The Plateau State Drugs and Medical Commodities Management Agency has developed an inventory system called PLASUPPLY to enhance the efficiency of its operations.

Kim Bot, the executive secretary of the agency, disclosed this in an interview on Monday in Jos.

Mr Bot, who is a pharmacist, said the tool, which was invented locally, was used by the agency to carry out the entire inventory of commodities at the central warehouse.

He said PLASUPPLY aided in the overall effective management of raw materials, drugs, and other medical materials.

According to him, the inventory tool was designed to streamline various processes, such as stock tracking, order placement, and hinting of when drugs and commodities were close to expiration.

“The PLASUPPLY tool informs us of drugs in the warehouse that will be expiring in the next six months and where such drugs are needed in our healthcare facilities.

“This system, aside from boosting efficiency, also helps in saving costs, as we do not have cases of expired drugs in the warehouse,“ he said.

Mr Bot further stated that the agency, which is responsible for ensuring the availability and affordability of essential drugs and medical supplies in the state, had signed various memoranda of understanding with both local and international pharmaceutical companies.

He said the agency, in a bid to enhance healthcare outcomes for the state’s citizens, had opened a Drug Information Centre for tracking adverse drug reactions from hospitals and individuals.

Mr Bot said a 50 per cent toll-free line, 081299924, was opened to enable the agency to receive complaints of adverse drug reactions from the public.

He called on members of the public with adverse drug reactions to call the toll number to enable the agency to determine if the reaction was caused chemically or due to the individual’s genetic makeup.

Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce, states that Nigeria has yet to fully tap into its technological potential despite the sector’s vast opportunities.

Speaking in an interview on Monday, Ms Samuel said that stable power and technology, which are crucial drivers of Nigeria’s economic growth and diversification, were still lacking.

She noted that, as long as Nigeria remained unable to ensure stable power and technology, its growth would be hindered.

The NACC boss said the rapid global pace of technological advancement, with everything interconnected through the internet and data, was a significant factor.

Emphasising the role of collaborations, both local and international, she cited U.S. collaborations with other regions and countries to advance its tech sector despite being the largest tech sector in the world.

“An example of America’s collaborative efforts is the recent investment of approximately $600 billion by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince in the U.S. technology sector to advance its technological capabilities.

“If America is collaborating with other regions and countries on advancing the tech sector, whereas America is the biggest tech sector, then who are we in Africa not to follow suit?” she stated.

Ms Samuel highlighted the global dominance of U.S. tech giants like Meta, Google, Tesla, and X, along with advancements in artificial intelligence like ChatGPT and Meta AI, as evidence of the transformative power of technology.

Connecting technology and power, Samuel emphasised that consistent power supply was fundamental for technological progress, especially as Nigeria sought to diversify its revenue away from oil.

“Without power, how do we even drive technology? So, power is correlated to technology. Technology is correlated to power. Given the current global trade landscape, particularly with tariffs imposed by America on various countries and the potential limitations of the African Growth and Opportunities Act for African exports, technology is a key avenue for diversification.

“One of the easiest ways, one of the easiest platforms West Africa can diversify into is the technology sector,” she said.

Ms Samuel noted further that the banking sector was an example of how technology had driven growth and improvement, with online banking and mobile banking methods enhancing financial transactions.

Ms Samuel referenced the World Bank’s projection that the banking and financial technology sectors will be among Nigeria’s fastest-growing in 2025.

According to her, the growth can be attributed to technological innovations that enable online and mobile banking.

Ms Samuel called on technology-focused platforms in Africa to leverage conferences within and outside the country to drive their growth.

She also stressed the importance of government involvement, particularly ministers of communication and commissioners of science and technology, in shaping policies that supported the growth of the sector.

The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria has officially unveiled its 60th anniversary logo.

The logo sets the stage for a series of celebratory events marking six decades of commitment to excellence in sports journalism, advocacy, and development.

Founded in 1964, SWAN has grown into a cornerstone of sports reportage and promotion in Nigeria.

The unveiling ceremony, held at the Association’s headquarters, showcased the commemorative logo — a striking design in green and white, incorporating the number ’60’ alongside the iconic SWAN emblem. A ribbon inscribed with ‘Years Anniversary’ underscores the significance of the milestone.

SWAN president Isaiah Benjamin hailed the unveiling as a defining moment in the association’s history.

“As we unveil this logo, we are not just celebrating the past 60 years, but also reigniting our collective commitment to professionalism, integrity, and the promotion of sports through responsible journalism,” he said.

According to Mr Benjamin, the anniversary celebrations — slated for October — will feature an array of events.

These include public lectures, awards ceremonies, sports activities for media professionals, tributes to sports legends, and a gala night to honour long-time supporters and contributors to SWAN’s mission.

The celebration coincides with Nigeria’s 65th independence anniversary, adding to the national significance of the commemoration.

In its 60 years of existence, SWAN has played a pivotal role in shaping the sports media landscape, championing the cause of ethical reporting, and influencing policy discussions on sports governance and inclusion at all levels, according to the association.

The SWAN president called on media professionals, stakeholders, partners, and the public to join in honouring its landmark achievement and support its vision for continued growth and impact.

National Guard troops were deployed to Los Angeles on Sunday amid ongoing protests against immigration raids, despite California Governor Gavin Newsom’s objections.

Mr Newsom formally requested President Donald Trump’s administration to rescind the order to deploy the troops.

The governor made the request via a letter to defence secretary Pete Hegseth, which he then shared on X.

“We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved. This is a serious breach of state sovereignty – inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they’re actually needed,” Mr Newsom wrote. “Rescind the order. Return control to California.”

Mr Trump signed a memorandum on Saturday deploying 2,000 National Guardsmen “to address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester”, the White House said.

An expert cited by The New York Times said this is the first time in 60 years that a president has deployed a state’s National Guard without the governor’s consent.

The last instance was in 1965 when President Lyndon B Johnson used troops to protect predominantly Black demonstrators during the civil rights movement in Alabama.

