Author: Atoyebi Adenike

By Atoyebi Nike President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived at the Katsina State airport to attend the funeral of his predecessor, late former President Muhammadu Buhari, who died on Sunday in a London hospital while receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness. Following Buhari’s death, Tinubu dispatched Vice President Kashim Shettima to the United Kingdom to accompany the remains of the late leader back to Nigeria. Buhari, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2015 to 2023, will be buried today in Daura, his hometown, in accordance with Islamic rites. The burial is scheduled to take place at his private residence. The…

By Atoyebi Nike The body of former President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in Katsina State from London, accompanied by Vice President Kashim Shettima, marking a solemn moment in Nigeria’s history. The late president’s remains were flown into the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Airport amid tight security and a sombre reception by top government officials and dignitaries. From there, the body is expected to be transported to Daura, his hometown, for funeral rites and burial. President Buhari, who died in London after a brief illness, is being remembered across the country and beyond for his decades of service to the nation, both…

By Atoyebi Nike The delegation of the House of Representatives, led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, has arrived in Katsina State to attend the funeral of former President Muhammadu Buhari. Also in attendance is Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who arrived earlier on Tuesday to pay her last respects. They join several dignitaries, including state governors, former public officials, and international guests, gathered in Daura, Buhari’s hometown, for the final rites of the former president, remembered for his legacy of national service and integrity.

By Atoyebi Nike Dr. Amit Thakker, founder of Avenue Healthcare and a leading voice in health systems reform, has called on African governments to optimize the use of current healthcare budgets before turning to donors or private investors for additional funding. Speaking on the sidelines of the Africa Primary Health Care Forum (APHCF) held in Abuja, Thakker challenged leaders to “get more health for the money,” citing inefficiency and corruption as key barriers to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) across the continent. “Before asking for more money, stop the waste, stop the corruption, and use what we already have more…

By Atoyebi Nike The World Health Organization (WHO) has endorsed the global use of lenacapavir (LEN), a biannual injectable drug that provides near-total protection against HIV, marking a significant breakthrough in the global fight against AIDS. Announced at the IAS 2025 Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, the WHO says LEN is a long-acting antiretroviral alternative to daily pills, especially beneficial for those facing stigma, limited access to care, or difficulty with daily adherence. “While an HIV vaccine remains elusive, lenacapavir is the next best thing,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, urging governments to integrate LEN into national HIV programmes.…

By Atoyebi Nike The WHO and UNICEF have raised alarm over global immunization gaps, revealing that 14.3 million children received no vaccines in 2024, out of nearly 20 million who missed at least one dose of the DTP vaccine. Despite small improvements from 2023, vaccine coverage remains far from global targets. Conflicts, weak health systems, and misinformation are major setbacks, especially in fragile countries where half of all unvaccinated children live. Progress was seen in Gavi-supported countries, with 600,000 more children reached and expanded vaccine access to diseases like HPV and measles. Yet, 30 million children remain under-vaccinated, and measles…

By Atoyebi Nike The Emir of Kano has arrived in Daura to attend the funeral prayer for late former President Muhammadu Buhari, joining an array of national and international dignitaries paying their final respects. Earlier, the Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, a former Vice President, and several former Senate leaders, governors, and ministers touched down in Katsina before heading to Daura for the burial rites. A delegation from the Republic of Niger is also in attendance, underlining the late president’s enduring legacy across West Africa. Buhari, remembered for his integrity, discipline, and commitment to national unity, is being…

By Atoyebi Nike The Nigerian government spent ₦1.95 trillion in 2024 to cover electricity tariff shortfalls, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). The subsidy arose from the gap between actual tariffs and the cost of supplying power. Despite rising Discos’ revenues ₦199.85 billion collected in April 2025 from ₦257.57 billion billed collection efficiency stood at 77.6%, boosted largely by higher Band A tariffs, now at ₦209/kWh. However, total energy supplied dropped 9.2%, and collection shortfalls continue, with a ₦260 billion under-recovery recorded by April. ATC&C losses averaged 39.6% in Q1 2025, nearly double the 20.5% benchmark, costing the…

By Atoyebi Nike Farmers in Gombe State have begun receiving subsidized fertilizer as part of the state government’s 2025 wet season farming programme, with distribution reaching all 114 wards across the state. The initiative, rolled out following a directive by Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, is aimed at supporting grassroots farmers by cutting transportation costs and ensuring direct access to essential inputs. Speaking over the weekend, Commissioner for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives, Dr Barnabas Malle, confirmed that local government areas had started receiving their allocated supplies. He stressed that the fertilizer is being delivered directly to ward-level farmers to prevent diversion…

By Atoyebi Nike Al-Shabab militants have captured the town of Tardo in Somalia’s central Hiiran region, a critical crossroads between major towns, marking another gain in the group’s renewed offensive. The town fell on Sunday, following fierce clashes that saw the withdrawal of government-allied clan fighters. The insurgent group had also seized Muqokori in the same region last week. Somali lawmaker Dahir Amin confirmed that over 12,500 families have fled both towns amid rising violence. “The situation is worsening,” he said, as residents scramble for safety ahead of further militant advances. To curb the offensive, Somalia has deployed about 100…