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The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has refuted claims by a former Director General of the agency, Temisan Omatseye, that the $700m Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) has been converted to naira and is no longer being held in United States dollars.

In a statement released on Sunday, NIMASA said this claim is incorrect and does not reflect the actual status of the CVFF.

The NIMASA statement reads, ‘The attention of the Management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has been drawn to reports circulating in some sections of the media alleging that the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) has been converted to naira and is no longer being held in United States dollars.

‘The reports attributed this claim to a former Director-General of NIMASA, Mr Omatseye, who reportedly alleged that the conversion was undertaken to enable the Fund to earn higher interest rates.

‘For the avoidance of doubt, this claim is incorrect and does not reflect the actual status of the CVFF.

‘The revenue streams accruing to the CVFF are denominated in different currencies. Accordingly, funds remitted in United States dollars are retained in dollars with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), while contributions remitted in naira are retained in the local currency. There has been no conversion of the dollar-denominated component of the CVFF to naira, contrary to the allegation.

‘Meanwhile, the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency, Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, is working assiduously towards ensuring the imminent disbursement of the Fund to qualified beneficiaries.

‘The Agency has received applications from eligible beneficiaries, some of whom are currently undergoing the required documentation processes with their preferred Primary Lending Institutions (PLIs). NIMASA remains optimistic that the disbursement process will commence shortly.

‘The Honourable Minister’s commitment to ensuring the disbursement of the CVFF is consistent with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which seeks to strengthen indigenous capacity, empower local operators and enhance the competitiveness of Nigeria’s maritime industry.

‘In view of the foregoing, maritime stakeholders, industry operators and members of the public are advised to disregard the misleading reports suggesting that the CVFF has been converted from dollars to naira.’

Oyo Police Command has confirmed the arrest and recovery of stolen items worth over N16m from a suspected serial burglar, identified as one Nasiru Abiodun, within the Ejiooku/Iyana Offa area of Ibadan.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ayanlade Olayinka, in a statement, said the suspected burglar was arrested on Saturday following a report received at the Maku Base of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) from concerned residents of Oyewole Zone 2, Ile-Igbon, Ejiooku/Iyana Offa area of Ibadan.

He stated that the operatives apprehended the suspect at a residential apartment with a sack bag containing house cables and other valuable items estimated at ?3,000,000 (Three Million Naira).

‘Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime, admitting to having burgled a total of four different residential apartments within the area, carting away house cables, mobile phones, motorcycle batteries and other household valuables.

‘The total estimated value of the stolen items across the identified incidents amounts to ?16,220,000 (Sixteen Million, Two Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira), some of which have already been recovered from his possession.

‘Following the suspect’s confession and the revelations arising from the investigation, operatives of the Unit visited the identified crime scenes to establish relevant facts and advance the investigation.’

The police added that efforts have been intensified to recover the remaining stolen items and apprehend all individuals suspected of receiving the stolen property.

‘In view of the possibility of other unreported incidents linked to the suspect, the Command appeals to anyone within the Ejiooku/Iyana Offa, Ile-Igbon and adjoining communities whose residence may have been burgled in recent times to come forward and report such incidents to the nearest police station or the Maku Base of the Violent Crime Response Unit.

‘Such information will assist ongoing investigations and facilitate the recovery of additional stolen property.’

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) senatorial candidate for Benue South, Dr. David Adejo Abraham Olofu, has unveiled a 12-point legislative agenda anchored on People, Power, Prosperity and Progress (PPPP), promising a new direction for the district if elected to the Senate in 2027.

Olofu unveiled the agenda at the weekend during the flag-off of the ADC zonal campaign in Oju Local Government Area of Benue State.

Addressing party leaders and supporters, he said the 2027 election presented an opportunity to redefine political representation and accelerate development across the nine local government areas in the senatorial district.

The former Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning said his proposed legislative blueprint was informed by his experience in public service and interventions in education, healthcare and economic empowerment.

To demonstrate his commitment to the welfare of his constituents, Olofu highlighted three major intervention programmes through which he said he had committed millions of naira to supporting vulnerable residents and young entrepreneurs.

Under the Apa Legacy Sustainability Initiative (ALSI), he said more than 300 students from the nine local government areas had benefited from an annual scholarship scheme of ?100,000 per beneficiary.