The protests began on Friday after Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers executed search warrants across the city as Mr Trump pushed forward with his goal of mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.

Mr Newsom appealed to protesters to remain peaceful and not give the government an excuse to act.

“Trump is trying to manufacture a crisis in LA County — deploying troops not for order, but to create chaos,” he wrote on X. “Don’t take the bait. Never use violence or harm law enforcement.”

Los Angeles Police said protests continued on Sunday, even when authorities had declared it an unlawful gathering.

Protesters had blocked traffic on a freeway and had gathered outside the Metropolitan Detention Centre, where soldiers had formed a perimeter around the building.

“Officers are reporting that people in the crowd are throwing concrete, bottles and other objects. Arrests are being initiated,” police wrote on X.
Cars had also been stopped and set alight on roads, the police said.

An infantry brigade combat team of the guard has deployed approximately 300 soldiers to three separate locations in the greater Los Angeles area, the U.S. Northern Command stated.

“They are conducting safety and protection of federal property and personnel,” it added.

In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump said Los Angeles had been “invaded and occupied by Illegal Aliens and Criminals”.

“Now violent, insurrectionist mobs are swarming and attacking our Federal Agents to try and stop our deportation operations. But these lawless riots only strengthen our resolve,” he wrote.

He had directed his officials “to take all such action necessary to liberate Los Angeles from the migrant invasion and put an end to these migrant riots”.

He added, “Order will be restored, the Illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be set free.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the city would “always stand” with those who call it home.

“Deploying federalised troops on the heels of these raids is a chaotic escalation,” she wrote on X. “The fear people are feeling in our city right now is very real – it’s felt in our communities and within our families, and it puts our neighbourhoods at risk. This is the last thing that our city needs, and I urge protestors to remain peaceful. Los Angeles will always stand with everyone who calls our city home.”

Mr Trump’s administration has threatened to deploy regular armed forces domestically, which would represent an even greater breach of norms.

Mr Hegseth stated that, if necessary, U.S. Marines stationed in California could also be mobilised.

Mr Newsom condemned Hegseth’s threat to deploy U.S. soldiers against its own citizens on U.S. soil, calling it “deranged behaviour” in a post on X.

Mr Hegseth responded to Newsom on X stating that the National Guard “and Marines if need be” stood with ICE.

“There is plenty of room for peaceful protest, but ZERO tolerance for attacking federal agents who are doing their job,” he wrote.

The U.S. Northern Command said about 500 Marines were “in a prepared to deploy status” should they be needed

The federal government has assured farmers of adequate security to return to their farmlands ahead of this year’s rainy season to boost agricultural activities nationwide.

Minister of state for defence, Bello Matawalle, said this during an interview with journalists in Maradun, Zamafara, on Sunday.

He said forest guards had been deployed to secure farmlands, and modern surveillance technology was being used to monitor and combat criminal activities.

“We are taking all necessary steps to ensure farmers return safely to their farms with full protection from any security threats across the country,” Mr Matawalle stated.

He added that the government plans to develop indigenous defence and warfare systems to address security challenges and potentially supply them to other countries.

Mr Matawalle urged governors to provide logistics support, including accommodation, operational vehicles, and intelligence gathering, to assist in securing rural communities.

He criticised some governors for engaging in blame games rather than supporting federal government efforts in addressing insecurity.

He stressed that security is everyone’s responsibility and called for public support for President Bola Tinubu’s combined military and non-military strategies to end criminality nationwide.

Childbirth is a death sentence in our country. It shouldn’t be. But it is. Our country loses a woman every seven minutes. That’s not a statistic. That is not just a scream in the dark, it is a cry searing the blinding daylight of a country that has grown numb to both the living and the dying. A country where indifference is policy, and silence is the only answer to suffering. A final breath. A mother dying while giving life. The BBC reports that our country is the world’s worst place to beget life. One woman dies every seven minutes. That’s 75,000 maternal deaths in one year. That’s 29% of all maternal deaths worldwide. Almost one in every three. That’s not a crisis. That’s a collapse. That number should shame our country and us as citizens. It doesn’t.

This tells a story. A tragic, brutal, relentless story. Of women bleeding to death in clinics. On beds without bedsheets. With midwives who have no gloves. Of babies born into silence. Of widowers cradling newborns. Poor fathers. Of children growing up without mothers. Of families shattered by the simple biological act of childbirth.

But childbirth here isn’t straightforward. It’s war. It’s women walking kilometres to underfunded hospitals. It’s labour rooms without light. Clinics without water. It’s rusted scissors. Torn gloves. Nurses working with torchlights. And stillbirths that go uncounted. Here? Emergency care is a complete farce. Blood banks? Dry. Anaesthesia? Non-existent. Bandages to hold cannulas in place? Paper stickers. Ambulances?

Pregnant women in labour hop on a keke ride and on a prayer.

This is our country – the land of our birth.

A country rich in oil and gas. Rich in resources. But bankrupt in everything else, especially leadership.

The women who die are poor. They are urban and rural. They are the forgotten ones. They are invisible. Their deaths don’t make much of the daily news. Their stories don’t make policy. They die in silence. Buried without outrage.

But, it doesn’t end with mothers.

Our children die too. Quietly. Slowly. Around and about. Development Reporting, a specialist media outfit, said it clearly. Our children are failed by the system. Unvaccinated. Malnourished. Out of school. Sick. Abandoned. They are growing up in hunger. In pain. They live without food. Without teachers. Without nurses. Without any chance. They have been left behind. To die. One in ten of our children never reaches their fifth birthday. Most deaths are preventable. Malaria. Pneumonia. Diarrhoea. Hunger. Simple diseases that kill fast because our country’s healthcare system habitually kills.

