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Drinking water is key to optimal health and is essential. Your body is about 60 to 70 percent water, and water helps provide a balance of body fluids, keeps your skin looking healthy, assists your kidney health, and helps maintain normal bowel function.

In this article, Tribune Online highlights five health benefits of drinking water

1. Boosts memory and mood

Studies have shown that even slight dehydration can affect brain performance, leading to poor memory and mood changes in both children and adults. Proper hydration supports not just physical health but also mental well-being. In fact, inadequate water intake has been linked to increased anxiety and a higher likelihood of headaches or migraines in susceptible people.

2. Prevents constipation

Water plays an essential role in digestion by keeping bowel movements regular. Staying hydrated reduces the chances of constipation across all age groups, from children to the elderly.

3. Promotes urinary system health

Insufficient hydration may increase the likelihood of developing kidney stones or experiencing repeated episodes. Adequate water intake, on the other hand, helps lower the risk of bladder infections and urinary tract infections (UTIs).

4. Supports weight management

Drinking water before meals can help reduce food intake by creating a feeling of fullness. This natural appetite-suppressing effect may contribute to weight control and even weight loss in some individuals.

5. Helps in blood circulation

Our body plasma is around 90% water, so it can’t do its job properly if dehydrated. Without enough water, the blood will become thicker and more concentrated. This means the heart has to work that little bit harder to pump it around your body.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State says the South-West will not abandon President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

The APC Spokesman, Mr Seye Oladejo, in a statement on Saturday in Lagos, was reacting to a comment credited to supporters of a PDP presidential aspirant, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, that the South-West would not re-elect Tinubu in 2027.

Oladejo said that Olawepo-Hashim had never built a durable political structure nor demonstrated the electoral muscle required to win a national contest.

According to him, Tinubu will crush all gang-ups against his re-election in 2027.

Oladejo said, ‘Olawepo-Hashim is a perennial aspirant and convenient mascot for opposition desperation.

‘He (Olawepo-Hashim) may parade endorsements in tiny rallies and press statements, but endorsements on photocopied letterheads do not translate to votes.

‘In the unlikely event that he somehow emerges as the presidential candidate of the free-falling PDP – a party apparently bankrupt of depth in both human and material resources – he will be roundly beaten at the poll.

‘That is not bravado; it is political arithmetic. The PDP’s hollow theatrics and recycled claimants will not rescue a party that has for years relied on sentiment and nostalgia rather than competence and delivery.’

He said Olawepo-Hashim’s attempt to caricature the Tinubu administration’s record was ‘particularly distasteful and unacceptable.’

According to him, Tinubu’s administration is laying visible and irreversible foundations across infrastructure, education, agriculture, security, and fiscal reforms.

‘Those who traffic in selective statistics and currency rhetoric do so because they cannot defend the alternative: a return to the waste, arrogance, and economic mismanagement that nearly extinguished our nation’s potential.

‘Nigerians will not be hoodwinked into trading present progress for recycled excuses.

‘To the political jobbers behind this noise: stop insulting the intelligence of Lagos residents and Nigerians,’ he said.

He said that the opposition should not convert press releases into governance competence.

‘In 2027, voters will choose continuity with a president who has delivered direction and results – not the empty spectacle offered by political tourists.

‘The South-West will not abandon its own for a project of theatrical ambition without substance,’ he added.

The family of the late former Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in Ondo State, Otunba Bamidele Akingboye, has renewed its call for justice over his sudden and controversial death.

The Akingboye/Betiku family, who made this call after a meeting held in Okitipupa, headquarters of Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state, expressed sadness over the incident and reaffirmed confidence in the government and the police to unravel the mystery surrounding his death.

In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the family described the late businessman as a man who rose from humble beginnings to become a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist, but lamented the circumstances surrounding his death.

Family sources said the late Akingboye was last seen by his eldest son, Mr Samuel Akingboye, who visited him a day before his death.