The programme, which began in 2024, has attracted ?30 million in funding over three years.

He also disclosed that he committed ?10 million in November 2025 to St. Helen’s Specialist Hospital, Otukpo, to offset the medical bills of pregnant women from Benue South, irrespective of their religious, political or ethnic backgrounds.

Similarly, through his Wealth and Empowerment in Benue South (WEBS) initiative, Olofu said beneficiaries had received grants of ?200,000 each, with ?10 million earmarked annually for five years. He added that rural women, particularly widows, and small-scale entrepreneurs had also benefited from the scheme.

The ADC candidate further disclosed that he had introduced an investment-based empowerment programme through which more than 200 constituents were reportedly supported with credits to acquire 50 units each of Dangote Refinery shares. He described the initiative as an effort to promote asset ownership and long-term wealth creation.

Unveiling his 12-point agenda, Olofu identified education, healthcare, agriculture, enterprise development, digital skills, infrastructure, local government autonomy, security, equitable resource allocation and institutional accountability as key priorities.

He promised to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) education, facilitate the establishment of science laboratories at local government headquarters, build public libraries and expand scholarship, bursary and mentorship opportunities for students.

To address youth unemployment, he proposed the establishment of ICT hubs and digital skills centres to equip young people with competencies in software development, data management and online business.

Olofu said his experience as Benue State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning between 2015 and 2023, Chairman of the Forum of State Commissioners for Finance and Senior Technical Adviser on Fiscal Policy to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum would strengthen his capacity to attract development projects and ensure the implementation of approved interventions.

As part of his proposed accountability framework, he announced plans to establish two non-partisan institutions: the Benue South Peoples Assembly (BSPA), to aggregate community needs and monitor projects, and the Benue South People’s Council, comprising traditional rulers, professionals, women, youths, religious and socio-cultural groups.

Olofu, who described his decision to join the ADC as a choice for a new political direction, cautioned that changing political parties alone could not transform people’s lives without quality leadership and measurable results.

He appealed for unity among the nine local government areas, saying no community should be left behind in the quest for development.

He also promised regular consultations with constituents, public reports on his legislative activities and budget implementation, as well as greater citizen participation in monitoring constituency projects.

‘Representation is service, not ownership,’ he declared.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Campaign Advisory Council, John Ngbede, praised the large turnout at the campaign flag-off and expressed confidence in Olofu’s capacity to provide effective representation for the district.

Ngbede described the candidate as an experienced public administrator with the capacity and track record to deliver meaningful development. He urged voters across the nine local government areas to support all ADC candidates in the 2027 elections.

The ADC State Chairman, Chief Samson Okwu, also thanked supporters for their turnout, describing it as evidence of the party’s growing political strength in the senatorial district.

Okwu, a former three-term member of the House of Representatives representing Oju/Obi Federal Constituency, expressed confidence that the ADC would defeat its political opponents in the forthcoming elections.

In his remarks, the ADC governorship candidate in Benue State, Hon. Heman Hembe, urged voters to reject the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the party’s government of inflicting hardship on Nigerians.

Hembe also criticised Governor Hyacinth Alia over what he described as the state government’s failure to deliver commensurate development despite substantial allocations from the Federation Account.

He called on Benue voters to support the ADC in 2027, promising a different approach to governance.

Similarly, the Director-General of the Olofu Campaign Organisation, Chief Chris Adaba Abah, urged the people of Benue South to support all ADC candidates in the 2027 elections.

The City Boy Movement has intensified its nationwide mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections, with its Patron, Seyi Tinubu, declaring that the organisation is consolidating its existing structures, expanding its national footprint and strengthening grassroots engagement across the country.

In a statement issued on Friday by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the movement, Arabinrin Aderonke, Tinubu said the mobilisation was already underway, describing the movement’s expanding activities as a deliberate effort to build a formidable national network ahead of the next electoral cycle.

‘The City Boy Movement is already on the ground, mobilising, organising and expanding its national reach ahead of the 2027 general elections. What we are witnessing is a deliberate effort to build on the structures already established, deepen grassroots engagement and strengthen our presence across the country,’ he said.