One in three children is stunted. That means their brains and bodies won’t grow as they should. That means their futures are already stolen. Malnourished children can’t learn. They can’t compete. They can’t lead. Our country has failed them. Repeatedly. Brutally. Little wonder the late, iconic South African-born reggae legend, Lucky Dube, lamented the moral decay of Africa’s governing class. “They won’t build no schools anymore,” he sang, “all they’ll build will be prison, prison.” His words echo like prophecy across our country’s broken landscape. If he had trained his mind on our country’s governing elite, he might well have added: they don’t build hospitals anymore; all they construct are flyovers to nowhere. Perhaps, to Samarkand, where fantasy lives and the sick are not their burden.

And, yet, our country pretends that all is well and good. While 18 million children are out of school, it pretends. While millions live in slums, drink dirty water, and battle diseases, it pretends. While clinics run out of vaccines, it pretends. While mothers weep over graves, it turns its eyes in the direction of Afghanistan. The governing elite are the worst culprits. Does the holy book not say, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted”? But these ones will not mourn. They do not weep for the dead. They do not grieve with the bereaved. Their hearts are sealed. Their eyes are dry. They soar, detached, above the suffering of ordinary citizens like Achebe’s Eneke the bird, who learned to fly without perching because men had learned to shoot without missing. Our rulers now fly too, sky-high, far above the dust and death they leave behind.

The president. His wife. The vice president. They spent N23 billion on foreign travel last year. That’s not a typo. N23 billion. For comfort. For luxury. For medical treatment. Paris for medical check-ups; but, masked as working holidays. Dubai for toothaches. Germany for routine tests. London for rest. While, back home, women are stitched without anaesthesia. Children die from coughs. While hospitals turn from Buhari’s mere consulting clinics to morgues. Here’s the truth: they flee the country they ruined. They simply cop out to countries that others built.

Where they don’t cop out, they hide inside the world of opulence they built for themselves from the stolen commonwealth. They don’t feel citizens’ pains. They don’t know what it means to hear a child convulse and die because there’s no oxygen. They don’t know what it feels like to hold a woman’s hand while she dies from a ruptured womb. They don’t bury children. They bury money. In Swiss accounts. Offshore firms. Dollar vaults. The Panama Papers reveal the truth. While our own currency can’t buy Panadol.

Our corrupt governing elite have eaten everything. Ours is now a country of locusts. Budgets are padded. Health budgets are looted. Drugs are stolen. Equipment is resold. Nurses and doctors, left unpaid and unappreciated, flee our country’s shores in despair, seeking dignity in foreign lands. In a moment that captured the callous indifference of our governing elite, former Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, shamelessly declared that the exodus of doctors was of little consequence because, according to him, our country “has more than enough medical personnel… if you have surplus, you export”. It was a boast swaddled in ignorance, and beneath it lay the tragic arithmetic of a ruined country.

The World Health Organisation’s data pierces through Ngige’s fiction like light through the dark: as far back as 2013, our country had only 3.8 doctors for every 10,000 citizens; a ratio far below the WHO’s recommended ratio of one doctor to 600 patients. Twelve years on, the ratio hasn’t changed. This is not surplus; it is scarcity masquerading as strength. It is the cruel irony of a ruined country bleeding expertise while its governing elite speak in the hollow cadences of denial.

Our country has signed all manner of treaties.

The Sustainable Development Goals. The UN conventions. The AU declarations. Our country pledges. Our country makes promises. But nothing is fulfilled. Nothing reaches the dying woman in the cities and villages. Nothing saves the baby in the overcrowded wards of urban hospitals. Data is manipulated. Numbers are cooked. Reports are buried. Truth is hidden. But graves don’t lie.

Our mothers are dying. And no one is asking why they are dying. Even if someone is asking, no one is answering. Our governing elite are pursuing policies of indifference and neglect by design. Failure by choice. It is deliberate because they aren’t the victims of their own failure. They are protected from it. They are immune. They are medical tourists. Their wives won’t deliver in local clinics. Their babies won’t sleep on bare floors. Their lives are insured. Citizens’ lives are not. And so, our country stays broken. Because it works for them. Because there are no consequences for enthroning failure. So, they go on commissioning 30 kilometres highway and bus stops, and unveiling white elephant projects. Hosting summits. Garlanding foreign visitors.

Taking photos. Saying prayers. Meanwhile, more women keep dying. Children keep vanishing into the abyss. Citizens are told to be patient. To renew hope. But hope is not a hospital. Faith is not healthcare. Prayer doesn’t fix a torn placenta. Or stop post-partum bleeding. Or treat jaundice. Only investment. Only real governance. Only the political will of a responsible governing elite who know what to do: train midwives. Equip hospitals. Provide ambulances. Fund primary healthcare. Pay doctors and nurses. Build systems. Enforce accountability.

These are not puzzles wrapped in enigma; they are the fundamental functions of a competent state. Rwanda has done it, with clarity of purpose and political will. Ghana has made earnest strides. Even Sierra Leone, scarred by war and poverty, is learning to rise. But here in our republic, our rulers talk. They convene conferences. They inaugurate committees with fanfare. They rename hospitals as though renaming heals the sick. They switch uniforms as if new fabrics could staunch the bleeding. But they do not save lives. They perform the ritual of governance without its substance.

And the cost?

It is written in the silence of empty cradles and the wails of orphaned children. Seventy-five thousand women lost in a single year, not to the Boko Haram war; but to preventable complications. Buried without headlines. Yet, our governing elite have not declared it a war. There are no national mourning days. No flags lowered. No outrage. Just the quiet erasure of women, whose only crime was to give life in a country that does not value life. But it is war. On the poor. On the voiceless. On mothers. On children.

Every maternal death is a failure of leadership. Every child’s grave is a scandal. Every hospital without drugs is a crime scene. Citizens must speak louder. They must make their votes count. A country that abandons its women and children abandons its soul. This is not fate. This is not nature at work. These are premeditated murders. Matricide enabled. Infanticide engineered. Deaths orchestrated and sustained by our governing elite.

Silent though it is, our country is waging a war against women and children, and the generals of that war, the very men and women entrusted to protect the citizens, are the ones who pry open wounds, mother after mother, and children upon their first cries. Happily, history offers the lamp to courageous citizens who think of the Parisians who stormed the Bastille with unyielding revolutionary will and seek to enact their own history, not with bloodied pikes, but with their ballots, voices, and unyielding civic will.

