Author: CSNews

Nigeria Begins Local Manufacture Of Next Generation Mosquito Nets Built To Beat Resistance

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed Nigeria has commenced local production of next generation dual active ingredient insecticide treated mosquito nets, marking a significant step in strengthening malaria prevention and domestic manufacturing of essential health products. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, said the development aligns with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and its focus on unlocking the healthcare value chain through investment, local production and stronger domestic capacity. The new facility, Health Textiles Nigeria FZE, wholly owned by Vestergaard Sàrl, is the first in Nigeria to manufacture dual active ingredient insecticide treated nets, producing PermaNet Dual, a net designed to address growing insecticide resistance and prequalified by the World Health Organisation in 2023. At full scale, the facility is expected to produce approximately 10 million nets annually and create more than 600 jobs, with about 80 employees already recruited and undergoing training in manufacturing excellence, product quality and regulatory compliance. The establishment of Health Textiles Nigeria follows a 2024 Memorandum of Understanding between Vestergaard and the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain to strengthen local production capacity for essential health products. Pate described the commencement of production as an important step in Nigeria’s fight against malaria, stressing that the investment demonstrates what is possible when government policy, private sector investment and technology transfer come together. Vestergaard Chief Executive Officer, Amar Ali, said the company was pleased to commence production in Nigeria, noting that the facility brings the company’s manufacturing expertise together with Nigerian talent to produce the nets locally. The development comes as Nigeria continues to bear a substantial share of the global malaria burden, with the World Health Organisation estimating that malaria caused 282 million cases and 610,000 deaths globally in 2024, with the African Region accounting for the overwhelming majority. With production now underway, Health Textiles Nigeria is expected to fulfil its first commercial orders in the coming months, expanding Nigeria’s capacity to produce a critical malaria prevention commodity locally.

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Kifayat Global Energy Takes Free Healthcare To Ahor, 102 Residents Screened In Two Day Outreach

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Ahor community in the Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of Edo State came alive this week as no fewer than 102 residents benefited from a two day free medical outreach organised by Kifayat Global Energy Limited, with a nearby police division and members of the host community among the direct beneficiaries of the initiative. Held on Wednesday and Thursday, the outreach provided medical screening and health education to residents, with the beneficiary list cutting across business owners, commercial motorcyclists, drivers, officers from the local police division and other members of the Ahor community. According to the company’s auditor, Busuyi Olowoniyi, who represented the Director of Kifayat Global Energy, Ismael Kola, the programme was designed to encourage residents to pay closer attention to their health, with the pilot edition originally targeting 100 residents before ultimately reaching 102. For Olowoniyi, the inclusion of the nearby police division and community members reflected the company’s intention to serve everyone within its immediate operating environment, not just those who do business with it directly, describing the outreach as a way of giving back to a community that has hosted the company for seven years. Looking ahead, he said the plan is to make the medical outreach an annual programme, allowing residents to benefit continuously while reinforcing that the company’s presence in Ahor goes beyond business interests to genuine investment in the wellbeing of its host community. Seven medical personnel, comprising doctors, nurses and medical laboratory scientists, attended to residents throughout the two day exercise, according to the medical team’s leader, Nafisat Allinson. On the first day, participants received health education on high blood pressure, while the second day focused on high blood sugar, with medical tests conducted across both sessions to check for malaria parasites, blood sugar levels and blood pressure. Allinson added that drugs were administered to residents based on the outcome of their tests, while those found with more serious health concerns were referred to nearby medical facilities for further attention and follow up care. By the close of the exercise, the organisers expressed satisfaction with the turnout, particularly the strong participation from the police division and other community stakeholders, and disclosed that eye tests would be added to the programme in its next edition as the initiative continues to expand.

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INEC Turns To Nigeria’s Monarchs To Drive Voter Turnout And Cool Political Tempers

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed The Independent National Electoral Commission has called on traditional rulers across the country to deploy their moral authority to mobilise eligible voters for the 2027 General Election and promote peaceful, issue based political campaigns. INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, made the appeal in Lagos when he led the Commission’s leadership on a courtesy visit to the Oba of Lagos, Oba Riliwanu Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu, at the Iga Idunganran Palace, as part of the Commission’s South West Zonal Readiness Assessment ahead of the 2027 polls. Amupitan formally informed the Oba of the election dates, with the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday, January 16, 2027, and the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections holding on Saturday, February 6, 2027. He said INEC is working toward an election that is technologically driven, transparent and inclusive, but stressed that technology alone could not guarantee a successful election, insisting that people, not systems, ultimately build a democracy. The Chairman appealed to traditional rulers to use their influence to encourage residents to complete voter registration processes and collect their Permanent Voter Cards as statutory deadlines approach. He further sought the intervention of the Oba of Lagos and the Lagos Traditional Council in promoting issue based political campaigns and discouraging hate speech, character assassination and inflammatory rhetoric as political activities intensify ahead of the elections. The Oba of Lagos welcomed the Commission’s decision to begin its zonal readiness assessment in Lagos, expressing optimism about the success of the exercise under Amupitan’s leadership.

