The Nigerian Army has firmly dismissed rumors about the death of Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja. These rumors began when a Nigerian journalist posted on social media, claiming that Lagbaja had died from cancer 48 hours earlier. The post alleged that the announcement was being concealed due to pressure from other Generals seeking his position. Born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Osun State, Lagbaja was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023. In response to the claims, the Nigerian Army labeled them as false. However, some sources within the Army Headquarters confirmed that while the…
Author: ACNN NEWS
Nigeria has taken a major step in its battle against malaria by receiving one million doses of the highly anticipated R21 malaria vaccine from GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance. However, gynecologists have cautioned that it is not medically advisable for pregnant women and nursing mothers to receive the vaccine. Experts in maternal health explained that clinical trials assessing the vaccine’s efficacy and safety did not include pregnant or lactating women, which is why they are excluded from vaccination. In separate interviews with PUNCH Healthwise, they emphasized that while the vaccine is safe for non-pregnant women and can help reduce the risk…
Warning of dire consequences, former President Olusegun Obasanjo stated that the growing number of out-of-school children in the country poses a significant risk for future Boko Haram recruitment if not addressed promptly. He made this remark on Sunday in Bauchi during the inauguration of the dualized seven-kilometer Awala-Mairuguri Road and the 17.70-kilometer Awalah-Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa National Airport Road, alongside the 30-kilometer Gubi-Ruda Bida-Siyi-Nasarawa Road. In his speech, Obasanjo underscored the vital role of education and human capacity building in fostering development and ensuring a safer society. “The World Bank reports that we have over 20 million out-of-school children who…
Egypt has been officially certified as malaria-free by the World Health Organization. This significant achievement follows nearly a century of efforts by the Egyptian government and its citizens to eradicate a disease that has been part of the country’s history since ancient times, as stated by the global health organization on Sunday. “Malaria is as old as Egyptian civilization itself, but the disease that once troubled pharaohs now belongs to history, not the future,” remarked WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus. “This certification is truly historic and reflects the commitment of the Egyptian people and government to eliminate this ancient scourge.…
Following the commemoration of the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests, the Lagos State Police Command has released the arrested protesters. More than 18 individuals were taken into custody at the Lekki Toll Gate and subsequently moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) at Panti in Yaba, Lagos. State Commissioner of Police Olanrewaju Ishola was on-site at the SCID to oversee their release. In a tweet on Sunday, police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed their release, stating, “All protesters in our custody have been released. CP Olanrewaju Ishola was on the ground at the SCID to personally see to that.”…
Reports of ongoing human rights abuses by the Nigerian Police have emerged from Amnesty International Nigeria, four years after the #EndSARS protests in October 2020. These abuses include unlawful detention, extortion, torture, and sexual violence. The #EndSARS protests, which took place from October 1 to 20, 2020, aimed to end police brutality, particularly from the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad. The protests ended abruptly on October 20, 2020, following tragic events at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, where military personnel allegedly opened fire on demonstrators. In a statement released on Sunday, Amnesty International called on the Nigerian government to tackle…
Frustration is mounting among electricity consumers following yet another collapse of the national grid on Saturday, which many are calling a national embarrassment. As reported by Sunday PUNCH, the grid failure occurred at approximately 8:16 a.m., marking the third such incident within a single week and causing widespread blackouts across the country. By 8 a.m., power generation had fallen to 3,042 megawatts, after peaking at 3,968 MW at 7 a.m. Shortly thereafter, it plunged to just 47 MW around 9 a.m. before gradually increasing as system operators worked to restore normalcy. Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu had previously committed to…
Construction has officially begun on a multi-purpose dam upstream of the River Dura in Buruku Local Government Area, Benue State, as announced by the Federal Government. This initiative aims to manage the heavy water flow from the region. On Saturday, Robert Umezulike, Deputy Director of Hydrology at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, shared this information while inspecting the Makurdi-Gboko-Katsina-Ala highway, which had been impacted by flooding from the River Dura. Umezulike explained that ongoing sediment accumulation in the river has reduced its depth and capacity, contributing to the flooding. He noted that the assessment team would analyze…
In a celebration of faith and leadership, a significant thanksgiving service was held on Sunday, October 13, 2024, at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Air Force Chaplaincy (Protestant) in Abuja to honor The Venerable Dr. Group Captain P.D. Otowo’s appointment as the new Director of Chaplaincy. This event brought together senior military officers and chaplains from various branches, creating a vibrant atmosphere filled with gratitude, inspiring testimonies, and joy. The Most Rev’d Dr. Emmanuel Egbunu, Bishop of Lokoja Diocese, delivered a powerful sermon that underscored the importance of thanksgiving, urging attendees to cultivate a grateful heart in all circumstances. His…
Senator John Owan Enoh, the Honourable Minister of Sports Development, has expressed strong condemnation of the recent actions taken by Libyan authorities, who held the Nigerian Super Eagles and their officials hostage at Al Abaq Airport. The incident arose when a Nigerian aircraft, originally bound for Benghazi, was diverted to a city over two hours away from its intended destination, just an hour before landing. This unexpected diversion caused significant distress for the Super Eagles team, officials, and support staff, leaving them stranded and facing unnecessary delays. The Minister voiced deep concern over the treatment of the team, particularly given…