The movement’s activities have taken it to the South-East, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba states, among other parts of the federation, with engagements extending to grassroots communities. The spread of its activities reflects its stated commitment to building a national platform that reaches beyond conventional political centres and engages communities at the local level.

Tinubu, who expressed confidence in the commitment and determination of members, said the task ahead required focus, purpose and collective responsibility. He noted that the movement’s progress would depend not merely on its visibility but on the strength of its organisation and the dedication of its members.

‘As Patron, I am confident in the commitment, energy and determination of our members. We understand the task ahead, and we are approaching it with focus, purpose and a clear sense of responsibility,’ he said.

A lawyer and entrepreneur, Seyi Tinubu is the founder of Loatsad Promomedia, an outdoor advertising company, and has been associated with youth-focused initiatives and philanthropy. His role as Patron places him at the forefront of the movement’s leadership and organisational direction.

Reaffirming the movement’s resolve, he said: ‘City Boy is not a movement of empty declarations. We are building, we are mobilising, and we are taking the work seriously. Let there be no doubt: City Boy means business.’

The City Boy Movement, which emerged as a youth-oriented political mobilisation platform during the 2023 election cycle, has continued to develop its organisational presence across the country. It says its current mobilisation is directed at supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 and delivering the mandate.

The incoming Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mr Omoboyede Olusanya, has called for a shift in Nigeria’s economic priorities from headline growth figures to measurable improvements in employment, productivity, incomes and living standards.

Olusanya said economic growth must translate into better livelihoods and expanded opportunities for Nigerians, stressing that macroeconomic stability alone was insufficient to guarantee shared prosperity.

He made the call while outlining his vision for the NESG at the closing of the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit (NES#32), held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

Speaking under the theme, ‘Growth that Works: Delivering Jobs, Productivity and Shared Prosperity,’ the incoming chairman introduced ‘Growth that Delivers’ as the guiding principle of his tenure.

He said the country’s economic progress should be assessed by the extent to which farmers earn more from improved productivity, manufacturers reduce production costs, graduates secure decent jobs and businesses access affordable financing.

According to him, children must also have access to adequate nutrition and healthcare to enable them to thrive. ‘Growth that delivers is growth whose impact is strongly felt,’ he said.

Olusanya acknowledged that recent economic reforms had helped restore macroeconomic stability but maintained that the country must move beyond stabilisation to accelerate productivity, expand productive investments, reduce poverty and improve the welfare of citizens.

‘Bridging the distance between macroeconomic stability and accelerated growth, and between accelerated growth and improved lives and livelihoods, is the task before us all,’ he stated.

To achieve this, he outlined five commitments that would guide the NESG’s activities during his tenure.

These include accountability, evidence-based policymaking, investment mobilisation, expansion of economic opportunities and institutional sustainability.

On accountability, Olusanya pledged to ensure that every priority commitment emerging from the summit has a designated owner, timeline and measurable performance indicators.

He said the group would build on its Accountability Framework and publish progress reports ahead of the 33rd Nigerian Economic Summit.

On evidence-based policymaking, he promised to strengthen research and policy intelligence to develop practical, rigorous and costed recommendations aligned with the National Development Plan 2026-2030.

He also pledged to work with government, financial institutions and development partners to transform policy proposals into bankable projects and mobilise investments into agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, technology, entrepreneurship and skills development.

The incoming chairman further emphasised the need to expand economic opportunities across all regions, particularly for micro, small and medium enterprises and businesses operating within the informal economy.

He said the NESG would also broaden its membership, increase the participation of women and young people, protect its independence and strengthen its institutional sustainability.

Calling for collective action, Olusanya urged governments at all levels to sustain and improve ongoing reforms, reduce the costs of electricity, logistics and doing business, and maintain predictable policies supported by clear and measurable commitments.

He challenged private-sector operators to invest, innovate, develop workforce skills, pay fair wages and create productive employment opportunities.

He also urged young Nigerians to build enterprises, acquire relevant skills and hold institutions accountable, while encouraging civil society organisations to monitor policy commitments and amplify the voices of underserved communities.

Olusanya called on development partners to align their interventions with Nigeria’s priorities and focus on financing measurable outcomes.