That chapter in history will not be written by fate, but by paragraphs that citizens shall compose by choice.

Beware.

May our dead find peace.

Kemi Badenoch, the UK Conservative Party leader, has lamented that Britain is now favourable to illegal immigrants and unfair to bona fide citizens who pay bills and taxes.

Ms Badenoch, in an Op-Ed piece published by the Daily Mail on Saturday, argued, “Britain today seems to work more favourably for those who jump the queue, who break the rules, who get into our country illegally but then denigrate our customs and our culture.”

“And those of us who work hard and do the right thing, hoping one day to leave a better life for our children, are left footing the bill,” Ms Badenoch said.

The Tory leader lamented that taxpayers’ money was used to fund hotel accommodation for asylum seekers and how such immigrants end up becoming eligible for benefits as British citizens.

“The billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money we are spending to put asylum seekers up in hotels, for example, is well known. Less well known, however, is the fact that low-paid immigrants and refugees who stay here for five years qualify for ‘indefinite leave to remain’,” Ms Badenoch said.

She added, “This allows them to claim the same benefits British citizens are entitled to, such as social housing and Universal Credit. They become automatically entitled to make such claims regardless of whether they’ve paid taxes or have simply lived off the state throughout those five years. To my mind, that is fundamentally unfair to all the hard-working Brits who have dutifully paid into the system – and I’m determined to stop it.”

The Tory leader argued, “The issue of immigration is a simple one for the Conservative Party: we need to crack down on it in every form, both legal and illegal.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State have reignited a war of words over an allegation that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa abandoned road construction projects initiated by his predecessor, the late Rotimi Akeredolu.

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The opposition PDP, in a statement on Sunday by its spokesman, Leye Igbabo, accused Mr Aiyedatiwa of “political vendetta”, noting that the governor abandoned the projects to destroy Mr Akeredolu’s legacy.

“The available facts showed that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa was not ready to go on with the projects because of his clear intention to destroy his predecessor’s legacy on the altar of political vendetta against the late governor and his camp, who allegedly did all within their power to strive to deny him ascension to the office of the governor when the late governor was clearly incapacitated by ill-health and even after the ultimate death of the immediate past governor,” the PDP said.

The party listed the alleged abandoned projects as including Ijoka road construction, Alagbaka extension road, and Onyearugbulem junction flyover bridge.

The PDP queried why Mr Aiyedatiwa, “who has huge resources at his disposal,” would find it difficult to complete them when the government is a continuum.

“Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa was said to have boasted of his powers as the executive governor to stop any projects that do not catch his fancy and that those who had benefited from the projects by way of monetary and/or material rewards should also go ahead to look for means of financing the said projects to completion.

“Our party has sufficient reasons to suspect very strongly that these allegations of an attempt to abandon and destroy his predecessor’s legacy could be very true,” the PDP said.

The party further noted that it felt Mr Aiyedatiwa’s level of “animosity” towards his predecessor’s camp, alleging further that the incumbent governor refused to complete the ongoing 3 km Alagbaka Extension road project in front of his own house.

Reacting, the governing APC denied the allegation, noting that the PDP was attempting to regain relevance by fabricating claims that lacked facts.

Steve Otaloro, the state APC spokesperson, said the party was aware that the PDP is now interested in creating discord rather than offering constructive criticism.

Mr Otaloro stressed that the opposition party’s attempt to discredit Mr Aiyedatiwa with baseless propaganda reflects the umbrella party’s internal struggles and declining relevance.

“Firstly, we would like to emphasise that all projects initiated under the previous administration of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu are receiving the attention they deserve.

“Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa views the past administration as an extension of his own, as he served as deputy governor during that time. It is, therefore, nonsensical for the PDP to suggest that Governor Aiyedatiwa would undermine the legacy he helped build by neglecting ongoing projects.

“In fact, Governor Aiyedatiwa has recently commissioned several road projects and infrastructure developments, including the Oda road and its extensions, which were foundationally laid by the late governor Akeredolu. These actions reflect our commitment to continuity and progress rather than the abandonment of vital projects,” Mr Otaloro stated.

A building contractor and entrepreneur, Mr. Musa Adeola Taoheed, has cautioned Nigerians against selling their properties to seek greener pasture abroad.

Musa said traveling abroad was for those who are ‘hopeless and jobless’ and not for those that are well to do.

He said he relocated from the United Kingdom to Nigeria after he realised there was abundant opportunities in the country than in abroad.

Speaking in an interview, Taoheed cautioned Nigerians against selling their property to travel overseas for greener pastures.

He said many professionals who left the country would not say the truth about their regrets of engaging in menial jobs abroad.

“I choose to relocate to Nigeria because I am passionate about the country. I believe the greatest opportunities are here because this is a developing country.

“There are a lot of things you can bring down and turn to money. There are ideas, experiences and other stuff that can become huge money here. When you looked at both sides, Nigeria remains the best.

“Look at the billionaires in Nigeria. The Dangotes, the Otedola, the Adenugas, they don’t live in abroad. They make their money here. If you know what you are doing and being focused consistently, with the right policies, nothing is impossible.”

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has alerted Nigerians about the health risks associated with some Dove-branded cosmetic products recently banned by the European Union.

NAFDAC, in a public alert on the ban, disclosed that EU authorities placed a restriction on the marketing and sale of Dove Exfoliating Hand Soap (100g) and Dove Deodorant in Brussels, Belgium, citing safety concerns.

The Public Alert numbered No. 018/2025 and titled “Alert on the Ban of Dove Hand and Deodorant Soap due to Butylphenyl Methylpropional Contamination” was made available on the agency’s website.

According to NAFDAC, the affected products contain a substance called 2-(4-tert-butylbenzyl) propionaldehyde, also known as BMHCA, which is prohibited in cosmetic products within the EU.

