory clarity and remove bottlenecks to major oil and gas investments.

‘Nigeria is open for business, but it must be business that creates value at home – building capacity, supporting communities, protecting the environment and contributing to national prosperity. NLNG must continue to lead by example,’ he added.

In his remarks, Falade thanked the president for his support and assured him that NLNG remained fully committed to the safe and successful delivery of Train 7 and to the company’s wider responsibility to Nigeria.

‘Your Excellency, we appreciate your administration’s support for NLNG and for the wider gas sector. Train 7 is a strategic national undertaking. With the project now over 90 per cent complete, our immediate priority is to deliver the remaining work safely, efficiently and to the required quality, while preparing the plant for reliable and sustainable operations,’ Falade said.

He said the project would expand Nigeria’s LNG production capacity, support export growth, create opportunities for Nigerian workers and businesses, deepen local participation and generate greater long-term value from the country’s gas resources.

On LPG, Falade restated NLNG’s commitment to supporting the domestic market and improving access to cleaner cooking fuel for Nigerian households and businesses.

Falade called for coordinated action by the Federal Government, regulators and industry operators to expand domestic supply, improve storage and distribution infrastructure, eliminate avoidable costs and create a more transparent and efficient market that would make LPG more accessible and affordable to Nigerians.

‘Improving LPG accessibility is important to Nigeria’s energy transition and to the wellbeing of millions of Nigerian households. NLNG remains committed to supporting the domestic market, but improving affordability requires coordinated action across the entire LPG value chain,’ he said.

Falade asked for the president’s support in addressing ease-of-doing-business challenges, particularly the proliferation of taxes, levies, charges and regulatory demands imposed by different levels and agencies of government.

He said multiple and sometimes conflicting fiscal and regulatory obligations increase operating costs, create uncertainty and can become barriers to existing operations and future investment.

Falade assured the president that NLNG was ready to align more closely with the administration’s development agenda and explore additional opportunities for partnership with the Federal Government.

The meeting ended with a shared commitment to sustain momentum on Train 7 as the project enters its final stretch and to strengthen the partnership between the Federal Government and NLNG.

Both sides agreed to continue working together to support the project’s successful delivery and NLNG’s broader contribution to Nigeria’s gas development and economic growth.

FG makes procurement certification Mandatory for federal civil servants

The Federal Government has approved mandatory professional certification for officers in the Procurement Cadre across the Federal Public Service.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, announced the policy in a circular dated August 26, 2026, directing Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure compliance.

Under the new policy, the National Public Procurement Certification Programme (NPPCP), administered by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), will serve as the mandatory professional certification for officers in the Procurement Cadre.

The move, according to the HCSF, is part of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening professionalism, competence and accountability in the Federal Public Service.

The certification is expected to establish a common professional competency standard for procurement officers while enhancing their capacity in procurement planning and procedures, public procurement laws and regulations, contract management, ethics, compliance, accountability and value for money.

The circular clarified that the Procurement Cadre covers officers formally appointed to the cadre as well as those performing procurement functions in Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments and Agencies in line with approved schemes of service and applicable regulations.

It also stated that the NPPCP certification would complement, rather than replace, academic and other professional qualifications prescribed under existing schemes of service.

Consequently, officers would still be required to meet applicable academic qualifications, years on grade and other conditions for appointment and career progression within the Procurement Cadre.

The HCSF directed all MDAs to ensure that procurement officers obtain the appropriate level of NPPCP certification corresponding to their grade levels and functions, in accordance with the certification framework established by the BPP.

However, serving procurement officers have been granted a 12-month moratorium from the date of the circular to obtain the required certification.

During the transition period, affected officers may remain in their current positions or be appropriately deployed, provided they present verifiable evidence of enrolment in the relevant NPPCP certification programme.

They must also demonstrate satisfactory progress towards obtaining the certification within six months of the circular.

The Federal Government further warned that upon expiration of the 12-month transition period, possession of the relevant NPPCP certification would become a requirement for deployment to positions or roles within the Procurement Cadre across the Federal Public Service.

The BPP is expected to work with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to provide technical information and guidance on the certification programme.

This will include details on the curriculum, certification levels, eligibility and entry requirements, examination and assessment arrangements, competency areas and implementation framework.

The circular, which takes immediate effect, was addressed to senior government officials, including ministers, permanent secretaries, service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, heads of federal commissions and agencies, as well as chief executives of treasury-funded extra-ministerial departments and agencies.