He equally advocated stronger trade and investment relations with the international community and closer collaboration among academia, industry and policymakers to equip Nigerians with relevant skills for the changing economy.

Acknowledging the contributions of the outgoing NESG Chairman, Mr Niyi Yusuf, Olusanya commended his leadership during a period of economic transition and reforms.

He described the leadership transition as a continuation of the organisation’s longstanding mission, which began in 1993.

He reaffirmed the NESG’s commitment to remaining an independent, non-partisan, private-sector-led and evidence-driven organisation that engages constructively with government to advance national prosperity.

‘Our allegiance is to national prosperity and not to any administration,’ he said, emphasising the importance of sustained public-private sector collaboration in building a stronger Nigerian economy.

Olusanya thanked the NESG Board, members, Chief Executive Officer, Dr Tayo Aduloju, management, staff, volunteers, sponsors, partners and delegates for their contributions to the successful hosting of the summit.

He urged stakeholders to translate the discussions and recommendations from the summit into concrete actions, stressing that delivering economic prosperity required shared responsibility among government, businesses and citizens.

‘Growth that works must become growth that delivers. Let us deliver,’ he said.

Association of Nigeria Railway Senior Citizens (ANRSC) has raised the alarm that over 50,000 former workers of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) are currently homeless, while others are facing eviction from their official quarters due to the refusal of the NRC Management to implement a 2004/2005 Monetization Policy of the Federal Government.

Addressing Transportation Journalists over the weekend, the National Chairman of ANRSC, Comrade Segun Esan, stated that, ‘It is important to mention here that the federal government introduced the Monetization Policy in 2004/2005 for two major reasons.

‘The first reason is to relieve the federal government of the huge financial burden of maintaining these government quarters, vehicles, and domestic staff across the country. These quarters are to be sold to the occupants on owner-occupier basis, whether serving or retired, at discounted and affordable prices.

‘The second reason for the promulgation and implementation of this gazetted monetization policy is to use the reality of the existing quarters to provide homes for the federal government workers and their families.

‘And the White Paper and the SGF Circular Ref. No. SGF/OP/I/S.3/VII/2003 was very clear about the monetization: To convert all government quarters to owner-occupier basis by selling them to the legal occupants.

‘That was the purpose. It was a welfare and retirement security policy. It has been fully implemented in all the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of the federal government, which includes NNPC, CBN, NPA, FAAN, Federal Ministry of Aviation, Department of Meteorological Services, and even in the Judiciary.

‘Today, Judges and staff of the Judiciary are proud owners of their former official quarters. Their workers have peace after retirement. And we wonder why the Nigerian Railway Corporation is different. Why are railway workers singled out for punishment by its own management?

‘This is where we must speak with pains, but with facts. The past Management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, by itself, commenced the implementation of some part of the monetization process. They monetised and shared vehicles – official cars- and they monetised furniture, paying furniture allowances to themselves.

‘They benefited robustly from the policy. But when it came to the most important aspect – the quarters where the poor retirees live – they refused to implement it. This is selective justice. You cannot take your own vehicles and furniture under monetization and deny the retirees their quarters under the same policy. That is injustice and oppression.

‘Successive Managements since 2004 have turned our quarters into a cash cow. Our quarters have been sold secretly to third parties, to money-bags and cronies. They have been leased out at exorbitant rates while the legal occupants – retirees – are being evicted. They used the period of interminable litigation as a window to continue selling our heritage.

‘On the 6th of January, 2016, Honourable Justice Babatunde Adejumo, then the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), in Suit No. NICN/LA/22/2011, delivered a landmark judgment in our favour after being in court for five painful years. The Court affirmed that we are entitled to own our quarters under the Monetization Policy. Instead of obeying that judgment, NRC Management in 2016 ran to the Court of Appeal and has kept the case there since 2016 – 10 years down the line now.

‘In its glorious days, the Nigerian Railway was the highest employer of labour in Africa, with over 50,000 workers spread across the North, North-East, North-Central, North-West, Western, Eastern and Lagos Districts of the Corporation. Till today those 50,000 workers created millions of families all over the country who today form a critical voting population in every state of Nigeria.

‘It is on the premise of this injustice and deprivation that we appeal to our President and father, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for help. We know that our President is a compassionate and just leader with a lot of respect for the retirees.