“The products do not comply with the Cosmetic Products Regulation as they are said to contain 2-(4- tert-butylbenzyl) propionaldehyde (BMHCA), which is prohibited in cosmetic products due to its risk of harming the reproductive system, causing harm to the health of an unborn child, and may cause skin sensitization,” NAFDAC warned.

NAFDAC listed the affected products and their details, which include items produced in Italy and the United Kingdom. The items include: Dove Exfoliating Hand Soap (barcode 8710447439227), Dove Deo Go Fresh 50ml (batch number 9212174), Dove Invisible Dry 50ml (batch number 9183646), and Dove Men + Care Silver Control Spray 150ml (batch number 62867LD).

The agency noted that the identified products are not registered in its database and emphasized that importation of soaps into Nigeria is already prohibited under the country’s import restriction policies.

“Importation of soaps is prohibited in Nigeria as per the restricted and import prohibition list,” the agency said.

It added, “Beyond the import restrictions, soaps and cosmetics are part of the items ineligible for foreign exchange to import in Nigeria.”

NAFDAC further advised importers, distributors, and retailers to be vigilant and ensure the listed products are not found in the local supply chain.

“These products are also not available in the NAFDAC database. Importers, distributors, retailers, and consumers are advised to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the importation, distribution, sale, and use of the above-mentioned products. Members of the public in possession of the product should discontinue the sale or use and submit the stock to the nearest NAFDAC office,” it added.

NAFDAC, however, encouraged healthcare professionals and consumers to report any adverse effects linked to the use of these or other cosmetic products through the agency’s reporting platforms.

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to public health safety and promised to continue surveillance on cosmetic products in the Nigerian market to prevent the circulation of harmful items.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said his relationship with his billionaire donor Elon Musk is over and warned of “serious consequences” if Mr Musk funds U.S. Democrats running against Republicans who vote for the president’s sweeping tax and spending bill.

In a telephone interview with NBC News, Mr Trump declined to say what those consequences would be but added that he had not had discussions about whether to investigate Mr Musk.

Asked if he thought his relationship with the Tesla and SpaceX CEO was over, Trump said, “I would assume so, yeah.”

“No,” Trump told NBC when asked if he had any desire to repair his relationship with Mr Musk.

“I have no intention of speaking to him,” Mr Trump said.

However, Mr Trump said he had not thought about terminating U.S. government contracts with Mr Musk’s StarLink satellite internet or SpaceX rocket launch companies.

Messrs Musk and Trump began exchanging insults this week, as Mr Musk denounced Mr Trump’s bill as a “disgusting abomination.”

Mr Musk’s opposition to the measure complicated efforts to pass the legislation in Congress, where Republicans hold only slim majorities in the House of Representatives and Senate.

The bill narrowly passed the House last month and is now before the Senate, where Mr Trump’s fellow Republicans are considering making changes.

Nonpartisan analysts estimate the measure would add $2.4 trillion to the $36.2 trillion U.S. debt over 10 years, which worries many lawmakers, including some Republicans who are fiscal hawks.

Mr Musk also declared that it was time for a new political party in the United States “to represent the 80 per cent in the middle!”

Mr Trump said on Saturday that he was confident the bill would get passed by the U.S. July 4 Independence Day holiday.

“In fact, yeah, people that were, were going to vote for it are now enthusiastically going to vote for it, and we expect it to pass,” Mr Trump told NBC.

Republicans have strongly backed Mr Trump’s initiatives since he began his second term as president on January 20.

While some Republican lawmakers made comments to the news media expressing concern about some of Mr Trump’s choices, they had yet to vote down any of his policies or nominations.

Mr Musk deleted some social media posts critical of Mr Trump, including one that signalled support for impeaching the president, appearing to seek a de-escalation of their public feud which exploded on Thursday.

During his first term as president, the House, then controlled by Democrats, twice voted to impeach Mr Trump but the Senate both times acquitted him.

The White House and Mr Musk did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Saturday on the deleted posts.

People who have spoken to Mr Musk said his anger began to recede and they thought he would want to repair his relationship with Mr Trump.

One of the X posts that Mr Musk appeared to have deleted was a response to another user posting: “President vs Elon. Who wins? My money’s on Elon. Trump should be impeached and (Vice President) JD Vance should replace him.” Mr Musk had written “yes.”

On Theo Von’s “This Past Weekend” podcast – recorded on Thursday as the feud between Messrs Trump and Musk unfolded and released on Saturday – Mr Vance called Mr Musk’s criticism of Mr Trump a “huge mistake.”

“I’m always going to be loyal to the president, and I hope that eventually Elon kind of comes back into the fold. Maybe that’s not possible now because he’s gone so nuclear.

But I hope it is,” said Mr Vance, describing Mr Musk as an “incredible entrepreneur.”

Mr Trump is due to attend an Ultimate Fighting Championship fight card on Saturday in New Jersey.

Since his second election win, he has attended two previous UFC mixed martial arts fight cards with Mr Musk. Mr Musk is not expected to attend on Saturday.

Mr Musk, the world’s richest man, bankrolled a large part of Mr Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, spending nearly 300 million dollars in last year’s U.S. elections and taking credit for Republicans retaining a majority of seats in the House and retaking a majority in the Senate.

Mr Trump named Mr Musk to head an effort to downsize the federal workforce and slash spending, lauding him at the White House only about a week ago for his work as head of the Department of Government Efficiency.

Mr Musk cut only about half of one per cent of total spending, far short of his brash plans to axe two trillion dollars from the federal budget.

President Donald Trump on Saturday signed a presidential order deploying 2,000 National Guardsmen to disperse anti-immigration protesters in Los Angeles, California.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt in a statement disclosed the development as immigration raids triggered protests in Los Angeles, California.

Ms Leavitt said, “These operations are essential to halting and reversing the invasion of illegal criminals into the United States.’’

The White House spokesperson added, “In the wake of this violence, California’s feckless Democrat leaders have completely abdicated their responsibility to protect their citizens.”