He explained that the son, Samuel, who resides partly abroad, said he and his father had agreed to meet again the following day before the tragedy occurred.

He, however, explained that the 68-year-old businessman was found dead under suspicious circumstances at his Lagos residence.

He disclosed that the body of the late politician was reportedly discovered near the backyard leading to the boys’ quarters, with visible bruises on his face and arms, and blood-stained clothes.

According to him, at the time of the incident, the deceased’s second wife, Mrs Christianah Akingboye, four of her children, two of her siblings, and about 13 domestic staff were said to be at home with him in the compound.

Unconvinced by explanations from the household, Samuel reportedly petitioned the Lagos State Police Command, prompting the transfer of the case to the Homicide Department at Panti, Yaba, while several individuals, including family members and domestic workers, have been interrogated.

A Police source said forensic examinations and an autopsy report are being awaited to determine the exact cause of death, but the police have yet to issue a formal statement on their preliminary findings.

Meanwhile, the family commended Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, for his intervention and assurance that justice would not be compromised.

In a letter jointly signed by the heads of the two families, Papa Clement Betiku and Pastor Akintemi Michael Akingboye, the family thanked the governor for showing concern and pledged support for a transparent investigation.

The letter addressed to Aiyedatiwa read: ‘On behalf of the entire Akingboye/Betiku extended family, we write from Okitipupa to commend and wholeheartedly appreciate the governor’s leadership and commitment to ensuring that justice is done. Justice must be served without fear or favour, and no attempt to cover up this case will be tolerated.

‘The family is deeply concerned and determined to see this matter through to its logical conclusion. We reaffirm that whoever is found to have had a hand in this grievous act will not escape both the wrath of God and the due process of law.

‘Likewise, any attempt by anyone, in any form, to cover up the truth will be met with the stiffest resistance from the family and from all lovers of justice.’

The family also lauded the Nigeria Police Force for its swift response and professional handling of the investigation, urging the command to pursue the case to a logical conclusion.

‘We also acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force, particularly through the Homicide Department at Panti, Yaba, Lagos, for their commitment, physical analysis, and scientific approaches deployed so far in the investigation.

‘However, we urge that no stone should be left unturned until the real cause of OBA’s death is unravelled and justice is transparently and conclusively served.

‘As a family, we remain unwavering in our resolve to ensure that the mystery behind his sudden passing is exposed and that justice is done in honour of his memory, in the interest of the state, and for the sake of posterity

‘We once again commend and back Your Excellency for your intervention and continuous commitment to justice. May God grant you wisdom and strength as you steer Ondo State forward in fairness and truth,’ the statement added.

Until his death, Akingboye was a prominent politician in the state, businessman and philanthropist with investments in real estate, oil and gas, and agriculture.

His death has continued to attract public attention and debate as the investigation into the circumstances surrounding it continues.

Dark thighs are caused by melanin, a pigment that gives colour to the skin. It is rather called ‘hyperpigmentation.’ You may not bother to treat them because the darkness is not harmful to the thighs. However, you can still decide to clear off the dark areas or reduce it. You can reach out to a dermatologist on what to do. He or she would diagnose you and advise you on what to do.

Below are the causes of dark thighs and treatments:

1. Constant friction

Constant friction of your thigh can make it go dark. That is, your inner thighs rubbing on each other can lead to inflammation, causing skin pigmentation.

2. Genetics

This is actually the main reason inner thighs appear dark. It is because the skin cells produce more melanin. If you have a dark skin tone, you’re more likely to develop darker areas in your thighs, even on your knees and elbows.

3. Hormonal imbalance

Hormonal imbalance (which is too much or too little of certain hormones) during puberty can cause your thighs to discolour, including pregnancy, lactation, and polycystic ovarian syndrome.

4. Skin disorders

Various skin disorders often come with hyperpigmentation. Acanthosis nigricans is one of such conditions that causes skin discolouration, which also affects the neck and armpits. A fungal infection around the groin area can cause darker thighs.