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Okpebholo Throws Open The Gates For Edo Queens, Hands Champions N50 Million Hero’s Welcome

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed. Edo erupted in celebration as the victorious Edo Queens returned home to a hero’s welcome, with Governor Monday Okpebholo receiving the WAFU B champions in Benin City and announcing a N50 million cash reward for the team. The atmosphere was electric as the Queens, who successfully defended their WAFU B Women’s Champions League qualifying title in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, arrived at the Benin Airport to a colourful reception by government officials, sports administrators and jubilant fans, before embarking on a victory parade through Airport Road to Osadebey Avenue. The triumph secured Edo Queens a place in the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League in South Africa, after the Nigerian champions defeated Ghana’s Ampem Darkoa Ladies in a dramatic final that went all the way to penalties. Speaking at the reception, Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon Amadin Desmond Enabulele, described the feat as another historic milestone in the state’s sporting resurgence, attributing the team’s back to back successes to the commitment of players and coaches alongside sustained investment by the state government. He singled out several players for their outstanding performances, applauding Doosuur Atume, Esther Chioma Moses, Oluwakemi Adegbuyi and assistant captain Valentina Uroko, while praising Coach Moses Aduku as one of the finest female football coaches in Nigeria. With Aduku away on national duty with the Falconets, Bendel Insurance FC head coach Kennedy Boboye stepped in to lead the team to another continental triumph. Enabulele also praised Edo APC Chairman, Chief Jarrett Tenebe, for his consistent support of the team, describing the gesture as one rooted in gratitude rather than politics, and disclosed that six Edo players currently feature in Nigeria’s Falconets squad at the FIFA Women’s Under 20 World Cup in Poland, alongside seven Edo players in the country’s Under 19 girls’ cricket team that has qualified for its own World Cup. Governor Okpebholo, addressing the players, praised their fighting spirit and said he had remained confident they would overcome Ampem Darkoa Ladies in the final, recalling the dramatic penalty shootout and singling out the goalkeeper’s composure as the turning point that shifted momentum in Edo’s favour. The high point of the reception came when the governor announced the N50 million cash reward, assuring the players of continued government support and more opportunities to excel as they now turn their attention to the continental stage in South Africa.

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FCT Police Nab 10 Suspected Vandals Targeting Cables And Solar Streetlights In Abuja

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested 10 suspected vandals in separate operations across Kubwa, Wuye and the National Mosque area of Abuja, in a coordinated crackdown on infrastructure vandalism. According to a statement by SP Josephine Adeh, Police Public Relations Officer of the FCT Command, a patrol team from Kubwa Division sighted five persons allegedly vandalising armoured cables around Bazango Kubwa on September 2, leading to their arrest and identification. In a separate operation, a patrol team from Wuye Division arrested one suspect while allegedly digging out armoured cables along the road between Magic Land and the National Stadium in Abuja. A surveillance team from Wuse Division also arrested four other suspects around the National Mosque area after they allegedly cut down a solar powered street light in an attempt to vandalise it and remove its components. The command said investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the suspected vandalism syndicates, including those allegedly involved in receiving stolen public infrastructure. All suspects remain in police custody and will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations, the command said in its statement. Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, commended the police teams for their vigilance and timely intervention in protecting public infrastructure across the territory.

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Twenty Five Family Members Of Terrorists Flee Enclaves As Pressure Mounts In Borno

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed Twenty five family members of terrorists, made up of seven women and 18 children, have reportedly surrendered after fleeing terrorist enclaves in Borno State, as the Nigerian military continues to intensify operations against terrorist groups across the North East. Some of the individuals are said to have escaped amid clashes between rival terrorist factions, adding a new dimension to the growing pressure being felt within these groups. Security analysts say the development goes beyond fighters simply leaving the battlefield, noting that when families connected to terrorist groups begin fleeing enclave territories, it reflects just how difficult life inside those areas is becoming under sustained military pressure. The terrorist groups are said to be facing pressure from security forces on the outside, while internal divisions and clashes create additional strain within their own ranks, disrupting their movements and restricting their freedom of action. Authorities say the 25 individuals are currently in military custody for profiling, investigation and other necessary procedures before further steps are determined. The development is being viewed as a small but notable sign of the cumulative effect of sustained counter terrorism operations in the region. Security officials say the trend of families fleeing enclaves will continue to be monitored closely as operations against terrorist groups in the North East continue.