The HCSF directed the affected institutions to bring the new requirement to the attention of all relevant staff for guidance and strict compliance.

Atletico board rules out Alvarez move to Barca

Atletico Madrid’s Board of Directors unanimously backed the club’s stance on Argentina forward Julian Alvarez, ruling out any talks with Barcelona and saying ?there was ‘zero consideration’ of a transfer to the Catalan club.

The statement came day after Barca president Joan Laporta said the Spanish champions were interested in signing Alvarez amid speculation over the 26-year-old’s future.

Alvarez, who helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup, has come ?under fire from Atletico fans after reports linking him with a move ?to Barca. He was booed warming up and after coming on ?in Atletico’s 2-2 home draw with Villarreal on Sunday.

During the 2026 World Cup, Alvarez ?said he had spoken to the Madrid club about a possible transfer to ‘fulfil my ?dream’.

‘Atletico de Madrid is open to standard transfer market negotiations when conducted in a professional, ethical and respectful manner,’ Atletico’s Board of Directors said in Thursday’s statement.

‘We fully stand behind the ?club’s previously communicated position that FC Barcelona failed to meet these requirements and, ?as a result, there will not be any negotiation and there is zero consideration of an ?transfer to Barcelona.’

Atletico had said on Wednesday there was a zero percent chance of selling Alvarez to Barca, adding: ‘This situation isn’t about money, it’s about dignity.’

Laporta, however, said Barcelona’s interest and offer for Alvarez would remain until the transfer window closes ?should Atletico decide to ?sell. He also ?said Barca had met the standards required in its dealings over the Argentine.

Spanish media have also linked Alvarez with a move ?to Premier League champions Arsenal.

Since joining Atletico from Manchester City ?in 2024 ?on a six-year contract, Alvarez has scored 49 goals and provided 17 assists in 107 appearances.

‘Atletico de Madrid trust that our player will understand the decision and will ?remain?focused on helping the club achieve its goals, just ?as he has done during the two seasons he has been defending our colours,’ Atletico said in ?the statement.

Presidency to Atiku: Nigeria’s land borders open, but not uncontrolled

The Presidency has faulted a declaration by Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar to reopen Nigerian land borders that are still shut and introduce policies to ease importation and movement of goods, if elected President.

The ADC presidential candidate in a trending video claimed that the closure of the land borders had forced many businesses to shut down and contributed to the worsening insecurity in the country.

But the Presidency in a statement on Saturday decried the claim of border closure as it declared that ‘the Federal Government announced the reopening of most of the country’s land borders on 14 March 2024, and it has not reversed that position.’

Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President, Media and Public Communication, recalled that on February 14, 2026, President Tinubu opened the Kamba borders in Kebbi State, with attendant economic and diplomatic gains.

The Presidency maintained that effective border management has become an indispensable component of national security.

The statement read: ‘An open border is not an uncontrolled border. Modern border management is designed to facilitate legitimate movement, trade and economic interaction while preventing criminals and terrorist organisations from exploiting the same channels. Effective border governance therefore requires a combination of immigration control, customs administration, intelligence-sharing, surveillance, technology and coordinated security operations.

‘This is particularly important for Nigeria because our northern security environment cannot be divorced from developments across the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin.

‘As Atiku rightly acknowledged, Nigeria shares borders with Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. While the region continues to confront terrorism, violent extremism and transnational organised crime have proven to be domestic disturbances that have found border porosity as a channel for their export to other countries.

‘The security reality is compelling. The Global Terrorism Index 2026 indicates that approximately 41 per cent of terrorist attacks occur within 50 kilometres of an international border, while about 64 per cent occur within 100 kilometres.

Borderlands are particularly vulnerable where difficult terrain, limited state presence and weak coordination create opportunities for terrorist organisations to operate.

‘The implications for Nigeria are obvious. As domestic insurgencies evolve into increasingly networked and transnational terrorist threats, effective border management becomes an indispensable component of national security. Terrorists and criminal networks exploit sovereign boundaries precisely because security forces cannot simply pursue them across international borders without appropriate cooperation and legal frameworks.

‘Consequently, Nigeria’s focus on the Northeast and Northwest corridors, including the coordinated deployment of the Armed Forces and other security institutions, should not be misconstrued as evidence of closed borders. It reflects responsible border security.