5. Contraceptive pills

Contraceptive pills and other hormonal medications can change the complexion of your inner thighs or make it darker.

Treatments

There are various ways you can eliminate discolouration of your inner thighs. You can opt for home remedies, medications, or creams.

1. Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera can help you reduce dark areas on the skin. All you need to do is rub it directly, but you don’t necessarily rinse off after application.

2. Retinoids

You can use retinoid-based products to suppress your hyperpigmentation. The result might not be quick; it could take several months before any difference.

3. OTC products

Over-the-counter products in rubs, ointments, and creams can help reduce the appearance of dark inner thighs. You can look out for moisturizers that contain vitamin B-3, ellagic acid, and any natural substance ingredients.

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike has reassured residents of the nation’s capital, Abuja, that the territory is a safe and secure city.

Wike stated this during a routine inspection of the FCT Administration’s ongoing infrastructure projects under his watch on Saturday, including the Wuye District infrastructure and the Federal Highway 105 from the Umar Musa Yar’Adua Expressway to Kuje township.

Wike, who was responding to a question from newsmen about recent security concerns in the nation’s capital, emphasised that there is improved security in the FCT compared to what obtained in the past, stressing that isolated incidents of insecurity do not define the city’s overall safety.

He said: ‘If there is one safe city in this country, I think Abuja is that city,’ noting that the ‘Light Up Abuja’ programme, which involves installing solar streetlights across districts and expressways, is also a strategic initiative to further enhance security.

‘The problem we have here is that when one incident happens, we forget that three months ago, nothing happened. You should give us and the security agencies credit that we are doing quite a lot to make Abuja safe, and Abuja has been safe.

‘We do agree that something may happen, but that does not mean that Abuja is not safe. I don’t want us to take that to mean that the city is not safe. If there is one safe city in this country, I think Abuja is that city.’

Speaking on the projects inspected, the Minister expressed satisfaction with the pace and progress of work, noting that Arab Contractors, the firm handling the Wuye District infrastructure, has assured that the project is nearing completion, with the road expected to be finished within 10 days.

The Minister also praised the work on the Airport Road to Kuje dual carriageway, which he had visited multiple times.

Wike noted that the eight-lane road will significantly reduce travel time, allowing Kuje residents to reach the city centre in just 15 to 20 minutes. He expressed confidence that the road will be inaugurated during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s third anniversary celebration.

He said, ‘For a regular passerby who knows this area very well, if you come here now, you will give it to them; Arab Contractors have done a good job. You can see how beautiful the landscape is. We believe that, God willing, just as they have promised, with our support – and we will continue to support – latest, during the third anniversary of Mr President, we believe that this road will be one of the roads that will be inaugurated to the delight of residents of Kuje and the entire people of Abuja, and of course to the happiness of all Nigerians.’

‘The level of infrastructure is such that we have not seen before, and everybody will attest to the fact that if you are living in Kuje, you don’t need to go and find a house in the city to live. By the time this road is commissioned, which is not less than an eight-lane dual carriageway, in about 15 or 20 minutes, you are already in the city centre – and that’s what development is all about. That’s what the Renewed Hope Agenda is all about. So, we are happy,’ the Minister stated.

Addressing sanitation challenges, Barr. Wike also confirmed that the FCT Administration is actively removing indiscriminately dumped refuse, particularly along Airport Road and in the Nyanya/Karshi area. He revealed plans to award new contracts for refuse disposal within the next two weeks, promising to select only competent contractors with the capacity to ensure that the city remains clean.

‘We believe that in the next two weeks, the contract will be formally awarded for refuse disposal. That, I can tell you, will help us quite a lot,’ he said.

Garba Shehu, former Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has dismissed claims by former President Goodluck Jonathan that Buhari was once nominated by Boko Haram to mediate peace talks with the Federal Government.

In a statement titled ‘Boko Haram Did Not Nominate Buhari As Their Mediator’ issued on Friday, Shehu described Jonathan’s comment as ‘a false start’ ahead of a possible 2027 presidential bid.