California governor Gavin Newsom condemned Mr Trump’s directive, saying it was “purposefully inflammatory.”

“This is the wrong mission and will erode public trust,” Mr Newsom said in a post on X on Saturday.

However, Ms Leavitt accused Mr Newsom of doing nothing to stop illegal aliens attacking law enforcement agents

Ms Leavitt noted, “Illegal criminal aliens and violent mobs have been committing arson, throwing rocks at vehicles, and attacking federal law enforcement for days. Gavin Newsom has done nothing to stop this violence. He should be thanking President Trump for bringing law and order to California — a basic value that Newsom and his fellow Democrats have failed to uphold

A member of the Senate, Senator Sunday Karimi, has unveiled a N300 million scholarship scheme for 3,000 Kogi students in public tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

The All Progressives Congress lawmaker representing Kogi West confirmed this during a press briefing at the NUJ Press Centre in Lokoja on Saturday.

The event marked his second year in office and featured a detailed account of his achievements and ongoing projects.

Mr Karimi stated that the scholarship would benefit students from the three senatorial districts in Kogi State.

N100 million is allocated to Kogi East, N61 million to Kogi Central, and N139 million to Kogi West.

He noted that the initiative was in partnership with the Tinubu Support Group and the 2025 Karimi Bursary Award.

In 2024, he had previously disbursed N100 million in scholarships to 1,000 students in Kogi West.

The senator is also investing N160 million in a Computer-Based Training (CBT) centre at Titcombe College, Egbe.

The CBT facility is intended to serve students across Kogi West and neighbouring states.

Already, 275 laptops had been provided, alongside other key infrastructure for the centre.

Mr Karimi also plans to construct another CBT centre in Yagba, valued at over N250 million.

He highlighted his contributions to security and infrastructure, including transformers and solar street lights for 500 communities.

Mr Karimi reported the rehabilitation of 140 boreholes and road projects exceeding N2 billion in value.

To boost security, he established a Forward Operations Base on the Kogi-Kwara border, amounting to N750 million.

His empowerment drives include N100 million for women and another N60 million for various local beneficiaries.

He said, “These efforts show my resolve to improve lives and promote economic growth in Kogi West.”

Mr Karimi reaffirmed his commitment to delivering more projects and sustaining democratic dividends for his people.

He praised President Bola Tinubu’s reforms and pledged unwavering support for national development initiatives.

The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has extended warm greetings to Muslims across Nigeria in celebration of this year’s Eid-el-Kabir festival.

This is contained in a statement on Saturday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Oba, Osaigbovo Iguobaro.

Oba Ewuare urged Muslims to reflect on the Holy Quran’s teachings while observing the sacred Feast of Sacrifice.

He noted that Islamic principles shape daily life and would ultimately hold individuals accountable on the Day of Judgement.

The Oba offered prayers for national leaders, seeking peace, good health, wisdom, and steady progress throughout this festive period.

He reminded Muslims of the core values of Eid Kabir, urging renewed commitment to sacrifice, charity, and compassion toward one another.

The traditional ruler also prayed to God for enduring peace and unity in Nigeria, invoking blessings from his “royal ancestors.”

Tackle security challenges threatening Nigeria’s peace, army chief tells troops
The COAS decried that many of the troops were carrying the marks of courage and bravery through battle scars and deformities.

News Agency of Nigeria • June 8, 2025
Eid-al-Adha lunch with troops
Eid-al-Adha lunch with troops [Credit; NAN]
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has charged troops to deal decisively with any security challenges threatening the nation.

Mr Oluyede gave the charge at the Eid-al-Adha lunch with troops in the field at Forward Operation Base (FOB) of Sub-sector 6, of Operation Fansan Yanma, Fatika, Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Mr Oluyode, represented by the Chief of Logistics Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Erema Akerejola, cherished the ultimate sacrifices made by the troops who laid down their

lives for the unity, peace and stability of Nigeria.

He noted that the Nigerian Army’s brave and dedicated troops demonstrated unalloyed loyalty, uncommon courage and faith, which resulted in significant victories in the face of grave dangers.

Mr Oluyede expressed gratitude for the gift of life and for the relative peace that had been restored in many parts of the nation, while renewing the Nigerian Army’s hope for an even more secure and prosperous future.

He lamented that many of the troops were carrying the marks of courage and bravery through battle scars and deformities, while others were fortunate to share their memories and stories of sacrifice in service to the nation.

The army chief prayed for the repose of the souls of the fallen heroes, assuring their families that their selfless heroism would forever be etched in the hearts of Nigerians and humanity.

He restated the Nigerian Army’s resolute commitment in defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity against the nation’s adversaries.

Mr Oluyede, therefore, said that Eid-el-Kabir was a significant festival that highlighted the essential virtue of sacrifice as a nation and a reminder of the strength found in selflessness and compassion towards others.

He thanked President Bola Tinubu for his unflinching support, focused leadership and strategic guidance.

Mr Oluyede equally thanked Nigerians for their unwavering belief in the Nigerian Army and for their continuous support.

He said, “The Nigerian Army looks forward to a more formidable collaboration to end all forms of insecurity and create an enabling environment for economic growth, stability and prosperity.’’

Earlier, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Mayirenso Saraso, said that the Eid-al-Adha was a festival of sacrifice.

He said that it also provided an avenue to acknowledge the sacrifices, total loyalty and commitments of gallant troops within 1 Division Nigerian Army’s Area of Responsibility, particularly in Kaduna State.

Mr Saraso, who doubled as the Commander, Sector 1 Operation Fansan Yamma, said the special event was aimed at appreciating and motivating the troops for the several successes in all fronts within the division’s area of responsibility.

In line with the command philosophy of the COAS focused on sound administration for the smooth and effective running of the Nigerian Army, he said, they must continue to ensure that troops were well motivated to accomplish all statutory tasks.

He lamented that the threat pattern in the division’s area of responsibility remained fluid with some complexities.