‘We implore His Excellency to, please, direct the implementation of the monetization policy. The houses already exist – they are the quarters we live in. With the advancement in technology, provision of quarters for civil servants is no longer in vogue all over the world. The government has no business keeping the quarters of a privatised and already liberalised railway industry to itself.

‘The quarters are to be sold as expressly directed by the policy, while the government, through the Corporation, concentrates on providing rail transport services to the nation.’

Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has been dragged before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja over its alleged refusal and failure to release the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the asset declaration form submitted by the Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Party (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi Gregory.

In a notification letter dated 30th October 2026 and made available to newsmen in Abuja over the weekend, counsel to the plaintiff, Fort Legal and Co., informed the Chairman of the CCB of a pending suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2504/2026, between Dr. Arabambi Abayomi v. The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and 3 Others before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

According to the letter signed by O. Peter Asimegbe, Esq., the suit concerns the CCB’s refusal to issue the CTC of Peter Obi’s asset declaration form, submitted to the Bureau in 2006 or at any other time, covering the period of 17th March 2006 to 17th March 2014, when he served as Governor of Anambra State under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The letter reads in part: ‘Pursuant to our client instruction, we hereby bring to your notice our client pending legal suit against you for your failure and refusal to release to our client the Certified True Copy of the asset declaration form of Mr. Peter Obi Gregory, he submitted to your office containing his assets declaration particulars and all attached documents to the asset declaration form he submitted to your office in 2006 prior and when he was sworn in as the Governor of Anambra State for the period of 17th March, 2006 to 17th March, 2014 when he served as the Governor of Anambra State under the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).’

According to the document, the claimant, Comrade Abayomi Arabambi, is described as a Nigerian citizen and a registered voter in Ogun State. His counsel said the suit is predicated on his legal right under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, and the Freedom of Information Act 2011.

The letter addressed to the Chairman of the CCB further stated that: ‘In the said suit, the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the Chairman CCB are the 1st and 2nd Respondents. The suit is predicated on our client’s legal right under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and the Freedom of Information Act 2011, and we urge your office to take the processes herein annexed as notification of the pending suit filed by our client at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

‘Find attached the Originating Motion duly filed on 15th day of October, 2026 and all its accompanied documents and processes as annexure A for ease of reference.’

The CCB and its Chairman are listed as the 1st and 2nd Respondents in the suit. The letter urged the Bureau to treat the annexed processes as notification of the pending suit filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

It added that the Originating Motion was duly filed on 15th October 2026, with all accompanying documents and processes attached as Annexure A for ease of reference.

Itchy skin is a common complaint. Sometimes it is caused by something as simple as dry skin or an insect bite and settles within a short time. In other cases, persistent itching may be a sign of a skin condition, an allergic reaction or an underlying health problem.

The medical term for itching is pruritus. It can affect a small area of the body or occur all over the skin. Some people may also develop redness, rashes, bumps, dryness or peeling, while others may experience severe itching without any obvious change on the skin.

Finding the cause is important because scratching alone may provide temporary relief while making the skin more irritated or increasing the risk of infection.

In this article, Tribune Online highlights 10 common causes of itchy skin you should know.

Dry skin

Dry skin is one of the simplest and most common causes of itching. When the skin loses too much moisture, it can become rough, tight, flaky and irritated. The itching may be worse during periods of dry weather or after taking long, hot baths.

Frequent washing, harsh soaps and some skincare products can also strip the skin of its natural oils. Using a gentle, fragrance-free moisturiser regularly, particularly after bathing, can help restore moisture and reduce irritation.

Eczema

Eczema refers to a group of conditions that cause the skin to become dry, itchy and inflamed. Atopic dermatitis is a common form. It may cause patches of dry, red or darker-looking skin, depending on a person’s skin tone. Scratching can make the affected areas sore and may cause the skin to thicken over time.

Eczema can flare up in response to different triggers, including certain soaps, fabrics, heat, sweating, stress and allergens. People with frequent or severe flare-ups may need treatment prescribed by a healthcare professional.

Allergic reactions

An allergic reaction can cause sudden itching, often accompanied by a rash or raised patches known as hives. Possible triggers include certain foods, medicines, insect bites, cosmetics, soaps, detergents and other substances.