‘The former Vice President, as an experienced politician who has previously occupied the second-highest office in the country, should know this distinction.

‘While political contestation is legitimate in a democracy, statements about national security and the Nigerian economy should be grounded in facts, institutional understanding, and a credible alternative policy agenda.

‘What Nigerians should reasonably expect from a presidential aspirant is not a slogan about ‘opening borders,’ but a detailed explanation of how his administration would improve border surveillance, strengthen intelligence-sharing with neighbouring states, modernise customs and immigration operations, deploy technology, protect border communities and deepen regional cooperation against terrorism and organised crime.

‘President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration remains open to scrutiny and should be judged by measurable outcomes in security, economic recovery, border management and citizens’ welfare. But such scrutiny must be based on facts.

‘Nigeria’s borders must be open to legitimate commerce and movement, but secure against terrorists and criminals. They must be monitored with technology, led by intelligence, and integrated into the country’s broader national-security and economic strategy.

‘That is the policy conversation Nigerians deserve.

‘But, increasingly, the former Vice President’s public outings and policy pronouncements raise a more fundamental question: what new and credible contribution does he intend to make to Nigeria’s development that is not already contained in the reform trajectory of the present administration?

‘Rather than presenting Nigerians with a coherent alternative, Atiku appears increasingly preoccupied with promising to reverse, reopen, or rename initiatives already being implemented.’

Experts urge Africans to take sun protection seriously

Across much of Africa, sunshine is an everyday feature of life, yet many people pay more attention to heat exhaustion and dehydration than to another, invisible threat: ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

UV radiation cannot be seen or felt, but prolonged exposure can cause lasting damage to the skin and eyes. Its intensity varies according to location, season, altitude, cloud cover and time of day. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers a UV Index of 11 or higher ‘extreme’ and recommends sun protection whenever the index reaches 3 or above.

Exposure can be intensified when UV rays are reflected from surfaces such as sand, water and concrete. Although darker skin contains higher levels of protective melanin, it is not immune to damage. Excessive UV exposure has been linked to skin cancer, cataracts and immune-system damage, while the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies solar UV radiation as a Group 1 carcinogen.

Cosmetic dermatologist Dr Paula Fakhre, a graduate of St. George’s University, said many people mistakenly associate sun protection only with beach outings.

‘UV exposure is something we live with every single day,’ she said, explaining that driving, walking between buildings or sitting close to a window can all contribute to cumulative exposure.

Fakhre said UVA radiation can penetrate glass and reach deeper layers of the skin without causing immediate pain. Over time, the damage can contribute to wrinkles, dark spots and premature ageing.

She advised people to choose broad-spectrum sunscreen suited to their skin type, apply sufficient quantities and reapply regularly.

Understanding UVA, UVB and UVC

The sun produces three types of UV radiation. UVC has the shortest wavelength and highest energy, but almost all of it is absorbed by the ozone layer before reaching the Earth’s surface.

UVB has a medium wavelength and penetrates the outer layer of the skin. It is the primary cause of sunburn and directly damages DNA in skin cells. It also contributes significantly to non-melanoma skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

UVA penetrates deeper into the dermis, where it can damage collagen and elastin. It contributes to photoaging, suppresses immune function and plays an important role in melanoma development. Unlike UVB, UVA passes through window glass and can expose people indoors or inside vehicles.

Understanding SPF

SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, measures protection against UVB and sunburn. SPF 30 blocks approximately 97 per cent of UVB rays, while SPF 50 blocks about 98 per cent. SPF does not, however, measure UVA protection.

Consumers should therefore look for products labelled ‘broad spectrum’ and, where available, a UVA rating or PA classification.

The protection stated on sunscreen labels assumes an application of 2 milligrams per square centimetre of skin. However, many people use only about half that amount, significantly reducing the protection they receive.

For the face and neck, the two-finger method is commonly recommended, while approximately 30-35 millilitres may be required for full-body coverage.

Sunscreen also needs regular reapplication because products can break down with sunlight or be removed by sweat, clothing and towel drying. No sunscreen is completely waterproof.

As UV Awareness Month highlights the importance of sun safety, experts are urging people across Africa to look beyond temperature and recognise the invisible risks posed by sunlight. Consistent use of broad-spectrum sunscreen, protective clothing, shade and other sun-safety measures can help reduce preventable skin and eye damage while allowing people to enjoy the outdoors safely.