Jonathan had made the remarks at the public presentation of ‘Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum,’ a book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd.), where he said Boko Haram insurgents once named Buhari as their preferred negotiator.

According to Jonathan, ‘One of the committees we set up then, the Boko Haram nominated Buhari to lead their team to negotiate with the government.

‘So I was feeling that, oh, if they nominated Buhari to represent them and have a discussion with the government committee, then when Buhari took over, it could have been an easy way to negotiate with them, and they would have handed over their guns. But it was still there till today.’

Reacting to the comment, Shehu accused Jonathan of attempting to distort facts for political gain, urging him to ‘look for another story to tell Nigerians.’

Shehu said, ‘Muhammed Yusuf or Abubakar Shekau, the deceased leaders of the Boko Haram terrorist group, never nominated Muhammadu Buhari for any such role. In fact, Shekau routinely denounced and threatened Buhari, and their ideologies were in direct opposition.’

He recalled that in 2014, Buhari narrowly escaped a bomb attack allegedly orchestrated by Boko Haram in Kaduna, which left some of his personal staff injured.

‘In 2014, Muhammadu Buhari escaped a bomb attack on his life by Boko Haram in Kaduna, in which his personal staff suffered various degrees of injury.

‘Buhari’s campaigns focused on fighting Boko Haram and restoring security to Nigeria whenever he became president, putting him in direct opposition to the terrorist group’s leader.’

Shehu further explained that reports of Buhari’s alleged nomination were based on misinformation spread by a faction of the terrorist group, possibly sponsored by political opponents, who held a press conference in Maiduguri claiming Buhari and other northern leaders had been chosen to mediate with the Federal Government.

‘What led to the misleading information was that a faction of the terrorist group, possibly sponsored by Buhari’s opponents, staged a press conference in Maiduguri, Borno State, through a certain Abu Mohammed Ibn Abdulaziz, who claimed to be the Boko Haram commander in charge of Southern and Northern Borno, saying that the sect would prefer the former military leader, General Muhammadu Buhari, ex-Yobe State governor and the then Senator, now late Bukar Abba Ibrahim, first Nigerian Minister of Petroleum, Shettima Ali Monguno, also late, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Insecurity in the North-East, Ambassador Gaji Gatimari, and other prominent members of the Borno Emirate to mediate between them and the federal government.

‘Abdulaziz was roundly condemned by the leaders of Boko Haram, who claimed that he had ‘no mandate of their leader, Imam Abubakar Shekau.’

He also cited the response of the then Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which immediately denied the claim, quoting the party’s National Secretary, Engr. Buba Galadima, who said Buhari ‘has not even heard about it’ and described the report as mere speculation.

Shehu urged Jonathan to seek a more credible campaign narrative ahead of 2027, stating, ‘To win in 2027, Dr. Jonathan should look for a better story to tell Nigerians.’

Two persons were confirmed dead while six others sustained injuries in a road traffic crash at Police Commissioner Junction in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Friday.

The crash involved a Howo truck, a Toyota Corolla and two tricycles.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) attributed the cause of the accident to brake failure on the truck.

A total of eight people, all male adults, were involved. Two died on the spot, while six others sustained various degrees of injuries.

The FRSC Sector Commander in Borno State, Corps Commander Usman A. Muhammad, said emergency services were promptly dispatched to the scene.

The injured were taken to the State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the hospital’s mortuary.

Commander Muhammad extended condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

He also urged motorists to exercise caution, obey traffic regulations and carry out regular vehicle maintenance to prevent such incidents.

The Military High Command on Saturday confirmed the arrest of 16 of its officers over alleged misconduct related to issues of indiscipline and breach of service regulations.

This was contained in a statement made available to Defence Correspondents in Abuja by the Director of Defence Information, DDI, Brig-Gen Tukur Gusau.

The statement explained that investigations revealed that their grievances stemmed largely from perceived career stagnation caused by repeated failure in promotion examinations, among other issues.