Hives may appear and disappear within hours, with new areas becoming affected as others settle. A mild allergic rash may resolve after the trigger is avoided, but medical advice may be needed if the reaction keeps returning.

If itching or hives occur together with swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, dizziness or fainting, emergency medical care is needed because these can be signs of a severe allergic reaction.

Insect bites

Mosquitoes, bedbugs, fleas and other insects can cause localised itching after biting the skin.

The affected area may become red, swollen or develop a small raised bump. In some people, the reaction may be more noticeable and last for several days.

Avoiding scratching is important because broken skin can become infected. If several household members develop itchy bites, particularly after sleeping, it may be worth checking bedding, mattresses and other areas where insects may be hiding.

Scabies

Scabies is caused by tiny mites that burrow into the upper layer of the skin. It usually causes intense itching, which is often worse at night. Small bumps or a rash may appear, particularly between the fingers, around the wrists, waist, armpits and other areas where the mites commonly affect the skin.

Because scabies can spread through close skin-to-skin contact, more than one person in a household may become affected. Treatment usually involves specific medicines designed to kill the mites. People should not rely on ordinary anti-itch creams alone if scabies is suspected.

Fungal skin infections

Fungal infections can cause itching, scaling and changes in the appearance of the skin.

Ringworm is one example. Despite its name, it is caused by a fungus rather than a worm. It can produce a circular or ring-shaped rash that may gradually spread.

Fungal infections can affect different parts of the body, including the groin, feet and scalp.

Keeping affected areas clean and dry can help, but appropriate antifungal treatment may be necessary. Using steroid creams on a fungal infection without medical advice can sometimes make the infection worse or harder to recognise.

Contact dermatitis

Sometimes the skin becomes itchy and inflamed after coming into contact with a substance that irritates it or triggers an allergic reaction. This is known as contact dermatitis.

Common triggers include soaps, detergents, perfumes, cosmetics, hair products, cleaning chemicals and some metals.

The rash usually develops in the area that came into contact with the substance. It may cause redness, itching, swelling, dryness or small blisters. Identifying and avoiding the trigger is an important part of managing contact dermatitis.

Liver or kidney problems

Persistent itching without an obvious skin rash can sometimes be associated with problems affecting internal organs. Certain liver diseases can cause itching because substances normally processed or excreted by the liver build up in the body.

Advanced kidney disease can also cause widespread itching, particularly when the kidneys are no longer effectively removing waste products from the blood. This does not mean that unexplained itching automatically indicates liver or kidney disease. There are many possible causes.

However, widespread or persistent itching without a clear skin problem, particularly when accompanied by other symptoms such as yellowing of the eyes or skin, swelling, changes in urination or unusual tiredness, should be medically assessed.

Medicines

Some medicines can cause itching as a side effect or trigger an allergic reaction. The reaction may occur shortly after starting a medicine, although not every drug-related skin reaction happens immediately. Medicines can sometimes cause itching with or without a visible rash.

Anyone who develops widespread itching, hives or swelling after starting a new medicine should contact a healthcare professional for advice. If there is difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, severe dizziness or fainting, emergency treatment is required.

People should not stop essential prescription medicines without discussing the problem with a doctor or pharmacist, unless they are experiencing a severe allergic reaction and have been instructed to seek emergency care.

10. Other underlying health conditions

Persistent itching can sometimes occur alongside other medical conditions. Thyroid disorders, diabetes, certain blood disorders and some neurological conditions can cause or contribute to itching in some people. In rare cases, widespread unexplained itching can occur with certain cancers, particularly some blood cancers.

Again, itching alone does not mean that a person has one of these diseases. Most cases have more common explanations. The important point is that unexplained itching that persists, keeps returning or is accompanied by other unusual symptoms should not simply be ignored.

General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has denied leading a protest against former President Goodluck Jonathan over insecurity and economic challenges, saying he carried a placard during a prayer walk, not a political demonstration.

He gave the clarification during his sermon at the church’s November Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, accusing some journalists of misrepresenting the circumstances surrounding photographs of him holding a placard.

Adeboye said the photographs, which had circulated in the media, were used to portray him as having protested against Jonathan, who left office in 2015.