The GOC, however, said that the division had been and would continue to remain focused and well determined to ensure a more stable and conducive environment for the law-abiding citizens to engage in their lawful activities.

According to him, the division’s kinetic operations had so far resulted in the rescue of several kidnap victims and the elimination of several violent extremists and insurgents with their leaders in the recent past.

Mr Saraso equally said that through the division’s non-kinetic engagements, several kidnapped victims had been unconditionally released and several violent extremists and their leaders had also laid down their arms to embrace peace.

“It is worthy of mention that the security situation within our area of responsibility has remain relatively calm due to these proactive responses, deterrence actions and countermeasures taken by our gallant troops, other security and intelligence agencies and support of the government of Kaduna State and the local populace,” the GOC said.

He, therefore, urged the troops not to rest on their laurels, but to get re-energised and redouble their efforts to ensure that there was no haven for violent extremists and insurgents within the division’s area of responsibility.

Mr Saraso further urged them to continue mounting pressure on the violent extremists and insurgents to suffocate them and secure the entire area of responsibility.

“The division must continue to be safer under my watch, as I remain confident that you, the gallant troops in collaboration with other security and intelligence agencies with the support of the government and good people of the state, will make it even safer,” Mr Saraso said.

Also in his remarks, the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Bamalli, lauded the efforts of the military in restoring peace and pledged support to achieve total peace.

Mr Bamalli was represented by the District Head of Fatika, Lawal Umar

NiMet predicts three-day rains, thunderstorms from Sunday to Tuesday
The agency anticipated morning thunderstorms on Monday with rains over parts of Sokoto, Zamfara and Bauchi states in the northern region.

News Agency of Nigeria • June 8, 2025
NiMet
NiMet logo used to illustrate the story
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has predicted thunderstorms and rains from Sunday to Tuesday across the country.

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NiMet’s weather outlook released on Saturday in Abuja envisaged morning thunderstorms on Sunday with moderate rains over parts of Taraba and Adamawa states in the northern region.

NiMet stated, “In the afternoon/evening hours, there are prospects of thunderstorms with rains over parts of Taraba, Adamawa, Katsina, Kano, Zamfara, Kaduna, Jigawa, Borno, Gombe and Bauchi states. In the North-Central region, cloudy morning is expected over the region. Later in the day, thunderstorms with rains are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Nasarawa, Kwara, Kogi, Benue and Plateau states. In the southern region, cloudy atmosphere is expected during the morning hours.’’

According to it, rain showers are anticipated over parts of Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Edo, Abia, Imo, Enugu, Anambra, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa states later in the day.

The agency anticipated morning thunderstorms on Monday with rains over parts of Sokoto, Zamfara and Bauchi states in the northern region.

It predicted thunderstorms with rains over parts of Sokoto, Zamfara, Taraba, Adamawa, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Borno, Bauchi and Kaduna states later in the day.

It noted, “In the North-Central region, morning thunderstorms with rains are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Kogi and Nasarawa states. In the afternoon/evening hours, thunderstorms are expected over parts of Plateau, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Kogi, and Benue states. In the southern region, there are prospects of morning rains over parts of Cross River, Rivers, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states.’’

It anticipated rain showers over most parts of the region later in the day.

It added, “For Tuesday, in the northern region, isolated thunderstorms with moderate rains are expected over parts of Zamfara and Kaduna states in the morning period. In the afternoon/evening hours, thunderstorms with rains are anticipated over parts of Taraba, Kaduna, Adamawa, Zamfara, Kano, Bauchi, Gombe and Borno states. In the North-Central region, thunderstorms with rains are anticipated over parts of Niger, Plateau and Benue states during the morning period. Later in the day, thunderstorms with rains are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, Niger, Kwara and Plateau states.’’

NiMet predicted morning rains over parts of Lagos and Bayelsa states in the Southern region.

The agency envisaged rain over the entire states in the day.

NiMet urged the public to take adequate precaution as strong winds might precede the rains in areas where thunderstorms are likely to occur.

According to NiMet, people should ensure that loose objects are fastened to avoid collisions and avoid driving under heavy rain.

It added, “Disconnect electrical appliances from electrical sockets. Stay away from tall trees to avoid impact from falling branches and broken trees. Airline operators are advised to get airport-specific weather reports (flight documentation) from NiMet for effective planning in their operations. Residents are advised to stay informed through weather updates from NiMet

Across-section of commuters in Taraba, have commended transport owners for ensuring stable fares during the Eid-id-Kabir celebrations.

Zubaida Zakari, one of the commuters at the Jalingo Central Motor Park, who spoke to journalists on Saturday, said that the cost of transportation remained the same against her earlier anticipation of a hike.

Ms Zakari, who travelled from Jalingo to Wukari, Wukari Local Government Area (LGA), for the Sallah celebration, said that she paid N8,000, which was the normal fare before the period.

She commended both drivers and transport owners for maintaining the price regime.

Also speaking, Ali Sani, a commuter from Jalingo Central Motor Park, who travelled to Gembu, in Sardauna LGA. said he paid N18,000, which was the fare before the Sallah.

At the ATC Motor Park in Jalingo, Mohammed Dahiru, another commuter to Bali, Bali LGA, said he paid N4,000, which was also the normal fare before the festive period.

Dahiru also lauded this act of consideration and sensitivity to people’s plight by the transporters.

Parks didn’t experience the normal rush from commuters as most people didn’t travel, attributing it to the current economic realities.

President Bola Tinubu has commiserated with the family and friends of boxing legend Obisia Nwankpa who died on Monday at 75.

Nwankpa represented Nigeria at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, competing in the light-welterweight division, Bayo Onanuga, the president’s spokesman, said in a statement.

Mr Tinubu stated that Nigeria’s sporting community and Nigerians would long remember the legendary boxer and coach for the honour he brought to the country in the ring and the exciting moments he gave to fans throughout his career.

”The nation owes him a debt of gratitude for nurturing a new generation of boxers after retiring from active competition, including leading Nigeria’s boxing team to the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympics,” he said.