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Fintiri Suspends Adamawa Schools Board Boss Over Alleged Irregularities

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has approved the immediate suspension of the Executive Secretary of the state’s Post Primary Schools Management Board, Mr Birsan Penuel, over alleged irregularities in the discharge of his official responsibilities. The suspension is intended to allow for a thorough investigation into the matter, with the most senior Director in the Board directed to take over its affairs in the interim and ensure the uninterrupted continuation of its activities. The Governor said his administration remains committed to sanitising and repositioning the education sector for improved service delivery, citing measures over the past seven years including the recruitment of qualified teachers and rehabilitation of classrooms. Fintiri said these steps had helped reverse negative trends that once plagued the sector, reiterating his determination to build a functional, effective and credible post primary education system in the state. He said he would not hesitate to take necessary steps, no matter how tough, to protect the integrity of the system and ensure children receive the quality education they deserve. The government warned all political appointees and public officers to uphold due process, transparency and accountability in the discharge of their responsibilities, stressing that any act undermining progress made in the education sector would be dealt with decisively. The suspension signals a firm stance from the administration as it continues efforts to strengthen accountability within the state’s education management structures.

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IGP Brings Back MOPOL In Renewed Push Against Kidnapping And Banditry

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed The Inspector General of Police has announced the revival and repositioning of the Police Mobile Force, popularly known as MOPOL, as part of renewed efforts to combat kidnapping, banditry, insurgency and other violent crimes across the country. The initiative is aimed at strengthening the operational readiness of the specialised police unit and enhancing its capacity to respond swiftly to emerging security threats nationwide. Police leadership said the move would improve rapid response operations, intelligence driven policing and the overall fight against organised criminal networks operating in various parts of the country. Speaking during a training programme for Mobile Police instructors, the IGP stressed the critical role of MOPOL in tackling insecurity, noting that the unit possesses the specialised training and tactical capabilities required to confront banditry and insurgency head on. He urged officers to build on their expertise and contribute meaningfully to ongoing efforts to restore peace across affected communities in the country. The police disclosed that ongoing reforms and retraining exercises are designed to ensure Mobile Police squadrons remain well equipped, properly led and fully prepared for deployment in security operations nationwide. The development forms part of broader measures by security agencies to address persistent security challenges and improve the protection of lives and property across Nigeria.

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Benue Approves $250 Million National Food City Complex In Historic First For The State

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed The Benue State Executive Council, chaired by Governor Rev Fr Dr Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has approved the National Food City Complex project, spanning 30,000 hectares of land across Otukpo, Obi and Ado local government areas, as the state’s equity contribution to a more than $250 million agro industrial partnership. The project is a large scale public private partnership between the Benue State Government and Rexzodeneh Group Limited, backed by a technical partnership with M.K International Inc of South Korea, designed to transform the Otukpo area into an integrated agro industrial hub and Nigeria’s flagship response to the national emergency on food security. It marks the first formal public private partnership agreement in Benue State’s 50 year history, a landmark shift from subsistence farming toward mechanised, value added agricultural production, following a Memorandum of Understanding signed in April 2025 and a formal agreement signed the following month after a due diligence process led by the Benue Investment Promotion Agency. The project runs on a 25 year Design Build Operate Transfer concession, under which the state provides land and critical infrastructure while Rexzodeneh Group finances, builds and operates the complex, with full ownership transferring to the state at the end of the concession period free of encumbrances. At full scale, the project is expected to create more than 20,000 direct and permanent jobs, integrate over 40,000 smallholder farmers, generate 20 to 25 megawatts of hybrid power and establish five processing lines covering rice, maize, cassava, soybean and poultry feed production. Officials say the state holds a protected 10 percent equity stake at zero cash outlay, covered entirely by land and infrastructure contribution, with a 70 percent local hiring rule designed to maximise employment benefits for Benue residents. The Alia led administration says the project reflects its broader commitment to restoring Benue’s status as the food basket of the nation, with ambitions of positioning the state as a leading agricultural hub across Africa.

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Nigeria’s Data Protection Chief Meets EUROJUST And EUROPOL Over Cross Border Cooperation

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed The National Commissioner and Chief Executive of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, Dr Vincent Olatunji, received a delegation from the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, led by its Vice President José de la Mata Amaya, alongside representatives of EUROPOL. Amaya commended the Commission for the remarkable progress it has made within its few years of existence, while outlining EUROJUST’s role in supporting judicial cooperation and coordination in criminal matters across Europe. He gave insights into an ongoing project being implemented in partnership with EUROPOL to strengthen information exchange, evidence sharing and coordinated operations in criminal investigations, noting that the project involves the sharing of personal data between security agencies and service providers. The delegation expressed interest in Nigeria’s Data Protection Act 2023, describing it as a robust framework and indicating a desire to learn more about the Commission’s work and explore areas of collaboration. In his response, Dr Olatunji welcomed the delegation and noted that the processing of personal data by security and law enforcement agencies is sensitive and requires appropriate safeguards to protect citizens’ rights. He explained that the Commission works closely with several security and law enforcement agencies in Nigeria, providing guidance on lawful data processing and supporting investigations and capacity building initiatives involving data protection. Dr Olatunji expressed the Commission’s readiness to collaborate with EUROJUST and EUROPOL, with the meeting concluding in a technical session involving officials from all three institutions.

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