While explaining that the action was being taken as part of routine efforts to maintain order, discipline, and loyalty within the ranks, it warned that It would not tolerate behaviour that undermines the integrity of the institution or threatens its constitutional role under democratic authority, saying that that ‘ the Armed Forces of Nigeria remains fully committed to its constitutional responsibilities and will remain professional at all times.

‘The Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to inform the public that a routine military exercise has resulted in the arrest of sixteen officers over issues of indiscipline and breach of service regulations. Investigations have revealed that their grievances stemmed largely from perceived career stagnation caused by repeated failure in promotion examinations, among other issues.

‘Some of the apprehended officers had been under jurisdiction for various offences, either awaiting or undergoing trial. Their conduct was deemed incompatible with the standards of military service.

‘Upon completion of the investigation, indicted officers will face the full military disciplinary process in accordance with established procedures to ensure accountability and preserve professionalism within the Armed Forces.

‘The Armed Forces wishes to assure the general public that these actions are strictly disciplinary in nature and part of routine efforts to maintain order, discipline, and loyalty within the ranks.

‘The Armed Forces will not tolerate behaviour that undermines the integrity of the institution or threatens its constitutional role under democratic authority.

‘The Armed Forces of Nigeria remain fully committed to its constitutional responsibilities and will remain professional at all times.’

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed a suit instituted against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, challenging the legality of the six-month suspension handed to Senator Natasha Uduaghan-Apoti, representing Kogi Central over alleged misconduct.

The suit, which was instituted by one Ovavu Illiyasu and nine others, was thrown out by the trial judge, Justice James Omotosho on the grounds that the plaintiffs lacked locus standi (legal right) to file the matter before the court.

Marked FHC/ABJ/CS/654/2025, the suit challenged the validity of Natasha Uduaghan-Apoti’s suspension for various reasons.

Among other reliefs, the plaintiffs urged the court to void the suspension of Senator Natasha on the ground that their senatorial district would be shortchanged and called for her immediate recall.

They advanced several arguments to support their request for invalidation of the suspension, including the claim that the people of Kogi Central Senatorial District would be deprived of adequate representation in the Senate.

In his judgment on Friday, Justice Omotosho held that the ten plaintiffs had no locus standi to institute the action and subsequently dismissed the suit for lacking in merit.

A renowned cultural advocate and Ifa Priest, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon, has charged the government at various levels to ensure the preservation of culture and traditions for the sake of national identity.

Speaking with newsmen at the maiden Ifayemi Elebuibon Annual Symposium, held at Ogbeyonu Hall, Osogbo, the traditionalist said venerating ancestors is a critical part of culture which must not be allowed to go into extinction.

He noted that one of the ways of preserving people’s identity is to ensure that culture and traditions survive colonialism, stressing that the government should allow free practice of traditional religion.

‘One of the reasons we are at this symposium is to elicit the importance of veneration and worship of ancestors. We all agreed that our ancestors must always be remembered if we are to progress as a people.

‘Yoruba language and traditions are subsumed in our culture, hence, whatever religion one practices, Yoruba culture should always reflect in our ways, such as the clothes we wear, food we eat and our ways of life.

‘The government can influence the growth of culture through education and if that happens, the people will benefit more through economic growth and development,’ he said.

Also speaking, Komolafe Wande, who delivered a paper at the symposium, stressed the importance of tradition and culture to the survival of the Yoruba race.

‘We can preserve our culture by making sure that our language continue to thrive, our traditional names are not abandoned and our mode of dressing should be sustained. Government should ensure that our language and tradition is taken as a subject in schools,’ he said.

A participant, Ogundeji Elebuibon, said the symposium was not just to honour Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon but also to provide a platform to discuss issues relevant to the growth of traditional religion in Yorubaland.

The Secretary of Isese Assembly, the group that organised the event, Ifagbenusola Popoola, said the symposium was put together to celebrate the contributions of Elebuibon to the growth of traditional religion and Yoruba culture.