Nwankpa won gold medals at the 1973 All-Africa Games in Lagos and the 1974 British Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand, in the same welterweight division.

He held several prestigious titles, including Nigerian Lightweight Champion, African Boxing Union (ABU) Light-Welterweight Champion and Commonwealth Lightweight Champion.

The president prayed for the peaceful repose of the soul of Nwankpa and divine comfort for all who mourned him.

The Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Benue Chapter, has rejected calls by some of their colleagues for the declaration of a state of emergency rule in the state.

State overseer of the conference, Archbishop Alexander Nyoonkyegh, said on Saturday in Makurdi that Gov. Hyacinth Alia was their brother in the vineyard and must be protected by true men of God.

Some bishops had earlier called for an emergency rule in Benue over growing insecurity.

But Mr Nyoonkyegh said that Benue does not need emergency rule but a united front to confront the common enemy.

The archbishop said what the state needed at this crucial moment was unity and support for the governor to succeed.

“What we need now in Benue is unity and support for the governor to succeed. Let us help him to succeed because he is heading in the right direction.

“We cannot continue to talk about military takeover or emergency rule in Benue. We are not even sure that a Benue son will be appointed as the sole administrator.

“Look at what happened in Rivers. A sole administrator was appointed for Rivers who is from another state,” he said.

He also stated that even the Bible has admonished them to be submissive to authorities, adding that only God gives authority to people.

“As fathers of faith, when you have a son and brother in the vineyard and they are doing well, you say, brother, keep it up. Recently we were here crying on the issue of insecurity, and there were reasons to support our cries.

“Fr Alia is our brother in the vineyard, and we will continue to pray for him to succeed. What we know is that there is no authority that is not given from God.

“And the Bible says we must be submissive to the authorities. Yes, we are prophets, but we are submissive to the authorities here on earth too.

“What we need here is development, and the governor is developing the state, so what else can we ask for?

“Apart from issues of insecurity, which he is trying, and we are seeing some of his efforts, what fundamental offence has he committed?” he asked.

Mr Nyoonkyegh further commended President Bola Tinubu for continually standing with Benue people and currently directing the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, to relocate to the state and address the growing insecurity.

“We cried with faith in God, and he is hearing our prayers, and we believe that this mystery that we have witnessed in the last few days since the arrival of the Chief of Army should continue.

“Since his arrival, we have not heard of any further attack on our people. Let the peace be maintained,” he said.

Obi, Atiku, others pay tributes to Ejeagha
The governor pledged the state’s commitment to immortalising Ejeagha’s memory.

News Agency of Nigeria • June 7, 2025
Mike Ejeagha
Mike Ejeagha
Tributes have continued to pour in for late veteran Nigerian highlife musician and cultural icon, Mike Ejeagha, who passed away at the age of 95.

His eldest son, Emma Ejeagha, confirmed that the revered artiste died around 8 p.m. on Friday following a prolonged illness.

Born on April 4, 1930, in Imezi Owa, Enugu State, Ejeagha carved a timeless legacy with his unique blend of traditional Igbo folk music and storytelling.

His musical journey began in the 1960s, and by the 1980s, he had become a household name with classics like Omekagu, Uwa Mgbede Ka Mma, and Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche (Gwo gwo gwo ngwo).

Before his passing, Ejeagha’s music experienced a powerful resurgence in 2024, when comedian and content creator, Brain Jotter, used his 1983 track, Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche, in a viral dance video.

This propelled the song to #81 on Apple Music Nigeria, making Ejeagha the oldest Nigerian artiste to ever chart.

His 1983 album, Akụkọ N’egwu Original Vol. 1, also re-entered the spotlight, breaking into the Spotify Nigeria Top 100 Albums, four decades after its release.

Former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “I just read the sad news of the passing of the legendary highlife musician, songwriter, folklorist, and cultural custodian, Pa Mike Ejeagha.

“His transition marks the end of an era, but not the end of his voice — his songs will continue to echo through generations as testaments to wisdom, culture, and truth, “he said.

He praised Ejeagha for using music as a tool for teaching, healing, and preserving the philosophical depth of Igbo culture.

“For over six decades, Pa Ejeagha, popularly known as Gentleman Mike Ejeagha, used music not merely as art, but as a medium for teaching, healing, and preserving the moral and philosophical wealth of the people.

“His lyrics, rich with proverbs and folk wisdom, were moral compasses for both young and old… He immortalised the essence of life—its humour, discipline, spirituality, and resilience,” he said.

Governor of Enugu State, Peter Ndubuisi, on X, also expressed deep sorrow: “Mike Ejeagha was a legend, a cultural ambassador, and a revered son of Enugu State. His fan-base transcended boundaries, and he was one of the most recognisable voices in music.

“Ejeagha’s immense talent and genius lay in how he took simple indigenous folktales and turned them into unforgettable songs that resonate across cultures,” he said.

The governor pledged the state’s commitment to immortalising Ejeagha’s memory, assuring the family of full support.

“On behalf of the Enugu State Government, I offer heartfelt condolences to the Ejeagha family and assure them of our support.

“As a government, we will ensure that his memory is duly immortalised. Above all, I pray that his family experiences the comforting grace of God’s love, and the fortitude to bear the loss.”

On social media, sentiments were equally heartfelt. Cultural commentator, Anafulogo, remarked: “We Igbo people lost a special one in Gentleman Mike Ejeagha.

“Do you know how level-headed a man will be for ‘Gentleman’ to be a part of his identity?”

Aldo, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar reflected on the resurgence of Ejeagha’s music, thanks to Brain jotter: “It is heartwarming to note that thanks to Brain Jotter, highlife maestro Mike Ejeagha had his ‘Gwo gwo gwo ngwo’ encore dance before the curtain was drawn.

“Rest in music, Gentleman Mike Ejeagha.”

Brain jotter, whose viral video reintroduced Ejeagha to a new generation, wrote: “39 years ago, he made magic, 39 years later, we dance to it again. Now he rests but his melody lives forever. Rest on, legend.”