Category: Metro

Photo: Gov. Otu, at the scene of the explosion By Mandy Park Governor Bassey Otu has visited the site of a gas fire explosion at Edibe Edibe in Calabar South, describing the incident as shocking and assuring victims of immediate government intervention. The governor, who assessed the level of damage at the scene, lamented the scale of destruction caused by the explosion, noting that both lives and property were affected. “What I’ve seen here is shocking. It’s a huge, huge damage,” Otu said. He expressed concern over the siting of…

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Photo: Mr Peter Obi By: Daniel Kanu The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party Nigeria, Peter Obi, has felicitated with Nigerian Muslims on the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, calling on them to sustain the virtues of the holy month of Ramadan. In a goodwill message issued on Thursday, signed by Ibrahim Umar, spokesman of the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), Obi congratulated the Muslim faithful on the successful completion of the 30-day fast, describing the occasion as a powerful reminder of faith, discipline, selflessness and devotion to Almighty Allah.…

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Photo: Prof Ogunwole, FUOYE VC By Bunmi Olarewaju The Ilupeju community in Ekiti State has handed over buildings and equipment valued at over N300 million to the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) to support the take-off of its Institute of Nursing Sciences. Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole, described the gesture as a landmark demonstration of the community’s commitment to education and human capital development. Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Tajudeen Bolanle Opoola, Ogunwole made the remarks during the formal handover ceremony held in Ilupeju-Ekiti.…

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Photo: Gov Otu at the NIPR investiture By: Mandy Park The Member representing Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Bassey Akiba, has congratulated Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, on his investiture as National Patron of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations. In a statement made available to the media, Akiba described the honour as a well-deserved recognition of the governor’s commitment to excellence in governance, strategic communication, and people-centred leadership. He commended Otu’s efforts in fostering public trust, promoting inclusiveness, and strengthening government-citizen relations through effective…

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By Mandy Park Civil society organisations have called on the Federal and state governments to introduce mandatory salt reduction targets and clear front-of-pack warning labels on processed foods to protect Nigerians from rising cases of diet-related diseases. The call was made by the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), and the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI) in a joint statement issued to mark this year’s World Consumer Rights Day. The groups said the 2026 theme, “Safe Products, Confident Consumers,” highlights…

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Photo: Emeka Alex Duru, Editor, The Niche By: Daniel Kanu Outstanding journalist and Editor of the prominent Nigerian online newspaper The Niche, Emeka Alex Duru, has earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree from Lagos State University after successfully defending his doctoral thesis on the interplay between the press and politics in Nigeria. Alex-Duru’s research, titled “Press and Politics in Nigeria, 1970–2023,” examines the evolving role of the media in shaping Nigeria’s political landscape over more than five decades. The study provides a comprehensive analysis of how the press has…

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By: Mandy Park On the occasion of World Obesity Day (WOD) 2026 today, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has called for stricter policies to curb the aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages linked to obesity and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), warning that decisive regulation is critical to protect public health. In a statement marking this year’s theme, “8 billion reasons to act on obesity,” CAPPA noted that the disease has become one of the world’s most urgent health challenges, with projections indicating that nearly half of the…

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Photo: Some participants at the event By: Mandy Park Women leaders and advocates on today Friday, 6th March, renewed calls for greater female participation in governance and national development as distinguished personalities were honoured at the 2026 edition of the Woman of Substance Conference and Awards (WOSCA) held in Lagos. At the event, ace broadcaster and public affairs analyst, Adaora Onyechere Sydney-Jack, decried the low representation of women in public offices in Nigeria, despite women accounting for nearly half of the country’s population. Speaking during a keynote session, Onyechere Sydney-Jack…

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Photo: Lagos State Governor, Sanwo-Olu By: Daniel Kanu Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has condemned what it described as the opaqueness and significant procedural violations in the Lagos Water Corporation’s (LWC) ongoing procurement process for mini and micro water works under a Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer (BFOT) Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. According to reports, the LWC issued a tender in September last year, inviting proposals from private firms for the rehabilitation, upgrade, operation, and maintenance of multiple public water facilities across Lagos, including Lekki and Akilo Waterworks, Victoria Island Annex and…

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