The cleric explained that the placard was carried during a prayer walk organised in response to a directive by the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), asking churches to organise prayer walks around their locations.

Adeboye said the exercise took place in Ebute Metta in 2020, during the second term of former President Muhammadu Buhari, rather than in 2015 when Jonathan was still in office.

He said, ‘Recently, just one mischievous somebody wrote in the papers or said somehow, Pastor Adeboye is a very wicked man. After all, we know that not too long ago, he carried a placard against President Goodluck Jonathan. Everybody said yes, and they brought out the picture of me dressed in white and green, carrying a placard.

‘Everybody said, yes, see him. When I heard about it, I said, me? I smiled. True, I carried a placard. I can’t deny that. It was not a protest. It was a prayer walk. We wanted to pray. The CAN chairman said all churches should do a prayer walk near their churches. That’s what I did in the Ebutemeta. A walk is a walk. Whether prayer walk or…I did it because the CAN President said, ‘do show.”

The cleric’s clarification comes amid public discussions about his perceived support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration, with some critics suggesting that his position is influenced by shared Yoruba heritage and the fact that the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, is an ordained assistant pastor of the RCCG.

Oluremi Tinubu was ordained in August 2018 during the church’s 66th Annual Convention at the Old Arena along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Adeboye also faulted the media over what he described as a failure to investigate claims before publication, recalling lessons on investigative journalism during his undergraduate days at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in the 1960s.

He said journalists were taught to establish the facts surrounding a story rather than rely on appearances or unverified claims.

Recalling how he reacted when he first encountered the reports, he said many Nigerians accepted the narrative without questioning its accuracy.

‘I remember when I was in Nsukka in the 1960s. In those days, if you were a student of any subject at Nsukka, you were free to go to any faculty and take a course or two, just for the enlargement of your knowledge. I remember in those days, in the Department of Journalism, when you go there and you check-I can’t remember the number now-whether Journalism 101, they talked about something called investigative journalism.

‘That means that things don’t appear as they may seem. Investigate, if you have a story, before you take it to the press. And I smiled. And the whole country swallowed that. But I carried the placard in 2020. Jonathan ceased to be president in 2015. I carried the placard for five years in Buhari’s second term. But a journalist twisted it. I said I did what I did in 2015. And everybody swallowed it,’ he said.

The outgoing 13th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale, has described the institution as strong but not perfect, saying more work is needed to achieve its ambition of becoming a world-class university.

Adebowale spoke at a valedictory ceremony organised to mark the completion of his tenure at Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, where the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr Olumuyiwa Enitan Caleb, and other stakeholders paid tributes to his leadership.

The ceremony, themed ‘Celebrating Leadership, Legacy and Service,’ attracted government officials, university administrators, union leaders, religious representatives, security agencies and community leaders.

Speaking as chairman of the occasion, Caleb commended Adebowale for preserving the university’s heritage while building what he described as a resilient and responsive institution capable of addressing emerging challenges.

He said Adebowale’s leadership aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its emphasis on strong institutions and a knowledge-driven economy.

Caleb also disclosed that the Federal Civil Service was undergoing comprehensive reforms aimed at improving efficiency, productivity, accountability and citizen-centred service delivery, adding that the university system would benefit from the reforms.

In his valedictory address, Adebowale said his administration had prioritised the welfare of members of the university community, insisting that no institution could fulfil its mission without caring for its people.

‘Leadership is a burden. Every decision carries the weight of lives and destinies. I have led by listening to the community and through consultations. I have insisted on due process, defended autonomy and governed with integrity,’ he said.

He added that the university continued to attract outstanding students and scholars, while partnerships with government agencies had helped ensure that its research addressed national needs.

However, the outgoing vice-chancellor acknowledged that funding remained a major challenge, stressing that sustained investment was necessary to provide excellent infrastructure and strengthen the institution’s global standing.

In a goodwill message, the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ibadan branch, Dr Adefemi Afolabi, represented by his vice-chairman, Dr Tayo Ajibade, commended Adebowale for his disposition towards staff welfare.

Afolabi urged the incoming 14th Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olapegba, a former ASUU executive in the university, to sustain attention to staff welfare as he prepares to take over the institution.